ASHBURTON BOTOUGH COUNCIL.

Thgrasual fortnightly meeting of the BortSjjp. Council was held last night. Preset*—His Worship the Mayor (presid ing), Messrs Roberts, Robinson, Fried lander, and St. Hill. mayor’s statement. The Mayor made his customary in troductory atatememt, in the course of which he said that the balance at the bank to the Borough’s debit was £5lO. £4l lls had been collected since last meeting in rates, and the total now collected was £BO2 12s. He had forwarded all corres pondence between himself and the Go vernment to Mr E. G. Wright, on the matter of the rural land endowment. He was sorry to have to shite that the de mands for employment on the Albury works had been greater than were ex pected, but the Government had promised to forward 15 men to that place. In a fortnight, however, a part of the Oxford line would be ready for the unemployed. The Fire Brigade had applied for reserve 777, but they would see that that could not be granted, and application had been made by the Brigade for a section in the same street with the Council offices. Mr Hughes desired to be released from his duties as scavenger. It would be for them to say whether he would be so or not. He had received letters which would be laid before them regarding the Municipal Association. APOLOGY. The Mayor tendered an apology for Mr George Parkin’s absence that evening. THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. Letters were read from the City Clerk of Christchurch, and from the Town Clerks of Kaiapoi, Waimate, and Lyttelton, acknowledging receipt of the Council’s resolutions regarding the formation of a Municipal Association, and promising either due consideration of the suggestion or support of the proposed union of boroughs. TWH! COUNTY COUNCIL IN DEFENCE. The Chairman of the County Council wrote, enclosing copies of the parts of the local papers’ reports of last meeting of the Borough Council, in which reference was made to the action of the County Council in regard to the refusal of a grant in aid, with the object of enabling the Borough Council to procure work for the unem ployed ; also to their conduct in reference to the Mount Somers Railway extension. The County Chairman denied that any charge of “ lukewarmness,” or “apathy,” or entertaining feelings of “ opposition to the Mount Somers line,” could be brought against the members of the County Coun cil, and • contended that some misunder standing must have existed, or such ex pressions could never have been made use of, nor could Mr Williamson’s resolution have passed. He also enclosed a resolu tion that had been passed after the Mayor, who was the deputation to the County s meeting, had left the Council room. It was as follows : “ That the Government be urged to proceed with the construction of the line to Mount Somers already authorised, and that the Govern ment be requested to consider ■the advisability of. sending some of the unemployed there, as had been done at Mr Walker-hoped the exptlßons had been used in error, and would not be endorsed, and desired to be assured, in face of the resolution he quoted; that the treatment the County Councillors had received had been the result of a misunderstanding. The Mayor said there appeared to be some misunderstanding regarding the way in which he had been received at the County Council He did not remmember hav ing seen the resolution referred to by the Chairman in any of the papers. Further he thought the County should have tele graphed to Government to have the works proceeded with. Had that resolution been known to the members of the Borough Council he did not think the resolution proposed by Mr Williamson would have been passed. He desired to state, in passings that .the Engineer had told him the line in question would not afford much pick and shovel Work to the unemployed, the main Work would he for scoops.

Mr St. Hill thought Mr Williamson, in the absence of any published report of the resolution mentioned by the Chairman, should be exonerated from all blame in the matter.

The Mayor said Mr Williamson was not blamed in particular. The onus lay with the whole Council.

Mr Saunders. thought the tone of the County meeting in regard to the subject, and the absence of the resolution from the published report of the said meeting, were sufficient exculpation of the Borough Council. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Chairman of the County, explaining that no resolution as supplied by Mr Walker had been published. THE BOROUGH SCAVENGER. Mr R. J. Hughes wrote, complaining that he was a heavy loser by his contract with the Council, and desired more favor able terms, or a release from his engage ment. He would take such steps as others “hiad done to get rid of their engage ments” if the Council did not meet his views. Mr St. Hill said if the man was deter mined to. follow Ashburton’s fashionable course of schedule filing, he should be allowed to relinquish his contract, on the understanding that he should pay a part of the expense in procuring another sca venger. The Mayor was in favor of letting the man out of lus contract, but he hoped the scavenger’s rate henceforth would be col lected by the man who did the work. Mr Robinson thought the man should have to carry out his contract, and the sureties made responsible for any loss. ; A resolution to call upon Mr Hughes sureties to perform the work in the event of his failing to do so, was put to the vote against another to release him if he paid the incidental expenses arising through the change, and the latter was carried by the Mayor’s casting vote. THE FIRE BRIGADE SITE. Mr Marshman wrote to say that Re serve 777 being for school purposes, could not be used for Fire Brigade purposes. The. Hon. Sec. of the Fire Brigade wrote, applying for permission to the Bri gade to- occupy Reserve 434, Tancred street, to the rear of the Council Chamber, as a brigade depot and site for the pro posed bell tower and engine shed. He also asked that the brigade’s pump wells haye their caps secured by chains to pre vent them being removed by children.

The Mayor said he had gone with the brigade captain to see several sections. The first one selected, near Jameson’s grain store, was on the highest ground in the hordin'}!, but it was too valuable, and he had suggested the one now asked. Mr St. Hill suggested that the triangular section on the VVakanui Road would be suitable.

Mr Robinson thought the site near the post office was most suitable. Mr St. Hill moved— “That the letter be i emitted back to the Brigade with a recommendation to reconsider their re quest, and suggesting a part of Reserve 502 as h better site, and one that would be readily granted by the Council.” Mr Robinson seconded and the motion was carried. THE LAND REVENUE. A telegram was read from Mr E. G. Wright (in reply to one by the Mayor) stating that no sales of Government lands had been set down in the returns as hav ing taken place in the borough. The Mayor said he was waiting for further information on this subject, with a view to obtaining a share of the 20 per cent, of land revenue. BURNETT STREET DRAIN. Mr Mossman wrote complaining of the state of the drain in Burnett street. Referred to the Sanitary Committee. THE UNEMPLOYED. Several telegrams from Mr E. G. Wright were read, regarding the Albury works, and the Oxford and Malvern line, the substance of which telegrams have al ready been published in these columns. ENGINEERS’ REPORT. North East Bril Contract for Formation and Shingling. The contract for this work is progress ing favorably. The gully across the whole width of the road has been filled up with the extra pipes. The foreman is prepar ing the timber wings for ends of culvert. He requires some more timber for the posts, viz., 85ft. (running) 5x5 totara. South East Belt Contract for Formation and Shingling. With the exception of breaking the large stones this contract has been com pleted satisfactorily. In order to procure a proper channel for the flow of water, it has been found necessary to add extra fill ing in the large gully. Some timber is also required for a culvert on this Belt, across the North East Belt, viz., 200 ft. (running) 6x3. Ko id far Scavenger to River Bed We have examined the locality and find that the only practicable road (on account of water channels) is about in a line with the continuation of Cass street, and runs about 12 to 13 chains through toi-toi to the edge of the stream. Messrs Saunders Water Channel. We find the channel from the back of Messrs Saunders Bros. ’ premises'to be too low in relation to the side channel, and Messrs Saunders wish the Council to make the necessay alteration, and charge them with the cost. C. E. Fooks «fc Son, Borough Engineers. The requests for timber by the Engineers were granted, and the proposal regarding Messrs Saunders’ water channel was agreed to. DEPARTMENTAL REDUCTIONS. Mr St. Hill was sorry to report that the Committee appointed to enquire into the question of reducing the departmental expenditure of the Council had failed to meet. He had attended ou two occasions, hut only one had put in an appearance. It was an important question, and ought to have had more attention paid to it. The ratepayers at this moment were pay ing a considerable number of salaries to no purpose, as no works were going on. He would move that the Council go into Committee on the question at once. Mr Friedlandcr thought the night would be spent in talk, and nothing would be done. He suggested that another Com mittee should be appointed. It was ultimately resolved to go into Committee of the whole Council on the matter at the conclusion of the business. VALUATION. It was resolved to call for applicants to perform the work of valuing the Borough property. Mr St. Hill, “ on the score of economy,” moved that the advertisements be given to the two morning papers and not the evening paper. Mr Friedlandcr said that the Council had settled this question at a previous meeting. The Mayor said that the matter had been settled by a resolution. He was not in favor of that resolution, hut thought the minority should give way to the majority. Mr St. Hill desired to know who were the members of the printing Committee ; by whom the advertising was controlled. On being told, he objected to the name of the Clerk being upon the Committee. It was ultimately decided that a valuer be advertised for, and that the work be completed by the 15th of January. SUBSIDIES. The Mayor said he was advised that no. portion of the subsidies would be paid by the General Government until the ne gotiation of the £5,000,000 loan. DEFAULTING RATEPAYERS. The Mayor suggested that due notice had been given by advertisement that summonses would issue if rates were not paid before the 14th, and that as the sheet before him showed the list of unpaid rates, it was advisable to instruct the rate collector to proceed against them. It was ultimately decided that all rates outstanding on the 27th of this month be sued for. THE UNEMPLOYED. On a suggestion by the Mayor to pass a resolution urging the Government to find work for the unemployed, in the belief that it would strengthen his hands, Mr Friedlandcr said the Council had done its very best for the unemployed, and they owed the Mayor a debt of grati tude for the interest he had taken in them. The unemployed should now ap proach the County Council on the matter. It was ultimately resolved to make use of the resolution passed recently by the Council. ACCOUNTS to the sum of £136 5s 4d were passed for payment, and the Council went into com • mittee of “ Ways and Means.” s A Chinese Crew. —The cable steamer i Agnes, now employed ou the Cook Straits - Cable, has a crew entirely of Chinamen, both sailors and engine stokers.

SPORTING.

CRICKET. The first match of the season was played on the ground in the Domain on Saturday afternoon, between the County and Borough clubs. The weather was every thing that could be desired, and the ground has improved beyond the anticipa tions of the committee. There is a heavy growth of grass and clover on it, and a

sufficient space had been mowed the pre vious day to give room for the players. The batters, however, had no chance of making scores, for when the ball got into the long grass its career was incontinently checked, and hits which ought to have gone for 4 were, from this cause only, so quickly fielded that only 2 could be run. It is intended to mow all the ground this week, so that there will be a better pros pect of leather hunting next match. The scores were very small, and the bowling far above the average. The County went in first—Hodder and Buchanan batting to the bowling of G. and A. Andrews. These two young bats showed very nice form, and we shall watch their future perform ances with much interest. Hodder is a trifle cramped, but plays very effectively to the off’, and he has a determined de fence. Buchanan has an immense reach, of which he makes hardly sufficient use ; but taken all round, he is certainly the most promising young player in the county. These two players knocked up 30 between them, and things looked like a big score being made for the County, but as soon as they were separated the wickets went down quickly, the total reaching 52 only. Tarawhiti gave evidence of con siderable ability, and as a fielder has a good style of returning the ball, and we regret to learn that his services are only temporarily available. Wright and Lusk, for the borough, played correctly for the few runs they made. The bowling on both sides was very effective, andG. Andrews, Westenra, Field, S. Saunders and Shury are all en titled to mention, the first four are too well known to require comment, but Shury is a new aspirant of some promise. His delivery is not graceful, but on Satur day he was very effective, and we hope that he will perseveringly practice in this department of the game. T 1 e fielding of the County team was really excellent, Fooks as long stop was prominent in a field where all were good. Notwithstand ing a nasty blow on the face which he re ceived early in the game, his performance was almost perfect. Grant kept wicket well, until relieved by Buchanan, and the new comer appeared quite at home in the new position. E. Saunders and Hodder made very well judged catches, one by the latter, after a long run was a remark ably good performance. The Borough players as a whole were not equal to their opponents in the field, but George An drews is always good, and his bonding on Saturday was very destructive. He was ably assisted by Amos, A. Andrews, and Wright. The Borough wicket-keeping and long-stopping, too, wore in good hands, and Ashvvood showed how useful a man ho can be in the field. It had been arranged to draw the stumps at 0 o’clock, but at that hour only three wickets had to go in, and the match was played out. A considerable number of visitors took ad vantage of the glorious weather to look on, and as the ground is so convenient to town we expect to see more interest taken in the game than heretofore. The following is the full score ;

COUNTY CLUB. Fl rst Innings— Hodder b G. Andrews 14 Buchanan bA. Andrews ... ... 10 Westenra b G. Andrews ... ... 1 Denshire, c G. Andrews b A. An drews ... .... ... 2 Tarawhiti, run out ... ... ... 0 E. Saunders bG. Andrews ... ... 0 Grant b A Andrews ... ... ... 0 S. Saunders c Amos bG. Andrews ... 5 Douglas bG. Andrews ... ... 0 Field not out ... ... ... ... 0 A. Fooks b Lusk ... ...' ... 0 Byes ... ... ... 0 Widos 3 Totals ... ... ... ... 52 Second Innings—■ Hodder cA. Andrews b Lusk ... 4 Buchanan b G. Andrews ... ... 2 Westenra b G. Andrews ... ... 8 Denshire b G. Andrews ... ... 0 Tarawhiti b Shury ... ... ... 1 E. Saunders c G. Andrews b Shury... 0 Grant b G. Andrews... ... ... 0 S. Saunders, Ibw, bG. Andrews ... 0 Douglas, notout ... ... ... 4 Field Ibw bG. Andrews ... ... 0 A. Fooks b Shury 1 Byes ... ... ... ... 1 Wides 4 Totals ... ... ... 31 BOROUGH CLUB. First Innings. Wright b Buchanan ... ... ... 1 Lusk c Buchanan b Westenra ... 2 Amos b Firth ... ... ... ... 1 Whitley b Westenra ... ... ... 2 G. Andrews c Tarawhiti b Westenra 0 Ashwood b Westenra 1 A. Andrews b Westenra ... ... 4 H. Fowler, not out ... ... ... 2 D. Leitch b Westenra... ... ... 0 F. Shury b Field 1 J. Leitch cE. Saunders b Field ... 0 Wide 1 Leg Bye 1 Total 10 Second Innings. Wright c Hodder b Field 4 Lusk c Grant b Westenra ... ... 5 AmosbS. Saunders ... ... ... 10 Whitley b Field ... ... ... 1 G. Andrews bS. Saunders ... ... 2 Ashwood run out ... ... ... 4 A. Andrews Ibw b Field 1 H. Fowler b S. Saunders ... ... 3 D. Leitch c E. Saunders b Field ... 3 F. Shury not out ... ... ... 0 J. Leitch bS. Saunders ... ... 0 No Ball 1 Total ... ... ••• 34 Grand Total—County 83 ~ Borough 50 The County winning by 33 runs.

BOWLING ANALYSIS.

CHISPA’S LETTER.

(From the Aehbw ton Herald of October iS.)

“I am not yet so Iraki that you can see my brains.”—Lo n c vE i , 1.0 w .

I read Mr Bryce’s Financial Statement to-day, and the conclusion I have arrived at is, that next to being a bloated squato crat, the best thing out in Now Zealand is to be a North Island Maori. They have such a childlike and modest way of get ting round the Native Minister for a few thousands, that I feel anxious to depart to the Waikato, and don a suit of tattoo, and wed a princess of good pedigree, as being the easiest way of dropping in for a share of the coming five millions. All that seems to be necessary is to telegraph to Sheehan—“Friend, salutations to yon.' I seek relief at your hands, do, please, send a couple of thousands,” and there you are. The native mind is improving in the matter of financing. When I was a small boy a keg of shoepwash tobacco, a dozen flint-lock muskets, and drinks all round for the tribe -would exterminate the native title to a whole territory, and what was more to the purpose, assist in exterminating the lords of the soil with it. But we have changed all that, and the coming man in the civil service is the Maori, and what with the depression at home, and the culture of our native popu lation, Macaulay’s New Zealander on London Bridge is not so much of an im probability after all.

I notice that your sporting reporter does not pick up all the items in his own line. It may be that he considers a dog tight as beneath his notice, but I would remind him that it is a sport patronised by the aristocracy of the old country, and very popular in the fashionable retreats in the neighborhood of Whitechapel and the New Cut. Some sportsmen in Ash burton, not having sufficient to satisfy their cravings for pastime in the occasional race meetings, hunts, cricket matches, &c., have gone into the dog-fight business, and so far as I can learn, with considerable success. One of the combatants bor rowed, without permissiou of the owner, was, after a sanguinary struggle damaged considerably. 1 expect to hear of some of the legal talent being engaged to test the merits of the “dawgs. ” In fact, the harder times get, the more entertainments seem to be got up ; perhaps it might be accounted for by the theory that

Satan finds some mischief still For idle hands to do.

I heard it rumored that the next club to bo started was one for the promotion and encouragement of duelling. One of our townsmen, who distinguished him self in that line a few weeks ago, is read ing up Ivanhoe with a view of being well up in the laws of chivalry. And another promoter of affairs of honor, when the heat of argument oversteps the bounds of parliamentary language, gives vent to his feelings as follows: —“ This is an insult, S i r — F; and must be be wiped out in bel-lood. ” (Attitude) I hope all this bloodthirstiness is not the outcome of our volunteering hobby. I may be low minded and vulgar, but I would prefer a black eye any day to a half-ounce bullet in my digestive organs.

But about that dog tight. I have a dog. He is a disreputable dog, will) a black patch over Ids eye. Men who claim to be knowing in dogs say ho is a fox-terrier. “ Knowledge ’’ of dogs seems to mo to be as hazy information as knowledge of horses, ami diuse who pretend to be up in breeds are usually as successful in thread ing out from ‘ i points ” a correct pedigree as some poor snobbish scrub, with a soli tary “ tupuenco ” in his pocket, is in un ravelling the mixed foliage of his genealogical tree sufficiently to show his descent from some aristocratic family still flourishing. My dog is a fox-terrier —the knowing men swear it. Just so. Another doggist has a similarly disreputable cur. That doggish comes to my shanty when I am out —puts the fear of a broken head on my boy—-shuts my door, and locks it upon himself, his two fellow rips who came with him, ray dog, his dog, and my boy. Then his cur is set upon my cur, and when I come hack I find poor Rasper with his fox-terrier person all tom and bloody 7 . I fume and rage—but its no good. Punish ment is lost upon men of so refined feel ings as these are, and they are not worth tackling. And I am told, too, the Cruelty to Animals Act docs not apply— Phuph !

I suppose since Ashburton took its first start on the way to become great, fully nine-tenths of the business done has been by means of bills, and people doing a trade ought by this time to know as well how to draw, or endorse, or hypothecate, or accept, or do anything else with a bill as how to pull oft their boots. And although my transactions are of so limited a nature that the luxury of dealing in promissory notes and acceptances is out of my reach, I don t think there is any thing in them requiring a great amount of learning to know how to fill up a form, and do all other things required hy the laws and customs of the country, except it may be the finding of the needful when the document matures, which circum stance is a good deal more certain to eventuate than the advice by mail of an expected remittance. Yet somehow, simple as it is to give or endorse a pro mise to pay, it seems to be equally simple to do it wrongly, and then we hear a lot about “ equity and good conscience,” and the outpouring of eloquence and law to establish the duty or otherwise of the K.M. compelling a man to stick to his written promise given previously. The case heard yesterday, where the learned gentleman conducting the defence found no less than five reasons why a promissory

note should not bo paid, shows how easily men well up in business may make some trifling error or omission by which the value of the note is questioned. In country districts it is no doubt difficult to procure the necessary acceptance forma, and where a bill is drawn adlaesivo stamps have occasionally to be used instead of the impressed ones, and it is a very simple matter to obliterate them properly, which is by the endorser writing his name across the stamps. But perhaps the best plan, if it is somewhat out of date, is to work on a cash basis where you can, and you will find yourself a happier, if not a wiser, man than if you knew as much about bills and discounts as Vogel himself.

The “ esprit de corps” in Ashburton has always been looked upon as an esta blished fact so far as outsiders are con cerned. We can scandalise one another to any extent so long as wo are Ash burtonites, but don’t let any one start a growl who is not within the four charmed corners of the belt. All mutual recrimina tions are for the moment forgotten, and people who would not walk on the same footpath together yesterday feel a bro therly love towards each other when busi ness which could bo done by local enter prise is handed over to swell the Ideated pockets of foreign firms. I, in common witli others in the ink-slinging business, would like to know just for curiosity, you know', how it comes about that the Agri cultural and Pastoral Association had to send to the great City of the Plains to have their printing done. Both the local offices can turn out job work just as well as the Christchurch establishments, and the reason why the work lias not been let locally is perhaps because the support the- Association wdll gain will bo larger from abroad than at home, but 1 don’t think it will. Cnisi’A.

THE MAYORALTY.

The time is fast approaching when the ratepayers of the borough will be required to make their choice of a gentleman to occupy the position, and discharge the onerous duties of Mayor. This is only the second time in the borough’s history that its ratepayers have been called upon to make a choice of a local chief man, and it behoves them to bo as discrimina ting now as they were a year ago, when the township was but bursting through the age of tussock. When the present Mayor was elected there was much work for him looming up in the future ; and now, after a year in office, there is still as much to do, and the borough’s affairs, as much as ever, want a man at the wheel who is no novice in business, and whose knowledge of the affairs of the town is not stinted. There are very few men in Ash burton who can bo looked to to fill this important position, and those to whom we might look as possessing the required ability do not care to aspire to the office, or rather do not care to contest the position with another. In the present circumstances it is well that it is so, for thus we shall be able to retain the services of the gentleman who, during his term of office, has discharged the duties with credit to himself, and, as far as we have yet heard, with satisfaction to the ratepayers. It was not, we believe, the intention of Mr Bullock to offer himself for re-election. He had made up his mind to retire in favor of some other trusted citizen, on the fair principle that the honors of the borough, as well as patriotic labors in its service, should be distributed. But it having been shown to him that ho has the confidence of his fellow-Councillors, and the ratopapers of the borough, and that his retention of office is very widely desired, he has given his consent to place again his valued ser vices at the disposal of his follow-towns men.

We congratulate the ratepayers on Mr Mr Bullock’s decision. He has served them well, and has gained their confi dence, and in him they find one willing to devote a considerable portion of his time, and his known ability to their ser vice. He has already done so ; but in this be has not been singular, for there are several members of the Borough Council who have been most industrious and painstaking workers for the benefit of the community—men whose places it would he very difficult indeed to supply. Wo have hoard the names of Loth Mr Donald Williamson and Mr Hugo Fried lauder mentioned as probable candidates for the Mayoralty, but we learn that neither will stand for the position now that his Worship has consented to ho again placed in nomination. The wags of the town, however, have been making merry over the approaching election, and one or two gushing requisitions to stand have been drawn up for presentation to gentlemen whose names have been men tioned in public matters in the past. Not a few signatures have been obtained for these requisitions, too, hut they have mostly 7 been written with a mischievous twinkle in the eyes of the signatories, while the left eyes of the lookers-on per formed a very meaning and expressive wink.

What Meekness Did.— The other day, a woman in West Manroe-street said of another woman in West Manroe-street that her house was like a hog-pen, and that her carpets wore encrusted a foot deep with the dust of ages, and so on. Her meek neighbor did not Hare up at this keen criticism, but gently replied that now that Mrs X. had pointed out her duty she would endeavor to fulfil it. Accord ingly, on the following Monday, just as Mrs X. had hung out her washing on the outer clothes-lines, the wind at the time blowing a three-quarter breeze from the west, the woman sent two burly negroes armed with huge clubs into her yard to beat her 186 yards of carpet. Mrs X. ’s house is the next door to the east, and at the first whack a well-developed sirocco swooped down upon the back premises and made the milk-white clothes look as if they had been thickly peppered ; at the second whack they turned of a muddy yellow ; at the third the hired girl, blinded for life, broke loose and tore towards the house, knocking down several props and cutting her mouth back to her ears in a vain attempt to swallow a tightly stretched line. The chickens went to roost thinking it was night, and before Mrs X. could shut the windows her house was full of grit and fluff. And when, after four hours of the frenzied labor, the exhausted negroes fell panting to the ground, the meek neighboi came out on her back stoop and soliloquised very audibly that sbo guessed her carpets were clean enough now to satisfy even the most censorious critic.—“ American Paper.”

PARLIAMENT.

j HOUSE OR REPRESENTATIVES. I'T’jdav, Out. 17, IST'd. EVENING SITTING. The Debate on the Native Statement. Mr Sheehan said it was quite true that as a Government they refused coalition. What they wanted was a reconstruction. He admitted the present Government had support. It was just sufficient to give them a docent minority, Mr Bryce had made a fair Statement. They had been told a deal about personal govern ment, but the fact was merely a name. Every Minister in the exercise of the duties of his department exercised to a certain extent personal government. It was true that the ideas of Maoris were more extravagant than they had been years ago. He thought that was simply a natural result of the present condition of affairs. He defended the policy of members of the Government going amongst the native tribes. There was a native gentleman in the House who took part with the late Government in their meetings, and if ho got the opportunity of going amongst them again within the next few months, he would have com pleted a solution of the present difficulty. The facts of the £2OOO transaction to which the Native Minister alluded were those. A Maori, an officer of the Govern ment, built a house at the Thames to the honor of the Qneou and law, and he had got £2OOO to defray the cost. In this emergency lie (Mr Sheehan) found a pro mise of the late Sir D. McLean to give this Maori £IOOO for services rendered. He (Mr Sheehan) paid that £IOOO. The other £IOOO was advanced on land be longing to the Maori, and could be re alised upon it to-morrow if wanted. A great deal was made of the £ISOO expended in roads, Ac. Three years ago the experience of these Boards was that they invariably favored some particular side or party unduly. That was what he would do, and not as suggested by the Native Minister, increase their powers by allowing them to administer the Native lands. Alluding to the West Coast diffi culty, he said that promises had been made which had not been fulfilled. That was a fruitful cause of that difficulty. The Bay of Islands difficulty had been alluded’to. The fact was that that was a survey difficulty with which the Native Department had nothing to do at all. In Great Britain and Ireland outrages similar to those which had taken place in New Zealand were of frequent occurrence, and yet no one ever thought of making the administration of Great Britain re sponsible. Mr Bryce talked of abolish ing the Native Department. His own proposals, however, showed that he did not believe in what he said. He pro posed to place the Native schools under the Education Department, and to hand some other Native matters over to the Colonial Secretary. What was that but breaking up a department for the express purpose of creating two or three others. The fact was so long as the .Maoris were a different speaking class, it would be quite impossible to have their affairs administered by a department separate and distinct from that of the Europeans. If the House would pass a law enabling the Maoris to offer their lands either to Government or by public competition to the public, then it would have his sup port. If they saddled the lands with all the charges of opening up roads, making surveys, Ac., very little would remain for the owner. His idea would be for the cost of survey to he defrayed by the Go vernment. That would insure accuracy of survey, and otherwise tend to promote settlement. The excess of expenditure over appropriation was authorised by the country in order to settle the difficulty connected with the King question. Then again a considerable amount of that vote was fairly chargeable against the land pur chase funds. At Cambridge, for example, some hundreds of cases had to be put through the Land Court, and great delay took place in consequence. The Govern ment had either to keep to the applicants there, or else send them away at the Go vernment expense, and bring them back again when their cases could be taken up. He warned Mr Bryce of this : if he at tempted to carry out all that he proposed, the result would be incalculable. If the impending struggle resulted in the Go vernment retaining their seats, he would give Mr Bryce every assistance in carry ing what might bo fairly esteemed a sacred cause when referred to this matter.

Major Atkinson urged that the moral standard set up by the late Govorrtrawnt, was simply one put in compruKson with that of a previous G'ovenui«cit. They never mot one of the changes brought against them, but always i-wfowed back to what had been done fey their predecessors. He denied that the tiioMvwuuunD of 1875 had spent more money on this Department than the late Government had done. The whole aim of the Native Minister was to show that Parliament should be Wt wholly to the Ministry. Major Wheoro made a few remarks, after which the House rose at 1 a. m.

THE STORY-TELLER.

How Charlie Ran Away. “I declare, it’s too mean for anything, mamma,” said Charlie, angrily, his fore head knit in a thousand cross little wrinkles. “If I can’t do like other boys, I’ll run away altogether.” His mother looked sorrowful, for Charlie was her only boy, and his naughtiness sent a sharp pain through her heart. Ho was only nine years old, but of late had become so headstrong and wilful that he was almost beyond her control, and bis threat of running away had been oft re peated. That night she went to sleep and a sudden idea came into her mind. It was a very curious plan by which she hoped to cure Charlie of-his wilful ways.

The next afternoon her boy came rush ing in after school, dashed his books down, and was rushing off again, when his mother called him back.

“ Where are you going Charlie ?”

“ Only out for a row on the pond, with Jack, mother ; I’ll be back by tea time.” “ But it’s beginning to rain, and your throat is still si >re, my son. Suppose you ask Jack to come in and take tea with you instead. I’m afraid to have you go while it is so damp.” Charlie’s face flushed angrily. He threw his cap down and muttered—

“ No. I won’t have him come at all ! It’s a shame I’m so tied down. I’ve a mind to run away ; I have so.” His mother did not speak for a minute ; then she said quietly but very firmly— “ You cannot go out again to-night, my son. ”

Charlie went to his play very sulkily. At tea he did not say a word, and after tea he studied his lessons gloomily, with out the usual bright questions and talks with his mother. He lose to go to bed, but his mother called him back.

“ Charlie,” she said gravely, taking his hand in hers, “You have talked a good deal lately about running away, and now I think that as you don’t seem very happy at home perhaps you had better go. So I’ve told Charlotte to have an early break fast, so that you can start at seven, and 1 11 tie up some clothes in a bundle for you. You can take your father’s knotted cane, and Charlotte will give you some biscuits to put in your pocket. I’ll call you at half-past six. ” Charlie could hardly believe his ears. Was his mother in earnest ? That wasn’t the way boys ran away. He felt very tight and queer in the throat, but he was too proud to cry, so he only muttered in a shaky'voice—“Very well; I’ll be up in time," and went to bed. She called him back to put his school books in the book case, as he wouldn’t need them any more. This was almost too much, but the child obeyed without a word, and then went slowly upstairs. That night his mother lay awake many hours, full of anxious fears as to the re sult of her experiment. Charlie felt very sober about the prospect for the next day ; but it was too late now to retreat, and he determined not to give in. Never theless, he was sound asleep when his mother came to give the forgotten good night kiss. She saw the mark of tears on his face, and her heart grew a little lighter. Charlie was up early in the morning, long before his mother called him. It was a cloudy, chilly day, and the warm break fast would have tasted very good if he had thought about it: but he never could tell what he ate that day. When it was over, his mother said in a very commonplace way—

“ Now, my son, you had better be starting. Your best clothes are tied up in this bundle, and I have put some of Charlotte’s biscuits in with them. Good bye, and be a good boy wherever you go.” They were on the front steps. His mother kissed him very affectionately, ex actly as if he was going on a long journey, watching him go down the steps, and then went in and closed the door, and Charlie was left to go his way alone. He walked very slowly down the street to the corner, stopped there, and looked up and down. It was early, and nobody seemed in sight. A great feeling of lone liness and longing for his dear, lost home came over Charlie, and he would have given worlds to be back again in the warm, cozy sitting-room, looking over his lessons before school. He turned the corner and walked a square, then turned once more and went slowly along, his head down, and a feeling of entire forlorn ness, getting worse all the time. What was his mother doing now 1 Washing up the glass no doubt. He hoped they would not forget to feed Billy, the little Scotch terrier. Ah ! he would probably never see Billy again. Just then Charlie came plump against a fat black woman carrying a pitcher of milk. He looked up, and exclaimed, “Why, Charlotte !” “ Why Master Charles,” said Charlotte, who stepped out of the back door just when our boy left the front steps, and had never lost sight of him for a single mo ment. “Oh Charlotte,” repeated Charlie, bursting into tears and seizing her hands, regal-mess of the milk pitcher, which for tunately was empty, “do you think mamma will ever take me back again V “ Just try, honey. I’d go and ask her right away,” said good old Charlotte, her own eyes rather &uip£y. Charlie’s mother was sitting by her work-table when she felt two arms around her neck, a face wet with tears against her own, and a voice choked with sobs said— “ Oh, mother, if you’ll forgive me and take me back I’ll never want to run away again—never. ” She held her Vxsy close to her happy, thankful heart, and kissed him many times. Her experiment had succeeded, and that was the last that was ever heard of Charlie running away.

3

Tuseday, October 21, 1879,]

I s HE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN.



County. First Innings. 1 lulls Kuns M’dns Wkts . was No IV; Wcstcnra :.s 9 2 6 0 0 Huchanan 29 5 2 1 1 0 Field 12 0 2 3 0 0 Second Innings. V.’estenra 3° 7 2 I 0 1 Field 7i 1 6 4 4 0 0 S. Saunders 40 9 2 4 0 0 Borough. First Innings. G. Andrews IOI 17 10 4 i I Ashwood 33 7 2 0 1 0 A. Ami rews 65 19 1 4 1 0 Lusk 5 0 1 l 0 O Second Innings. G. Andrews 61 15 6 6 0 0 Lusk 2; IO 1 1 3 0 A. Andrews 12 2 0 0 1 0 Shury 20 3 2 3 0 0



Appreciation of Art. —Wo have all hoard of the squatter who built a library, and then ordered from his town agent a ton of books and two tons of best coals. We have heard how the owner of an in land palace, who had sent an indent for a pair of globes, gave them away after in spection because he couldn’t find Hopkhis i\ill on the celestial globe, which he took to be the southern hemisphere. But it has remained for an advertiser in a daily paper this week to place pictorial merit in quite a new light. This is his intimation; framed, 4xß, nearly new, a bargain.” That “nearly now” is delicious. They don’t recommend port wine or Sbvrcs china that way. How the House, is Made Ur.—The composition of the House of Repre sentatives was summed up the other even ing hy Mr Saunders as follows : —He had gone over the list of members, and had found that lawyers and newspaper men were the only class over represented. They had 22 farmers, 11 lawyers, 7 men who are called gentlemen fur want of a better classification, 7 newspaper men — editor and proprietor, and 5 contributors —G merchants, financiers, money-lenders, Ac., 3 freeholders, 2 runholders, 2 miners, and 2 pensioners, both of whom had scats on the Government benches.



A Gigantic Telescope, said to be the largest in the world, has just been con structed for Sir Henry Bessemer by Messrs Galloway, engineers and iron founders, Knot Mill Ironworks, Manches ter. The telescope, which is a marvel of ingenuity and workmanship, cost £40,000. Sold. —A police inspector, being in formed that a restaurateur was serving game out of season, visits the restaurant m plain clothes and orders dinner. “ Waiter, partridge for one. ’* The inspec tor finishes his dinner leisurely, and then says to the waiter, “Ask the governor to step this way a minute.” “What forf” “I wish to notify him to appear in Court to-morrow and answer for selling pa* tridge out. of season. lam the police inspector, and have secured the necessary evidence against him.” “It wasn’t partridge you had. ’ ’ Police Inspector (uneasily) ‘ ‘ What was it, then?” Waiter (cheerfully)— “Crow.”