THE FARMER.

notes from seafield. FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT. I promised in my last to remark on the crop, and extent of land under it, on the farms by the Wakanui Creek, in which direction my journey has lain. I passed by the block of land formerly in the oc cupation of Mr Thomas Reid, but I was sorry to see that nothing had been done ■with it since the former owner left. How ever, the stubble was looking remarkably well, and generally there was plenty of good keep on the land. On the Seaview Estate Messrs Saunders have a fine lot of wheat well in, and presenting a hopeful appearance. I called at IVtessrs Proctor Brothers on the way. They have about 200 acres of crop in, with every ap pearance of a hearty result at harvest time, and to the left of the traveller, Mr B. Ede, in the same locality, has some fine promising looking barley and oats. ]Vfr Jameson’s cereals are also coming on very well, and he has a fair lot of young cattle revelling in excellent grass. A tine flock of cross-bred sheep, I was glad to observe, shared his attention with the cattle, and showed he knew what he was about in running a farm. Juat hero, too, gorse fences give evidence of attention in their thriving looks and luxuriant blos som. Further on the farm of Mr J. "Wright meets you. He has a fine lot of wheat, barley, and oats in, and one of his buildings is a stable of the old country type. He has quick fence, too—one of the very few in the district—and I was to see that it was bidding very lair indeed. Mr Wright is happy in the possession of paddocks deep in luxuriant grass. Take the crops all round just Sere, the prospect is very bright indeed, and X was forcibly reminded of one of the fattest districts in Cheshire by the old English appearance of the paddocks, which look so green and hearty. It vould serve no purpose to run over the list of industrious, hard working farmers who are settle d around, but it is gratify ing, indeed, to see that as far as_ the season has yet gone, they have a lively hope that harvest will not disappoint their trust in a fair reward for their pains and toil I id and saw our friend Mr J. W. Leadley, with whom I had a little chat His crops are doing very well, only a little late. He has gone in this year for ploughing in his seed, and the result is a promising crop, well rooted against the ravages of the wind. His paddocks, too, are of the healthiest, and Ms cot of fine pigeons give quite an old country look to the farm. Just op posite Mr Leadley is Mr Inues, who has erected a substantial stable. His crops, too, are looking welL The next farm arrived at is Mr Stewart’s, and opposite is Mr Thomas Walsh. Both these farms are splendid loWt, and the crops show that the owners l are good farmers; they suffered here tlbe winter from floods, and I near the Road Board is going to cut a large drain to relieve them. On the Wakanui Terrace is Mr John Corbett, who a large farm here, and a splendid lot of cattle. His crops ought to be very heavy this year, as some of the land was a part of | the English grass paddocks of the old homestead. Higher up the creek Messrs. Sandrey and Blackler occupy about 1100 acres. They have the and the large trees and well grown garden make it look like quite Homely; in fact, it is the oldest place in this part of Ashburton. There is a very large'wool-shed on the farm, and a lot of ouftmldings. The gorse hedges here are very good, and well kept. There is a very large area in crop, and it ought to be very heavy, as the hind is some of the best in the district T , On reaching the Wakanui Creek, I find I am in the township laid out some two years ago by Mr G. H. Moore. There is a newly formed road through it, but there is at present no evidences of houses or population. It was contemplated, I believe, to remove the school from its present site about 1J miles nearer town to this place, but the majority of the resi dents in the district were against it, so the Wakanui township is as yet only known to fama by the lithographic maps in the land agents’ offices. On reaching the top of the terrace, 1 found that I was among some very good land, the crops bidding well for harvest. Mr Meredith Wilson s farm here looks well, and his improve ments are of a very substantial nature. The clay land about this neighborhood has given the farmers an opportunity of using dug sods in place of ploughed ones for their fences, and they have a very tidy and substantial look about them. The road from here to the school is one of the best in the district. The school u situated a comer convenient to the large population in the neighborhood. The master, Mr Ginney informed me that he had his hands full, having an average at tendance of 50 pupils, he had made appli cation for an assistant mistress, and he believed that one would be granted. Mr James Brown’s crops look remarkably well, and the land shows evidence of good farming. Mr Edwin Thomas has a nice block of heavy land close to the school, and the crops are very forward, his garden is very well stocked, he bos a large col lection of farming implements, and gear about the place. I noticed some some very superior draught horses here, and a draught colt which took u prize at the show last year is a very powerful, well built animal, and would not disgrace himself in any show. Turning my horse in the direction of Seafield, I pass the forms of Mr S. Christie on my right and Mr D. Buttterick on my left. The latter gentleman is farming a large acreage this year, and his crops promise well. Mr Henry Beckett has a nice block of land higher up the creek, and Messrs Cass and others have succeeded in getting nearly all their land under the plough, Mr P. Cass, nearer the sea has hit on a very fwir piece of ground, and the crop has a good show, I find that Mr Wellbron is now busily engaged in fencing the block of land now in Russoct north of Mr Butterick’s. This block, though a trifle stony on top, has a very fair sub-soil, he intends breaking it up ready for crop next year. Mr Connor has a very fine crop, which speaks well for the soil in this part of Seafield. Mr Dodson has a farm here of 300 acres In crop, 100 acres in wheat, . looking very well; and I hope he will have s a good harvest. I then travelled on to the Poplars farm, the property of Mr E. Oollison, he Juts a fine lot of wheat, a fair | looking field of oats, and ywy good

milch cows in good condition, and an English grass paddock with a good sward upon it. After having a drink of milk, I turned homewards thinking of what I had seen, and I made my mind up that things were not so bad after all, and will be much better if Providence will smile on us in harvest time. In my next letter, I intend informing you of the state of the crops in North Seafield and Cambridge. I can say that the crops as a whole look remarkably well.

Stock and Crop. Our Seafield correspondent—a practical fanner of extensive English and colonial experience—has more than once drawn our attention to farms on which stock feeding is combined with grain culture. He has pointed out with considerable en thusiasm, the wisdom of this combination, and we are so thoroughly convinced our selves of its expediency, that we take this opportunity of drawing the attention of our agricultural friends to the matter. In a district like ours, where the land is occu pied by small capitalists, to whom an Immediate return is a paramount considera tion, the grave mistake of exhausting the soil’s fertility by successive grain crops to obtain this desideratum, is too frequently committed. Large crops may be har vested for a few years, and large sums realised by these operations, hut if no attention is bestowed on the recuperation of the productive forces, the land will be come so greatly impoverished and reduced in value, that this course of farming is actually unprofitable. Grain growing does not exhaust the soil, provided the ingredients absorbed by the plants are returned in some form, but if the plants are removed—as is the case in grain crops— the land is, of course, impoverished to the extent of the elements of plant food con sumed by such plants from the earth. Some small return is made by the roots and stubble left to decay, but the straw and grain being carried away, the soil’s fertility rapidly deteriorates if nothing is done in a contrary direction. With this in view it becomes necessary for the pro vident farmer to find some means of re plenishing his supply of plant food, and science and experience have long indicated that this is best done by stock feeding on the land previously employed in grain cul ture. Grain draws on the soil for nitro gen, phosphates, and potash, while the other requisites in its composition are absorbed from the air. Growing animals, i.e., young stock, require from the soil for bone and muscle formation the same ele ments in smaller quantities as cereals, but matured stock return all these pro perties in the shape of manure to the soil, and retain only the carbonaceous matters for fatty tissues, respiration, etc., so that a full grown fattening animal, when sold carries away none of the ingredients most useful as manure. In practice this fact is illustrated by the exceptional fertility of dairy farms on which butter making is conducted. From such farms the car bonaceous matter only is removed in the way of produce, and the land instead of becoming sterile is constantly increasing in productiveness. With growing stock, the land will not recover its strength qnite as rapidly, but the same result is attained in the end, and all who hope to farm profitably must recognise the neces sity of combining stock feeding with grain culture.

Farmers and Fanning. We farmers get a great deal of good advice. We are glad so many are in terested in our welfare. Farming would seem to be the natural employment of mankind, and those who are unable, or unwilling, to gain a living and supply their own wants by cultivating the soil, are very willing to tell others how to do it. But they often those who are least able to give advice, are the most profuse with their counsels. There is not much wisdom in their reproofs, nor do they always fall on obedient ears. If those who walk with wise men become wise, then it is very essential that we receive our instruction from men wiser than ourselves. If we are to learn industry from the bees, and the ants, there can be nothing degrading in learning something from the humblest of mankind. But no teacher can impart knowledge to his pupils, if he is not much more intelligent than they. It will be con ceded that farmers are the most numerous, and most useful, and the most industrious of all classes. And we think it can be proven that they are not only the most honest, but decidedly the best business men in the commonwealth. We are told we work too much and think too little, that we have not the accuracy and energy of business men, that we ought to open a debtor and creditor side with every field on our farm, and know what every bushel of wheat and every animal costs us. This is all very well in theory, we know some thing about books and prompt payments, and what we are doing. We want to look at the results, the facts and figures, to ascertain who are the safest and most reliable men in the community. It has often been stated that ninety per cent, of our merchants or business men fail, some time during their career, to meet their obligations. We estimate that ninety per cent, of our every day farmers never fail to pay their honest debts, never defraud th#ir creditors, nor take advantage of the bankrupt law. If this is a correct esti mate, then young people when they go into business may expect there are nine chances in ten they will fail in business and defraud their creditors. And if they begin life on a farm with industrious habits, and a good moral character, there are nine chances in ten they will not fail to pay their honest debts, produce more than they consume, and add to their own and the aggregate wealth of the com munity. , . We are tolc' farming is a slow business. "Very few get rich ; there are no million aires holding the plough. We can plough very well without them. The greatest good to the greatest number is not brought about by concentrating wealth, but by diffusing it. Are not a million of honest men, who produce more than they con sume, and never let their dates go to pro test, a million times more valuable to society than one millionaire who only gathers up the wealth that better men than himself produced, by some reckless expenditure or fortunate speculation 1 We do not write in a boastful spirit, for a good many of us farmers are in humble life, and have had a fair square battle

with poverty and privation. But we provide honestly for those of our own house, and do nut like to see so many leaving the farm, and becoming discon tented because a few men get very rich in business.

Has there been so much progress and improvement of late that the young of the present generation are too good and great to live on a farm 1

The hills and dales, the green fields, and the blue sky, never tainted any pure heart or dwarfed any master mind. It is not gold and debentures, but a pure and honest life that constitutes a first-class man. When men become rich by ex changing one thing or another, there is nothing added to the comfort of humanity. It is a pity when a few absorb the wealth of a great many. Fanners produce by lawful industry the wealth that brings peace and plenty to themselves and associates ; they do not rise on another’s ruins.

Wealth of heart and moral worth are far better and more enduring than material riches. If we can leave a good name and a stainless reputation when we have done with all things that are of the earth, earthly, it will be of comparatively little importance whether we have twenty pounds or twenty thousand.

Wheat Cultivation. FROM THE “RURAL AUSTRALIAN.” Why should not wheat bo cultivated as we cultivate the garden pea or cabbage ? The splendid results achieved by Hallet, Mold, and others with pedigree and stud wheats, with garden culture, surely justi fies the theory that wheat can be im proved in the same way as other plants, by special culture. It is nonsense to say that it would not pay. Why does cabbage, or potato, or any other culture pay I Let the farmers tiy to grow any of the garden crops as he does wheat, and see how they would pay him. So it is with the improved varieties of all plants, they will all degenerate if they don’t get as good treatment as that which produced them, or at least helped to do so. In our opinion wheat should be planted at the same distance apart as cabbage ; not, perhaps, ordinary wheat, any more than some of the poor sorts of cabbage. But in the case of Mold’s or any similar wheat they ought to be a foot, at least, apart each way. We suppose most of our readers have seen a bed sown with cabbage seed, for the purpose of raising plants for planting out, let stand for many months. What miser able objects they appear beside one taken from the same bed a few months before and properly cultivated 1 It is just the same with wheat. We sow the wheat just as thickly as we sow the cabbage seed, and the same result follows. Let the wheat be cultured in the same reason able way as cabbage, and in a few years’ time we may have ears and grains a dozen times the size of any yet seen.

Insect-Eating Plants. Mr Francis Darwin has recently added some important facts to our knowledge of these plants. It has long been surmised that those plants which catch and kill insects in various ways depend upon such food for their healthy growth, but direct proof of this has heretofore been wanting. Mr Darwin instituted a series of experi ments to decide the question, as follows : —2OO plants of Drosera rotundifolia were cultivated in soup-plates filled with moss ; each plate was divided into two parts by a low wooden partition and covered with gauze to exclude insects. On one side of each plate the plants were fed with small pieces of roasted meat, placed upon the leaves every few days, while those on the other side were not allowed any such food. In the course of a month the effect of the meat diet was evident in the brighter color of the leaves, and when the experi ment was ended it was found that the plant had received such nourishment from the animal food. While there was a decided gain in every way, the greatest advantage was found by comparing the seeds produced by the different plants. The ratio between the weight of the seeds from those without animal food and those with it was as 100 to 379.7. Hen Lice. When a hen wants to sit, make a new nest with clean straw or hay, sprinkle it with a little dusted carbolic acid, Persian insect powder, or common flour sulphur. When such precaution is not taken, hens are often literally driven from the nests by lice, and the eggs are lost, to the chagrin, and sometimes to the perplexity, of the owner, who does not know what is the matter. Hen lice art not very big, but they are influential, and should -be systematically interviewed when a poultry keeper is desirous of success. No water fowl is troubled with lice, if it has plenty of water to swim and bathe in. Stall-Feeding. Soiling, or stall-feeding, is not a new idea. Previous to 1836 Lord Egremont, in Sussex, used to have his milch cows tied up during the greater part of the year. He maintained that one-third of the food was saved, that the cows were fed with one-fourth part of the usual trouble, and that more dung was made. Comparing even the system of yard feeding with the fattening installs, Mr Elhnan, of Glynde, a skilful agricul turist, found that nine oxen fed loose in the yard consumed, in destroying as well as eating, as much as twelve oxen that were tied up. Height of Trees.

The following heights are furnished by a correspondent as the average attained by different forest trees ;—Oak 45 feet; ash 38 feet ; beech 45 feet; birch 47 feet; elm 44 feet; lime 44 feet; poplar 48 feet; fir 57 feet; chestnut 44 feet ; sycamore 37 feet ; yew 16 feet.

The Best Government. —We wonder whether the Hon. John Hall intended to perpetrate a pun last evening when he said, “ The people want the best Govern ment, and that’s all.”—“Post. The Stud. —The Rotomahana brought to New Zealand the famous English stud horse Coeruleus. This animal is a full brother to the renowned Blue Gown, the winner of the Derby in 1868. He is seven years old, and only retired from the turf last season. During his career he has won some good races.

TELEGRAPHIC.

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

London, Oct. 10. Australian wheat, 67s 6d ; Australian beef tallow, 34s (id ; best Australian mutton tallow, 3Gs. Later news from Cape Town states that Sir Garnet Wolseley has formally an nounced the end of the war.

Oct. 12. The Duchess of Cumberland has been delivered of a daughter. The Secretary of State for the Home Department stated at a Conservative meeting at Leigh that the Afghan policy was unchanged, and that the GoveiTiment were not desirous to interfere with Af ghanistan merely to ensure the domina tion of England. New York, Oct. 10.

A railway collision has occurred at Michigan. Twenty-five persons were killed, and forty injured.

(Argus Sperial. ) London, Oct. 11. Great excitement exists in the metal markets, and a rise has taken place. American orders and still arriving.

Great surprise is expressed here at the action of the Sydney Government in re calling Mr Forster. No reason for doing so is assigned. The Oriental Bank’s profits for the half year are equivalent to 5t per cent. An interim dividend of 4 per cent has been declared.

At the creditors’ meeting of Messrs Stevenson and Son, yesterday, the un secured liabilities were stated at £202,903. It was resolved to accept an offer of 14s in the £, payable in two years. Bankruptcy proceedings are avoided.

(Age Special.) London, Oct. 13.

The news from Afghanistan states that Cabul has been surrendered to General Roberts. The Ameer has encamped the main body of his troops on the ridge over looking the city. To guard against treachery, the British have postponed the formal occupation of the city until Oct. 18. One hundred and ten guns and an im mense amount of war materials are amongst the results of the capture. The British loss is inconsiderable. The British have occupied the Bala Hissar in Cabul, and the citadel. The Right Hon. R. Cross, Home Secre tary, in replying to Sir Vernon Harcourt recently, deprecated the necessity of a petty war, and contended that the suc cessful fulfilment of the Berlin Treaty had regained England her prestige.

(Reuter's Telegrams.) Calcutta, Oct. 13. The enemy are dispersing from the neighborhood of Cabul. The total number of guns captured was 110. Oct. 14.

General Roberts, with Yakoob Khan, entered Cabul on October 12. The tribes are returning home. Vienna, Oct. 13.

Owing to the severe weather in Hun gary, several rivers have been blocked by ice, and a number of bridges destroyed.

{Special to the Melbourne Age.) London, Oct. 14.

News from Afghanistan states that the British had a triumphant entry into Cabul on Sunday. The faithful Afghan troops saluted the British flag. The Ghilzais are blocking the passage between Cabul and Jellalabad. The Duchess of Edinburgh has been prematurely confined of a still-born infant.

AUSTRALIAN.

( Reuter's Telegram.) Melbourne, Oct. 14. Sailed —Albion, for New Zealand. {Special.) Melbournr, Oct. 14. Le Loup, Darriwell, and Credit, gal loped at Flemington to-day. Le Loup had the best of it, and is now much fancied for the Cup. Sydney, Oct. 14.

Twenty of the men arrested for distur bances at the Waratah colliery were dis missed. Two were committed for trial on a charge of intimidation. Melbourne, Oct. 13.

Private cables advise that Messrs Stevenson and Son have acquired tlxe com mand of large additional capital, which will place the firm in a stronger position than it has occupied for years. The firm will pay its creditors in full out of the first profits. The Jasper is loading sugar at the Mauritius for Dunedin and Lyttelton. New York advices state that kerosene is advancing. Sydney, Oct. 13. J. P. Wilson, who was arrested by Ser geant Sevan of the Dunedin Police, on a New Zealand warrant for embezzlement from Messrs Marshall and Copeland, Dunedin, has been released owing to an informality in the documents.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, Oct. 14. The Rev. S. Edgar, Chairman of the public meeting held re the Minister of Marine affair, has telegraphed to the Go vernment, on the authority of a resolution passed by the meeting, praying that fur ther action be taken and investigation made by the authorities. The petition for the release of Cates is being largely signed, and money is being subscribed to defray his expenses. The Hon. Mr. M'Elwraith, Premier of Queensland, is a passenger by the mail steamer for San Francisco. Wellington, Oct. 14.

At a meeting last night of the Working Men’s Club, it was decided that a small Farm Association, under the auspices of the club, should be formed, and a com mittee was appointed to wait on Govern ment and ascertain if they would be will ing to sot apart a block of land for the purposes of such an association. At the annual meeting of the Central Fire Brigade, the report and balance sheet gave a satisfactory account of the work performed by the Brigade, and of its financial condition.

At eleven o’clock last night the jury found a verdict of common assault against all the natives who were arrested at Gis borne, except Hone Pakipaki, who was released this morning. The Crown Pro secutor stated that the Crown would agree to the prisoners being bound over to keep

the peace, and Wi Pori would become surety for them. His Honor said he must consider the matter as only a breach of the peace, and he was prepared to adopt tlie course recommended by the Crown Prosecutor. He sentenced each to one day’s imprisonment, commencing from the opening of the sittings, and to enter into their own recognisances for £IOO, and one surety of £SO to keep the peace for six months, principally towards the prosecu tors in this case.

Dunedin, Oct. 14.

The charge of murder against William Waters was proceeded with in the Supreme Court to-day. A large number of wit nesses were examined. No new evidence was adduced except that Ritchie, alias Scottie, one of the chief witnesses for the prosecution, admitted in cross-examina tion, that he had been sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment for set ting fire to a stack at Dumbarton, Scot land. At the close of the case for the prosecution the foreman asked if the jury might be allowed to give a verdict at once, without hearing the defence or the Judge’s charge. The Judge replied in the negative. The Court then adjourned till seven o’clock, when the case for the defence was opened. At half-past twelve the jury returned a verdict acquitting Waters on the charge of murder. Auckland, Oct. 15.

Forty passengers left by the Rotoma hana for the Sydney Exhibition and Melbourne races.

Government state in reply to the Rev. S. Edgar, that they are advised they have no power to detain the master and mate of the Minister of Marino pending an inquiry.

LATEST.

EUROPEAN. Per our Special Wire. {Reuter's 7'elegrams.) London, Oct. 13. Three per cent consols, 97|. Total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain, 1,828,000 quarters. Tin is quoted at 86. There have been largo withdrawals of gold from North America and Egypt. Paris, Oct. 14. Shubert, a communist, has been elected a municipal councillor of Paris. Constantinople, Oct. 14. The Sultan has announced his intention to disband 90,000 of the regular troops.

AUSTRALIAN.

Melbourne, Oct. 15. The Hon. Graham Berry is now con valescent. Ho attended the Assembly last night. The estimates are now under discussion in the Lower House.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Christchurch, Oct. 15.

The libel action, C. F. Barker v. “ Lyt telton Times,” was heard to-day. The plaintiff sought to recover damages from the proprietors for the publication, on the 12th July, of an alleged libel on him in that paper, commenting on the case of Regina v. Greenwood, in which the plain tiff was prosecutor. For this the plaintiff sought to recover the sum of £3OOO damages. The plea of the defendants was a general denial of all the material allega tions. The following issues were sent to the jury—(l.) Did the defendants, on or about the 12th day of July, 1879, falsely and maliciously print and publish of the plaintiff, in a newspaper called the “ Lyt telton Times,” published in Christchurch, in the said district, the words and figures set out in the plaintiff’s delaration ? (2.) Has the plaintiff thereby been greatly injured in his reputation ? (3.) What damages (if any) is the plaintiff'entitled to recover from the defendants in respect of the said cause of action ? The second was eventually ordered by his Honor Judge Johnston to be withdrawn. The case was confined almost entirely to argu ment on the question of whether the article was libellous or not, and few wit nesses were called. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff for £5 damages— which, of course, carried costs. The weather has been very wet and cold for the last two or three days, more like winter than spring.

A verdict was returned on the man Felton of death by apoplexy. The evidence showed that he had taken aconite during the afternoon, and the doctors do not say whether that had caused death or not.

Dunedin, Oct. 15.

The trial of William Waters, on the charge of murder, was concluded at the Supreme Court yesterday, at 11 p. in. The jury retired, and after about half an hour’s consultation returned a verdict— not guilty. The prisoner was also ac quitted of the same charge on the Coroner’s warrant, but in regard to other similar charges arising out of the same circumstances, the Crown Solicitor ob tained leave to apply for authority to enter a “ nolle prosequi” instead of an arraign ment. The prisoner upon the several in dictments accused was discharged from custody, and the jury were dismissed. In the Supremo Court to-morrow, in the breach of promise case, Mary Crad dock David, of Dunedin, v. James Taylor Hirst, of Wellington, damages £IOOO, will come on for assessment. The divorce case Daniel White, petitioner, v. Esther White, respondent, and David McLennan, will also be heard.

A Long Petition. —The 2000 or so people who want a railway between Hoki tika and Greymouth, used 100 yards of foolscap to tell their wants to Parliament. The Darrells. —The Sydney “Tele graph ” of the 3rd instant says : —The many friends of that estimable lady will learn with regret that Mrs George Darrell, who is now in Melbourne, is suffering from a severe and painful illness In con sequence of this, Mr Darrell has found it necessary to withdraw from the co-lessee ship of the Victoria Theatre. He will ap pear this evening for the last time, and sails on Tuesday for Melbourne. The Wairarapa. —Gold prospectors in the Wairarapa district evidently mean business. Messrs Brandon, Crosbie, and Purdy, have started on a fresh tour of in vestigation. They intend to examine the Bimutaka Ranges very carefully from Featherston right down to the sea for in dications of auriferous ground, and the;, are very sanguine as to the result of their explorations.

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuesday, October 14.

Mr Whitaker was sworn, and explained that it was necessary to have an Auck land man in the Ministry, and to have a lawyer and representative on the Council. He gave a brief outline of the Minis terial policy and intentions. A committee was appointed to consider the question of auditing the accounts of public companies. The Council then adjourned to the next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, October 14. MISCI LLANEOUS.

Mr Shrimski gave notice to move that £‘500,000 be placed on the estimates for roads and bridges in Otago. Mr Murray gave notice to move that the House sit on Mondays for the dis posal of Government business. Mr Hislop gave notice to move that the petition against the return of Ur Wallis, and Mr Hurst be referred to a committee to consider its validity to come before the House.

Colonel Trimble gave notice to ask the Government if they hold, or over held, any interest in the steamer Hannah Mokau. -MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Mr Hall, before proceeding to business, wished first to reply to the statements made by the late Native Minister that, he offered to make one of the Maori mem bers Native Minister, with control over all lands not Crown-granted, and also that he had promised to stop all sales and leases of lauds. He could only say that it was not so.

Mr Sheehan said if the Hon. Premier told them lu never said so he would be satisfied.

Mr. Hall said that was not altogether satisfactory, because there were others to satisfy, lu order that he might be pre pared to refute the statement he asked his colleagues who were present at the inter views with the Maoris, to write down their recollections of what transpired, in order that he might see what their opinion was. They entirely concurred with his own view of what took place between him and Te Whooro and Tomoana, and com pletely exonerated him from the charges made against him by Mr Sheehan. Mr Hall continued —ho would not have troubled the House with this statement of what really transpired if the version of the hon. member had not gone beyond the walls of the House. To any gentle man who had known him long enough this explanation was not nccessaay. He could only say that if he held out such inducements as were attributed to him, he would he unworthy to hold office. Mr Sheehan said he accepted the denial, but it was admitted that some thing of the kind had been said or written. The statements were made in the House hy the Maori, and no attempt was made to contradict them at the time, although the hon. gentleman was in his place and heard what was said. • GOVERNMENT BILLS. Mr Hall laid the Bills of the Govern ment were prepared, and would be found to differ materially .from those introduced by the late Government. Ho asked per mission to bring down those Bills to-day, and the rest to-morrow. In regard to the Land Purchase Bill they would go on witli that of the late Government, with some slight alteration. When order No. 12 came on for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Public Revenues Act, the Hon. the Treasurer would he prepared with a statement as to the finances of the colony, and would ask the House for permission to deliver it at half-past seven. The Native Minister had been busy looking into matters, but had not completed his investigations. He would not be pre pared with a full statement until Thurs day or Friday next, and it was not pos sible to make it before then. He would state briefly the principal features of this question. They believed in the estab lishment of a Maori Minister, with ex tended powers. With regard to the Native Lands Courts, the Government believed them cumbrous and unsatis factory, and would take stops to improve them. The alienation of Native lands was also in an unsatisfactory condition, and would be put on an improved basis as soon as they had had time to make tl.c nselves acquainted with these matters. It had been proposed that the Govern me it should sell the land on behalf of tiie Maoris. The Government looked with favor upon the proposal, but did not know whether they would be able to com plete the scheme for giving effect to it. They wished to givo effect to the sugges tion for re-distributiou of advertisements, without any reference to the political opinions of newsjiapers. They would give effect to this at once. In connection with the Hiuemoa, the Government would, as soon as the West Coast difficulty was over, take steps to adopt a more economi cal means of carrying on such work as she had been hitherto employed upon. Mr Hall then asked leave to intro duce a Bill to amend the law re lating to electors qualified to vote at elections of members of the House of Representatives, and pro provision for the regulation and conduct of such elections. The Government pre ferred to divide the matter into five Bills, in order to avoid complications arising through objections to various portions of one large Bill. Provision would be made for lodgers’, minors’, and ratepayers’ fran chise. As large a percentage of electors were found on the rolls as on any rolls in the Australian colonies. They proposed to introduce a Bill defining the duties of the Native Member of the Cabinet. In connection with the West Coast a large expenditure was going on necessary to preserve the safety of that district, and the settlers wore suffering great loss through the paralysis of settlement. The Government's duty to the colony was to put a stop to this, and he gave the settlers credit for their forbearance. It was said the state of affairs arose from unfulfilled promises, and the late Government pro posed that a Royal Commission should be appointed to enquire into the matter. The Government hoped that they would be able to put an end to this state of affairs at an early date. A .Bill would bo pro posed specially directed to the means of • uirolling electors and imp.roving the iacli ies for lining so. They proposed to give persona resilient in a district six months a vote, if they had been twelve months in

the country. They would appoint officers to see that all who had a right to be put on were so enrolled, and to keep the roll corrected ; would give the public oppor tunity to see who were on the roll, and if any wore improperly on, steps would bo taken in the R.M. Courts to sweep off. The boundaries of road districts trere not co-tcrminus with electoral districts, and difficulty was experienced in arranging matters ; but a large sum of money was now spent in advertising, which would be greatly reduced. The amount so saved would go far towards improving and ex tending the means of enrolling of electors, and keeping the roll pure. Mr Maoandrew said, before putting the question, he had to ask the ruling of the Speaker as to whether he would be in order in giving notice to move on the question an amendment, the nature of which he would lay before the House. It was to the effect that this House, while determined to pass a measure for amend ing the law relating to electors, declines to allow leave to do so until Ministers possess the confidence of the House. The Speaker ruled that a similar ques tion being already before the House, it was not competent for him to receive such a resolution until the one already before them was disposed of. Mr Macandrow said in that case he had no alternative but to negative every motion introduced until the question was disposed of. There was no intention to stonewall, but they would have this matter decided without losing more time. They would make an exception in the matter of the Public Revenues Act, be cause they thought it was important ; but they would make no other exception. The Speaker said the question now was whether leave should be given to intro duce a certain Bill.

Mr. Hall said the question was whether, if this Bill was negatived, it could be introduced again this session. The Speaker said he ruled that a resolu tion similar to the one on the Order Paper could not be entertained.

Sir G. Grey said they were competent to make forms of then-own, and proceeded to argue in that direction when he was called to order The Speaker quoted from May to show that matters of the kind were left to the Speaker to be dealt with according to order and precedent. Sir George Grey continued to refer to the matter, when he was again called to order.

Sir G. Grey then proposed to move the adjournment of the House in order to dis cuss the matter, but was told by the Speaker he could only speak to the ques tion before the House at the time of moving. Mr Sheehan proposed the adjournment of the debate until 7.30, on the understand ing that the financial statement should then come on, taking precedence of the matter now before the House.

Mr Hall said he was quite willing to adjourn if allowed to bring up the financial statement at 7.30.

Mr Sheehan said he would only consent if tliis matter was taken after the state ment.

The debate on the Bill was then ad journed till 7.30.

EVENING SITTING. The Financial Statement. Major Atkinson, in moving for leaveW introduce the Public Revenues Act Amendment Act, said the circumstances were of an exceptional character. He had to disregard the usual rule, that the statement of the year should be a carefully prepared document and submitted to the Government. The finance had not been dealt with at all for fifteen months. Par liament was in the dark for that time. He would givo a broad outline of finance so as to enable members to turn over in their minds what was beat to be done. In 1878 the Treasurer estimated he would begin the year with a surplus of £120,468. The actual amount realised was £116,844. The expenditure passed was £4,210,000. The actual expenditure as placed before the House last session by the then Treasurer (Sir G. Grey) was £3,652,048 ; the apparent saving of £558,000 was reducible by £348,219 of liabilities. The payments for and made within the year amounted to a little over £4,000,000. The revenue for 1878-9 was estimated at £4,046,637. The actual sura realised being £3,751,598, left a deficiency of £203,939 at the end of this year. They began the year with £116,900 to their credit, and ended, after taking credit for assets and providing for liabilities, with a deficit of £130,824. He called attention to the following items of expenditure to show that they were not exercising any economy iu the public service. They had not retrenched in any one way, and it would be seen that some very decided step would have to be taken to place the finance on its proper footing. In law and justice, customs, &c., for the year 1877- 78 the sum voted amounted to £866,000. That was an expenditure of £IO,OOO more than voted. In 1878-9 the same depart ments got a vote of £903,000, whereas the actual expenditure was £956,000. The Native Department was next referred to. In 1876-77 the cost was £34,000 ; in 1877- 78 £43,000, and in 1878-79 it amounted to £58,000. The salaries last year were £19,000 ; they were about the same for 1877- but in 1878-79 only £15,331 was voted for salaries, but the contingent expenses rose from £4893 in 1876-76 to £5767 in the next year, while for 1878-79 they were £16,741. The expenditure for 1878- as estimated by the late Govern ment was £3,973,425, but that did not include £140,000 for contingent defence, which it was proposed to charge to loan ; nor did it include £122,000 of local revenue, which the Government merely collected and paid. The expenditure as stated included £1,325,373 for interest and sinking fund, £63,540 the 20 per cent, of land, and £259,527 the amount of sub sidies. The estimate of revenue by the late Government was £3,444,000 ; made up from taxation, £1,380,000 ; for services rendered £1,362,000; from land, £500,000. But deducting this revenue from the stated expenditure there was left a deficit of £532,034, and adding to this the deficit from 1878-79 of £131,814 there was left the deficit to bo met this year of £663,858. But in fact he feared with the experience which the Government had had of the receipts for the first quarter that the estimates made by the late Government for the current year’s revenue would not be realised. Revising the estimates as carefully as he had been aide, he feared tie- receipts would not exceed £3,193,900, made up of taxation £2,512,300, on

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

[Thursday, October 16. 1879

4