This matter was allowed to stand oyer on account of <ha disorganised condition of tho finances of the colony.

IRON WORKS PER KNOWSLET HALL,

Wellington, Bth Nov. 1879. Dkar Sir, —Tn reply to your note re goods per Kuowsley Hall tlieso can all he furnished in the colony though at double the price, and will not delay the erection of the bridge. I think the accounts for Rangitata Bridge expenditure should now be made up for everything that we have paid, but excepting these goods per Knowsley Hall, at the same time advising Gpvcmment that if not to hand within one month from this wo exi'ect them to get them re placed in the colony ; if they subsequently come to hand per the Knowsley Hall they will become available for other works, and if not we receive insurance money. — Yours, &c.,

E. G. Wright.

W. C. Walker, Esq , THE RANGITATA TRAFFIC BRIDGE. Public Works Office, Wellington, 3rd Nov., 1879. Sir, -I am directed by the Minister for Public Works, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 17th July, in which inter alia you request that the Govern ment should “ take over the material for the Rangitata traffic bridge, part of which is at Lyttelton and the rest in transit from England, from the Council, and under take the completion of the extension of the bridge, deducting amount from both Counties, Ashburton County being credited with its present liability on that account, viz.—Bridge material ordered in accordance with Mr. Higginson’s report. In reply, I am to inform you that Mr. Blair, the Engineer-in-Charge Middle Island, has been directed to arrange for carrying your request into effect, Mid to see that the proposed bridge extension is erected. . , I am to add that this is done on the distinct understanding that the cost is to be equally charged to the Ashburton and Geraldine Counties.—l have the honor, &c.,

John Knowles, . Uunder Secretary, Public Works,

It was resolved that a letter bo written to Mr Austin explaining the whole matter, and giving details of the goods now on hand and that portion now at sea, and requesting the District Engineer, Mr. Austin, to have the work put in hand at once.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR HOSPITAL. F. Mainwaring, Esq., Dear Sir, —The enclosure relative to the order for surgical instruments, &C-, ordered for the Ashburton Hospital. I revised the list carefully, and dispatched the order to Messrs Daw, Son, and Thompson on the 9th October last, and I hope they will arrive by the time the building is ready.—Yours, &c., 1 Ewd. G. Wright. The enclosure was a credit note for £l6O. be walsh’s application for drainage at wakanui. Mr. Wright pointed out that the Counties Act did not provide for drainage. ■ There was an evident omission in the Act, Bnd he had, in the House, taken the initiatory measures to have the error rectified in the interpretation clause. extras at hospital. Mr. Carlton offered to supply for £4417s certain necessary furniture for the hospital. The tender was accepted. GAS FOR COUNTY BUILDINGS, Mr. George Parkin offered to supply the requisite gas fittings, &c., for the County offices and buildings for the sum of £29 155.. Accepted, sub j ect to the Chairman s approval COUNTY LAND FUND. Mr, Wright said that Sir G, Grey had stated that all the subsidies had been paid, and he had called upon Mr. Batkin, who stated that they had all been paid, and some three weeks after, when he heard from Mr. Mainwaring, Clerk to the Coun cil, that the subsidy was. still due, he had again called upon him at Treasury office, and was told that it had been paid, but deducted for the Mount Somers rads. He read a statement of the accounts supplied to him. He afterwards waited on Mr. Knowles, and told him he thought there was a “ screw loose” somewhere, and Mr. Knowles acknowleged there was. Mr. Wright then produced and read a statement show ing- the' position in which the County stood with the Government from Mr. . point of view. He thought some agreement might have been come to by the late Government with Mr. Wason, and interviewed Mr. Saunders to discover whether any agreement to the effect, spoken of by Mr. Macandrew, had been entered into by Mr. Wason, and Mr, Saunders had written, denying that he had ever heard of any such bargain having been made, therefore he considered that this bargain had no existence except in Mr. Macandrew’s brain. Ther had been a sum of £40,000 voted, a sufllcient sum to complete the lino throughout, includ ing the cost of material. Mr. Grigg thought that they should not submit to have the value of the rails con fiscated, as the £6,400 which they cost, were by agreement, to he reimbursed to the County, and the County should fight the Government on the question. Mr. Coster thought that as the County would receive no portion of the revenue from this line he considered that the approbation of the £6,400 was a robbery. Mr. Wright explained that the Govern ment had not only received the land fund sufficient to make the line three, or four times over, hut had, in addition, taken the rails belonging to the County to make the line with.

The, Chairman, Messrs. Wright and Grigg, were appointed a committee to draw up a memorandum to the Govern ment, re the subsidies retained by them. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN 00, , VERNMENT AND COUNTY. Mr. Wright gave detailed statements as to the amount due from the Land Fund subsidy, and as they are not yet complete the publication of them was requested to be held over, until a full statement could bo made. : , , , , ~ A. vote of thanks was recorded to Mr. Wright for the trouble he had taken in the County's interest. Mr. Wright said he considered he was , only doing his duty, as he was Treasurer to the County. mw ATA GORGE BRIDGE. Mr. Coster read a report on the pro ■ proved south approach to Rakaia Gorge bridge. The Committee recommended that the

suggestion of the engineer be acted upon and tenders called for the work. Committee further recommended that where cliffs are very steep below the cut tings a substantial fence be erected so as to render the approach to the bridge safe for all kinds of traffic.

The Committee also desire to point out that at a part of the terrace not included in the engineer’s report, i. e., the first cut ting immediately below Mr. Aynsley’s sheep jard is at a gradient of 1 in 5, whereas no other portion of the road will be steeper than 1 in 9 ; they therefore re commended that the road snould be altered from this point to such a line as may be found best to bring the gradient to approximate to those other parts of the road.

E. S. Coster, Chairman of Committee. The recomendation was adopted, and it was resolved to apply to Mr. Aynsley for a right to make the road through his land. The pay sheet was read and passed. Tenders were opened for the following works :—Fencing and filling up County office site. The two tenders for this were £4OO in one case, and £4ll in the other, and it was considered as rather too expen sive a work for the Council to agree to. Mr Bruce attended and explained the plans for fencing, filling up, and draining tne offices, and on it being shown that there were outbuildings, well, &c., in cluded in the contract, the tender of David Lusk, at £4OO, was accepted, subject to certain alterations, which were left to the Chairman’s discretion. DOG COLLARS. A large number of tenders accompanied by samples were sent in, and that of Mr. Walsh, of Rakaia, was accepted at G|d per collar. FORKS PROTECTIVE WORKS, The following tenders were accepted : £ s. d. No. 1, Sutherland... 164 6 8 No. 2, Wilkie ... 94 7 0 No. 3, Sutherland ... 333 13 8 No. 4, Shepherd ... 87 2 8 The Council then adjourned.

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Me. Hugo Friedlander at the Town Hall. Last night Mr. Hugo Friedlander ad dressed the electors at the Town Hall. There was a very large attendance of the general public, fully 500 people being in the room. All the sitting accommodation was utilised, and the open apace below the gallery was well filled lip by those who were unable to obtain a seat. Mr. Bullock, the Mayor, occupied the

Mr. Bullock, the Mayor, occupied the chair, and introduced the candidate. Mr. Friedlander said that in coming before them that evening, he did so with a certain amount of pride. He had received what was to him a very flattering requisi tion to stand for the Mayoralty of Ash burton, and it was very gratifying to him self to know that the interest he had always taken in the town and district was so far appreciated He could assure them that, whether elected or not, the interest he had always taken in this rising borough would be continued. He did not think they would be disappointed when he told them he was no orator. He was not an orator, and he spoke under a difficulty they could sympathise with. Ho WAS A FOREIGNER, speaking in a language he had learnt since growing up to manhood, and he craved their forbearance with him if his articulation was not so clear as an orator’s, nor his English so accurate as a college professor’s. In 1870 he came to this colony, and at that time he could not have asked in English his way up the street. But oratory was only one of the graces of a public man ; and so long as he combined good, sound, common sense with firmness and caution, and was competent to dis charge the duties required of his position, he could afford to dispense with afay great gifts of oratory without any great loss to the community whose interests he was called upon to serve. In fact, it had been proved at many public meetings that a glib tongue could wag in the head of a fool, and the smoothest speech flow from the lips of a soapy sycophant. He hoped, however, that he would not be judged by the quantity nor the grace of his remarks, but by the sense and spirit of what he had to say. The first subject presenting itself for notice was the

WATER SUPPLY for the town, and its next neighbor was the

DRAINAGE QUESTION. Both these questions had been fully dealt with by the Borough Council, and how the proposed schemes were to be carried out had already been decided upon by the Councillors. It was idle, then, and a waste of time to go into details of these questions. But there was a question that had to be dealt with before either of these could be handled, and that was the ques tion of FINANCE. This was a matter wanting very serious consideration. He was confident he ex pressed the views of the most of the rate payers when he said that in the present depressed state ofthe Borough’s finances, it behoved them to be very cautious how they spent their money. Not that he wished to say the works referred to were not neces sary, and useful; but that until such time as their prospective abundant harvest was reaped—and this ho sincerely hoped for, —and until we had in a measure re covered from the present commercial gloom and seen more prosperous times, they ought not to burden themselves with INCREASED TAXATION, They ought to wait with patience and step with caution. If they went in for the proposed £15,000 loan they must be prepared to pay a drainage and water rate of 2s. in all upon their rateable property. He need not say this would fall hardly upon many if not most of them the many still unpaid rates were ominous of the difficulty people had in making both ends meet without extra rating. So far as he was concerned, these works could bo on, if the ratepayers were willing ; but he would certainly be in favor before this heavy debt was contracted, of being cer tain that the ratepayers were willing to pay the heavy interest on a big loan. Then, the raising of this loan must not be lost sight of. It was too small a sum to be floated in the English market. He knew that only too well, as a business man, and to try here just now would only be a waste of time arid money. He believed, however, that if they waited a while till times were more prosperous, as he knew they would be,

THE LOAN COULD BE FLOATED in the Colonial market at far better terms than they could possibly obtain now. The Councillors would perhaps forgive him for thinking they had made a great mistake in expending their COUNTY COUNCIL GRANT OF £SOOO in ordering mains, instead of allowing the money to lie in the bank until it was wanted. If they had allowed it to be at interest the nice little sum of £275 per annum would have accrued upon it, whereas the pipes, now almost due from England, would be of no service whatever for some time to come. The present supply of water from the wells had been proved to be sufliciont in case of fire, and all that was needful was

A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF TUBE-WELLS sunk throughout the town to enable the hose to reach all the buildings. If these were found, the Fire Brigade would be able to cope with tl e great enemy in any part of the borough. This question of water supply led him to the subject of the FIRE BRIGADE. The work of this most useful body ought to be better appreciated than it had been. He should be in favor of the Borough, if found at all possible, supplying the Brigade with a suitable uniform. He con sidered the cost of this ought to be a first charge upon the revenue raised, so that faith could be kept with a resolution pro posed by Mr. Ivess when he was a member of the Fire Brigade Committee. The uniform was of more importance than most people thought. It was of a kind that formed a protection from heat to the men, and this was even a greater matter than the distinction it gave them, pre venting them from being mistaken in the crowd. As it was at present, there was no knowing at a fire who was and who was not a fireman, and as a result outsiders were found coming in—with the best in tentions, no doubt—and interfering,

DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD, and preventing the prompt and efficient discharge of the Brigade’s duties. He would like to see the Fire Brigade in pos session of a steam fire-engine. If elected he would endeavour to interview their indefatigable member, Mr. Wright, on the subject, and point but to him the necessity of such a useful machine for the protection of the town from fire, and induce him, if possible, to influence the Govern ment to place a sum on the estimates for such a purpose. It would also be the speaker’s duty to urge upon the Insurance companies to aid the brigade in this matter. The Ashburton Borough had been unfairly treated by the Government in the matter of the RURAL LAND they ought to have granted—namely* 2,000 acres. To this extent of ground the borough was fairly entitled under the Municipal Corporations Act. The bo roughs of Lyttelton, Akaroa, and Kaiapoi, had each been granted that extent of land in this county. Although none of them grudged those boroughs their endowments it must be patent to all that had that land been sold a considerable amount of money would have accrued from the sale to the Ashburton County funds. But the Borough had been a still more heavy sufferer, as up to the present time it had only been granted 422 acres. On this matter he should also feel it his duty to interview the member for the district and the Minister for Crown Lands. The speaker then

COMPLIMENTED THE PRESENT MAYOR Mr. Bullock on the untiring energy he had displayed, in this and other matters, in endeavouring to obtain justice from the Government for the Borough. Another matter which he intended to bring ■ before the authorities, should he be placed in a position to do ■ so, was the danger to ordinary traffic arising from the UNPROTECTED STATE OF THE RAILWAY RESERVE, and to request them to place upon the estimates a sum for fencing the line, or appointing a watchman at the principal crossings in the borough ; also to

OPEN ALL CROSSINGS ON FORMED STREETS. The increase of accommodation in the matter of

BUILDINGS, such as the railway station, railway plat form, Courthouse, and a new traffic bridge over the Ashburton' river were subjects under Governmental consideration, and he was sure they were not likely to be neglected by our energetic member of Parliament, Mr. Wright. It ought, how ;eyer, to be the duty of the Mayor to urge ’these works upon.the Government. Hav ing touched upon most public matters of interest to the borough, he would now say a few words in regard to

HIS OPPONENT, MR. IVESS.

He bad, he must admit, two very great advantages oyer himself (Mr. F.) —ad- vantages very important to a candidate at election times. He had the

GIFT OF TALK to an extraordinrry degree, and could use it, as he had proved, to some purpose. He also held the reins, of an organ which did not stick at trifles when necessary for its owner’s interest. They would all re member the character of a paper which emanated from Mr. Ivess’ office, and the manner in which it PROSTITUTED THE POWER OF THE PRESS to injure his opponents. Could they con aider it a credit to their Borough that they should elect as their Chief Magistrate a man who condescended, under the veil of A BORROWED NAME to slander respected and respectable citi zens in such a malicious and cool-blooded spirit as he had done. He thought the good sense of the burgesses would carise them to hesitate before placing such a man in power. A HOW. [Here a loud clamour was raised by the larrikin element, and then hisses and ap plause commingled fora time. Mr. W. Leg gat requested Mr, Friedlander to avoid personalities, and some one in the back of the hall wanted to know, about Munroe’s bill of sale. The speaker proceeded after the tumult had to some extent subsided.] A good deal of comment had been made on the fact that

ONE OF HIS BROTHERS was a Councillor and another held office as collector, &c. [AVoice —£40.] Should he be elected Mayor, ithad been said too much of the governing power of the Borough would be in the hands of one family. He would only answer to this that if the Borough’s business were managed as sue

cessfully as their own had been the j burgesses would not have any reason to | complain of his elec; ion. He did not | wish to be egotistical v hen he said so, and he risked the possible charge, but he thought he could safely say that no move ment for the advancement of the town had ever met with any opposition on the part of himself or his family. Mr. Fried lander then thanked the audience for the hearing accorded to him, and would be prepared to answer any question put to him upon any subject of interest to the borough. Mr. William Leggatt asked whether, as Mr. Friedlander considered his opponent unfit to sit as magistrate, he considered himself qualified to hold that position. Mr. Friedlander said he thought he was—(laughter)—as the requisition he he had received was signed numerously and influentially, and contained the names of the most prominent burgesses in Ashburton, so that if they considered him fit, ie must feel himself so. A long pause ensued, and no more questions being put, Mr. Gun dry moved —“ That this meeting considers that Mr. Friedlander is a fit and proper person to hold the position of Mayor of Ashburton.” This was seconded by Mr. A. Orr. Mr. St. Hill was astonished at the can didate before the meeting speaking about the conduct of Mr. Ivess.—(Laughter.) Mr. Friedlander had said that Mr. Ivess had been guilty of scandalous conduct in issuing the “ Evening News ” from his office.—(Hear, hear). There was a great deal more in the Guardian than in the “Nows.”—(Cries, “Right you are, George,” and laughter). He meant the Herald. That paper had been the cause of more ill-felling than anything else that had ever happened in Ashburton. He would propose the following amendment : ‘ ‘ Having now heard the addresses of both candidates for the Mayoral honors, this meeting desires to confirm the resolution passed last evening in Mr. Joseph Ivess’ favor.”

Seconded by Mr F. Duncan. The Chairman put the amendment, and declared it carried by 44 to 27. Mr. E. Thomas wished to know if non voters were entitled to hold up their hands, because if they were he would like to hold up his. The Chairman replied that although many had voted without being qualified it was most difficult to tell in so large a meeting who were electors. Mr. Friedlander returned thanks to those who had voted for him, and expressed his conviction that he would again thank them to-morrow night as a successful candidate.

A vote of thanks to the Mayor termi nated the proceedings.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON. Tuesday, Nov. 25. (Before Mr F. Guinness, R.M.) ALLEGED DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Mr. Phillip /I’isch did not appear to prosecute the man remanded from yes terday on a charge of damaging' his pro perty, and the accused was dismissed. CIVIL CASES. Branson and others v. Gavin and others—Claim, £2 13s 6d. Mr Branson conducted his own case. Mr Crisp ap peared on behalf of Mr. Gavin. The claim was made by Messrs Branson and Purnell, a firm of solicitors, to recover the above sum, as costs for professional assistance rendered in the matter of Thomas Maddox, who, it will be remem bered, was prosecuted some time back for fraudulent bankruptcy. In March last Maddox filed his schedule in bankruptcy under circumstances that raised a suspicion of fraud Mr. Sando, trustee in the estate, took Mr. Branson’s advice, and Maddox was arrested, and brought back from Dunedin to Ashbur ton. A special meeting of the creditors was held, at which it was resolved to ob tain an order to prosecute the debtor under the Fraudulent Debtors Act. The order was granted, Mr Sando had an in terview with Mr. Branson, and was ad vised to proceed to Christchurch to ob tain legal advice to save expense. Certain creditors resolved that Mr. Sando should proceed to Christchurch in accordance with this advice. Plaintiff contended that Mr. Saudo was the representative of the creditors, from whom the idea of prosecuting the bankrupt emanated. The defence was that though the claim was a fair and reasonable one in itself, it was not chargeable against the defendants, Gavin and others, inasmuch as they had not been parties io the engagement of Messrs. Branson and Purnell previous to the meeting at which plaintiffs conducted a two hours’ examination of the bank rupt before the trustee. The plaintiffs founded on the 27th section of the Resi dent Magistrates Act that any one or any number of persons jointly liable for a charge may bs proceeded against. After a lengthy argument, in which Mr. Crisp contended that the trustee was not the creature of the creditors, but of the Act, and Messrs. Branson and Pur nell were engaged, not by the creditors sued, but by the trustee. Judgment was given for the reason that it was important to settle such questions, as they affected trustees in bankruptcy to aconsiderable extent. The amount charged had not been disputed. It had been con tended that the resolutions of the trustees’ meetings were not in writing, and were consequently informal. The Court was of opinion that verbal evidence of the minutes of resolutions at meetings of creditors was admissible. On the other points raised for the defence, the Court was against them, and he gave his judgment with some diffidence. It would be for plaintiff}, for amount claimed with costs. He considered the creditors’ trustee to be agent for the creditors ; and he also considered the defendants were liable for all expenses. IDLE DOGS WORRY SHEEP. Martha Gibson v. George Cole.—Mr. Branson for plaintiff, Mr. Ireland for defendant. Claim for the destruction of 87 lambs by defendant’s dogs, £l7 Bs. Mr. Branson explained the nature of the case, and called Cornelius Kelly, laborer, who was work ing for Mrs. Gibson. In September last saw a dog chasing sheep and worrying one. The dog was black with some white on its breast. Afterwai’ds saw a dog similar to the same at Cole’s. It was tied up there. It was a sheep dog and seemed like the same dog, but I could not swear it was the same. When I went to stop the dog worrying it ran towards a gully in an opposite direction to Cole’s. I have not seen any dogs in the neighborhood resembling Cole’s dog.

Gross-ownined by'Mr. Ireland—l have seen sheep dogs about the place besides Ode’s, but not of a similar color. I saw the dog worrying the sheep in September, ami went to Cole’s about a month after. Mrs. Gibson told me to go ? and see the dog to identify it. The dog which was worrying the sheep was rough on the neck and smooth on the body. The one I saw at Cole’s was the same.

Thomas Nolan, laborer, was working for Mr. Gibson on Oct. 10th, and saw two dogs chasing sheep. The dogs stopped when I went towards them, and they went in a different direction to Cole’s house. I followed them afterwards. One went towards Cole’s, and the other in an opposite way. I knew one to be Cole’s, and the other I followed. It went eventually to Cole’s, and he admitted the ownership. Told Cole the dogs had been hunting the sheep, and he came with me to look for the other dog. I saw the dog, and heard defendant acknowledge both dogs to be his. Since that date no sheep have been worried. Cole told me he would kill the dogs, and I have not seen them since.

Cross-examined by Mr. Ireland : Lost sight of the dog I chased whilst he was in the gully, but he was generally in ray sight till within 8 chains of Cole’s house. Cole went to plaintiff’s paddock with me to see what damage was done, but as only hunting was done by the dogs till stopped by me, no sheep were killed. We only found one dead sheep, hut there mav have been more. Most of the ewes had lambed then. There wore pigs there. I swear both dogs belonged to Cole. Martha Gibson, was owner of a farm in Wakanui. In the early part of Septem ber I had over 200 lambs. On the 10th Oct. I went to Cole’s and asked him if two dogs there belonged to him, and asked him to look at a leg of a lamb not then cold. I mustered my lambs that day, and found there wore only 113 left. Have heard dogs worrying them, and have seen numbers of dead lambs on the ground. I had pigs on the same ground, but they will not worry live lambs ; they eat up the carcases. Since the 10th Oct. there has been no worrying, and Cole told me he had destroyed one of the dogs, in consequence of receiving a letter from my solicitors. He asked to have the matter submitted to arbitration, and I agreed, but he subsequently refused. Cross-examined by Mr. Ireland —The lambs were lambed in August. Cole told me there was a strange dog about the place the same day he destroyed his own. The value of the lambs at that time would be 9s. per head. Daniel Black, employed by Mrs. Gib son, said he was ascustomed to see the sheep every day. Saw numbers of lambs worried previous to the 10th October, but none since. Cole told me he had killed the worst dog he had. The sheep now stop at home but previously were chased all over the paddocks. Cross-examined by Mr. Ireland—l re collect the sheep being impounded in August. There wore no lambs then, but they began to lamb a few daj's afterwards. Mrs. Gibson has two dogs. Don’t know of any being disposed of. Couldn’t make Mrs. Gibson’s dogs worry sheep if I tried. G. D. Branson, solicitor, stated that Mr. Cole informed him that he had de stroyed both dogs, and was inclined to go on with the arbitration, and subsequently said he would not.

Mr. Ireland applied for a nonsuit, on the ground that no evidence had been brought that any sheep had been killed. His Worship considered there was suf ficent evidence to go on with the case. George Cole, farmer, Wakanui, and defendant in the case—Spoke to Mr. Branson after receiving his letter, which claimed £2O for 100 lambs. I took a man to see them. Told Mrs. Gibson it was spite on account of my having pounded her stock, and told her I would pay her for all damage if she would show me them. I never told Mr. Branson 1 had destroyed two dogs, I told him I had to destroy one because I thought I would have to register him. Always had the dogs tied up at night, and the one with a white throat was tied up day and night all through Septem ber. The pup I destroyed was about five months old. Went round Mrs. Gibson’s paddock with Nolan to see the dead lambs, and could not find anything but an old sheep which had been dead two months. Knew of a strange black and wnite dog about there. My neighbors have also seen it. It is there now. Pigs will kill lambs.

Cross-examined by Mr. Branson. Whilst the lambs are weak the gulls will destroy them when they lie down ; but they don’t fly by night. Won’t swear I tied the dogs up every night. Never told Mrs. Gibson or Black that I had destroyed the worst dog of the two. Did not tell either Mr. Branson or Mr. Purnell that I had destroyed the same. Never knew my dogs to have been in mischief before. F. Lewis, veterinary surgeon Had known pigs kill lambs. Knewacasetwenty seven years ago, and didn’t think they had changed their nature since. Didn’t think it impossible for pigs and sheep to live harmoniously together. Cross-examined by Mr. Branson—The carnivorous sow I knew twenty-seven years ago is the only instance in my know ledge. Mrs. Cole, wife of defendant, remem bered Nolan calling at her house about the dogs ; the pup was loose—the other was tied up. Fed the pup about ten minutes before Nolan came.

F. Rickard, farmer, knew of a wild dog running about his place. Saw him that morning. He is a cattle dog, and I have tried to shoot him.

His Worship considered that in cases of this sort cirmcumstantial evidence must be accepted. The weight of evidence must be in favor of plaintiff, as the stray dog so much talked about has not done any damage to anything but hen roosts ; and he would caution owners of dogs to bo careful of their neighbors’ property. Judgment for amount claimed. The Court then adjourned.

ST. STEPHEN'S TEA MEETING.

Last night the tea meeting and enter tainment in connection with St. Stephen’s Church, arrangements for which have been in progress for some time past, was held, and was an unqualified success, thanks to the energy of the Rev. Mr. Paige, and the aid given to him by the mainstay of everj' church—the ladies. About five o’clock the doors of the Town Hall were opened to the guests, and a most inviting scene presented itself, of laid tables, laden with masterstrokes of the genius of cook, confectioner, and pastrycook. If it is a pleasure to a pur veyor, as it is said to be, to see his work demolished by those who relish the work of demolition, then the fair ones who pre sided at the tables yesterday afternoon must have enjoyed that pleasure to the full. We were not able to obtain tho names of all the ladies who graced the dispensation of the good things, but the following is as correct a list of the bevy of beauty as wa have been able to compile, viz., Mes daraes G. D. Branson, Bruce, Bristow, Campbell, Curtis, Crisp, St. George Douglas. Fooks, Firth, Guinness, Gundry, Jacobson, Jameson, Paige, Purnell, Shury, Trevor, and Winter ; and Misses Cowper, Guinness, Johns, and Winter. After the table had been removed and the hall arranged for the entertainment, the Rev. W. E. Paige spoke as follows : Ladies and Gentlemen, So far as our task is ended, And you, we trust, are all contented With our efforts, for all have vied.

In friendly strife, and their best have

tried To cheer you first with strong bohea, Tarts, cakes, and beef, to let you see Their kindly wish to welcome all, Who’ve graced this pleasant carnival ; And now will charm with melody, Both “ sweet and low,” of song and glee. Your patient ears, doing their parts. To make the evening merry And long remembered in your hearts As a gathering of all degrees, Bach seeking the other to please,

And to assist in raising funds To satisfy our pressing duns For interest of money lent To build up St. Stephens, which we meant To duly pay off month by month, (Ah, fatal bond, for so it runn’th. Hard times, alas, have supevened, Therefore this gathering we convened To raise the needful. Thanks, then, friends, For your presence here ; it makes amends For anxious thoughts how to supply The very great deficiency, ’Tis partly done—we wish ’twas all.

Of minutes ten, an interval Is provided, when our Worthy Mayor Will undertake to do his share.

At auction cheap he’ll sell you all —At least, he’ll sell for you to buy — Sweeties, cakes, bouquets for t le ball, For bashful youths, who long and sigh For presents to the belles to give, Whose glances pierce them like a The cause is good, don’t grudge your tin, And you’ve our wishes them to win. And now, kind audience, greet, I pray With hearty cheer, The ladies dear, Who did provide our tea to-day. Of the songs, please clap with a will, Till they’re sung be patient and still. Let no rude boy whistle, cat-call, or hiss, For these, I’m afraid, will be taken amiss. Thanking you all, I make my bow, And the entertainment shall now

Begin with “ Friendship,” and I ween, We’ll end it with “ God Save the Queen.” The rhyming speech having been wed received, the entertainment was proceeded with, a pause being made to allow the Mayor to “ knock down ” the surplusage of good things to the highest bidders. The financial results of the evening, all told, are very satisfactory. The quality of the vocal and instrumental music provided was above the usual standard at these meetings, and the choir are deserving of all praise for the manner in which they rendered the glees. The first, ‘ 1 Friend ship,” by the choir, was a gem, the voices harmonising well, and the accompaniment being simply perfect. A duet by the Misses Gates, “ Light in the East is glow ing,” was admired by the audience, if we may judge by the applause. A song, “My Grandfather’s Clock,” by Mr. Harrison, accompained by the choir, elicited applause, and a duet by Mrs. Wood and Miss Kidd, “ Marche des Flambeau ” was played in an artistic manner. Mr. R. H. Pratt sang “My Old Friend John” in his usual taking style, and was followed by Mrs. Campbell, who delighted her hearers with the ever popular “Kate O’Shane.” The choir then sang the “ Angelas” from Maritana in a style which would have done credit to choirs of greater pretensions. The Misses Gates \v«;o again in requisition, and “ The Flower Girl” elicited a well-merited round of applause. A set of waltzes (a duet) by Mrs. Paige and Miss Johns was the next item, followed by a recitation by Mr. Jacobson. Mr. Harrison’s song, “I’ve Nothing Else to Do,” was sung remarkably well, and the National Anthem closed the proceedings, Mrs. Paige deservedly being thanked for presiding at the piano.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

THE WATERWORKS PETITION.

To the Editok. Sir, —Our attention has been called to the publication of a petition in Saturday’s issue of the “Ashburton Mail,” purporting to be signed by Edward Saunders and others. Will you kindly allow us to state through your column's that such a petition has not been signed by our Mr. Edward Saunders, and further, that we are strongly in favor of the projiosed water supply scheme. Yours, &c. Saunders Eros.

Pecuniary Value of a Husband and Father.

(Banking Record.) Suppose a man earns £SOO per year for the support of his family, what capital does that represent I A family invest ment cannot be fairly estimated as net ting mere than live per cent., or £SO yearly per £IOOO invested; £SOO per annum therefore represents a capital of £IO,OOO. In fact, such a capital, securely invested, would not equal in pecuniary value the fruits to a family of the labor of a man who yearly brings home ,£SOO in cash, since lie would at odd times, do and see to many things which without him the family would have to hire for. ItiS in deed strange that well-to-do, intelligent business 'men do not oftener thinW of this relation of their’own lives and labors to the support and welfare .of thier families.' It is still more strange that thoughtless women, and even children old enough to reflect, do not properly prize the valuable capital that exists in a diligent husband and father If this were ade quately estimated by them, it could not fail to command a prudential provision against any sudden loss of such an impor tant financial resource. Suppose that a man owned a house, uppu the income, of which alone his family would be depen dent for a subsistence in case of his death, would he allow that, property to be unin sured for a single day ! -Would he or would his family risk the liability of having only a heap of ruins instead of the productive investment ? This is a world in which the bread-and-butter question is a reality ; and the pecuniary value of a husband and father is a reality that should be considered.

A Friendly African King.

The 'heart of Africa contains a great chief, whose praises have been sounded by Livingston, Stanley, and other travellers who have visited his country. 1 ’ This per son is Mtesa, the Kabakah or Emperor of the territory of Uganda,'a vast region to the northward of lake Victoria: -Nyanza, with its capital on the lake. The reader has read how, within the present year, by proclamation of imperial authority, lie liberated half a million of slaves. He is remarkable for the gentleness of" his nature. He had had so much intercourse with white explorers that he has caught the spirit of civilization. Stanley speaks of Mtesa as “the foremost man of Cen tral Africa,” and much inclined' to adopt the Christian faith. Stanley adds: “Mtesa, if aided in time by virtuous philanthropists, will do more for Central Africa than fifty years of Gospel teaching unaided by such authority can do. ” The : example of Mtesa in freeing his slaves and ■in encouraging the visits of white men, it is believed Trill exercise potent influence in breakinghip the slave trade. For this reason, and be cause his friendship will go toward ■ the opening up of a lucrative trade in Africa, white people are anxious to cultivate his acquaintance, and if possible elevate his condition. It will not be many years-’be fore the old king -will find himself'sur rounded by a white population. All the “ signs of the times ” encourage the be lief, and it is fortunate that he invites immigration.

A Romantic Story.

A week ago to-day (says the.“ Figaro”) one of the most celebrated surgeons in Paris was stopped in the street at a late hour of the night by three men armed with pistols, who compelled him to enter a carriage and submit to have his , eyes bandaged. After some . time the doctor found himself in a handsomely furnished room, where a young and very beautiful woman was in bed and he wais ordered by one of the party who; had brought, him there to amputate her left hand,. -The doctor at first refused, but to the threats of the captors were joined the tearful en treaties of the lady herself, who,assured him it was the only way of saving her lie. He, therefore, did as. he was ordered. His eyes were rebandaged, and he was finally set down in a deserted street,, not far from his own house. It has since transpired (says the “Figaro”) that the lady operated on was the daughter of a well-known French general,; whp had recently betrothed herself to one wjiq,dike herself, was poor. - Subsequently,:-under pressure from her father, she consented to give her hand to a wealthy Count, but con tinued, against the wish of hep husband, to wear a ring which her former loveiphad given to her just as he was . setting out to join an embassy to which he had .-been appointed, and which she had sworn, neyer to take ofl the hand which should always be his.” The count’s jealousy; .was increased by a letter from the duke which fell into his hands, and in which -his late “ fiancee ” was reminded of her promise, and wrought up to. a pitch of: madness by the persistent refusal of his wife to give up the ring, he swore that he would.havo her hand cut off and sent to her lover, and the above is the means- he topk.'to.icarry out his threat. The affair 1m . been hushed up as much as possible, and; the count has retired with his wife to' his estate.

Misplaced Ingenuity.

A very ingenious method has been adopted in France for smuggling- spirits into Paris. For some time past .the guardians of the. Boia do Boulogne had remarked a lady who, entering the paths reserved for riders, traversed them at. full gallop and disappeared,as if by enchant ment before the employees of the Octroi could subject her to the usual formali ties. It was chiefly through the Boulbgue Gate that the fair unknown passed, so one day, after putting their heads together, these worthy people determined to bo even with her. They waited a day or two in vain, but at last their patience was rewarded. On came the horse at . full speed, clearing the barrier, but alas, it took the bit in its teeth, and its rider screamed for help. The crisis was of short Juration. Down went the steed with its too bold rider, and two gentlemen' who were passing by rushed up to render as sistance. Great was their surprise to find that the lady was a man after, all, - whose corsage of- indiarubber was: filled "with brandy, while the saddle was with the same liquor, which .was being smuggled almost every day into the ' capital. The. rider, thus detected,, slipped otf lus habit, and disappeared into an alley with the rapidity of a hare, leaving his horse behind him. The man has not yet since been seen, and .the animal remains unclaimed. ’

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN,

[_ThURSI'.VV, Nov-EM uku 27. 1579

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Telegraphic. —The Telegraph office at Greytown, Taieri, has been thrown open to the public. As there are now two telegraph stations named Greytown it will be necessary to add the word “ Taieri ” to the addresses of telegrams intended for the now station. Tub Unemployed. —Messrs Friedlander Bros, advertise for the cleaving of 40 acres of flax land. This kind of work only re quires a spade and some elbow grease to carry on the contract, and two or three of the “unemployed” may find something to earn wages at.



Phonetic. — We clip the following from “Talk on Change,” in the last issue of the “ Australasian” to hand :—“Mr. Sprague, the celebrated life assurance actuary, clings to phonetic spelling, and as he stands too high in his profession for the insurance journals to refuse his contribu tions on that account, they appear in all their eccentric orthography. Even Mr. Sprague at his best could not greatly out strip the following list of requirements sent by a selector to a country store keeper— ‘ A good hear brum, a brush to scrub romea, 3 pound of curens, quir of riting paper, and a paicket of involeps. ’