Jealous Otago.— lf Canterbury gets a penny more of public money than <Hago •he is usually told about it by the ; Otago Press. : This is an instance, quote d-from a, Dunedin paper “It is intended to. erect a graving dock at Lyttelton longer by about phe-third than the dock at Port' Chalmers. When the Lyttelton clock:is completed we shall have to look sharp after our trade. At present : those iii*- forested hi shipping declare* that the rates charged for the use of our dock are simply prohibitory. To give ‘an instance :we fjpdthat the Benares, -when repairing, was exceptionally well treated, Owing to the iirjhry she sustained have : been caused by the' action of Port officials. The charge Whs the Usual one for the first and laatoaysof using the dock, but only one half-'thfeusual charge for' the intervening days. ; Nevertheless the total amount paid te- the General Government on this aocoimt waS the very handsome sum of £7Bl* l7Si • - Had the full rates been charged' the. cost would • have been be t tween£l2oo and £I3OO.

Fbxalb Franchise— —The “ New Zea land Times of Nov!. 8 says The feature of the debate ‘. on the. ; Qualification of Electors Bill toqk place last evening, when there yf9* a long dhipiission on an amend ment 'proposed by iJttjtjißallance, insert the word person *‘ r 'in _ lieu of “ man,’’ with the object of allowing women to vote. The. ladies’ gallery was well filled at the time, and the debate, appeared to have a peculiar charm for them, judging from the apparent great interest they displayed. The amendment was carried by three votes,. the numbers being 32 and 29. Some of the speeches were very humorous, and.it is almost a matter of regret that they were not reported by .“Hansard” (which does not report debates in Com mittee). Some.of them, notably that of Dr. Wallis, would doubtless have been re published by,many of the colonial papers, in order to show how far some of our legislators would go in favor of female egislation. • ■ ■ •

TELEGRAPHIC.

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

(Reuter’s) London, Nov. 11. The 5 per cent New Zealand 10-40 Loan, 101 J. There have been large withdrawls of gold for North America, amounting to £710,000. _ Admiral Hornby's squadron has been ordered to Vourla.

London, Nov. 13. The total reserve of notes and bullion in the Bankof England is £l6, 125,000. Brandy, 10s 6d

London, Nov. 15. TKe “ Tiroes ”. denies that Admiral Horby’s fleet is Ordered eastwards. The Duke of Atgyle, at a Liberal meet ing at Leeds, declared that Ei)ssia would never be allowed to acquire any portion of Afghanistan. Any attack on India would end ip disaster, unless aided by tribes on the boundary. St. Petebsbubg, Nov. 13. The semi-official “ Agence Rusae ” con tradicts the statement that negotiations have been entered into ‘between the British andEussian. Governments regard ing Central Asia.

Calcutta, Nov. 15.

General Roberts bas granted an am nesty tothemisguided men fighting since the massacre of of Colonel Cavagnari and Staff, pn condition that they surrender up their arms.'

(Age Special.) London, Nov. 12.

The Continental Press' generally ex presses gratification - at. the pacific tone of the English'Pteinier’s speech. ■ gervia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro have concluded a league,' binding them to pro vide an array of 230,000 men, in the event of Austria advancing beyond Novi Brator"'"''

London, Nov, 13.

Germany ip increasing her army, es peciOlly her artillery,- thinking France is superior,' France is strengthening her fortifications on the Belgiah froritier, and reinforcing her garrisons. ' Mr’ParoeB 1 mdretoed- *n enthusiastic Irish meefeingiri Liverpool. He intends to etump Englatid. ‘ The Cape Premier has forwarded a pro test to the Imperial Government against Sir Garnet Woteelay re the- Transvaal CzitewiteL is visiting Vienna. London, N0v.’15..

Prince Bismarck is Buffering irom fatty degeneration of the heart. He has been ad vised to abstain' from exciting business. King John, of Abysinnia, is dead. Mr Forster and the Duke of Argyll ad dressed 20,000 people ,at Leeds.- The Parnejl Convention is warmly sup ported in /the. southern provinces of LreUncl Itmeeta soon. Apapicpn the' Stock Exchange was caused. by untriw reports of foreign com plications. (Argus Spinal.) London, Nov. 15. . The Czarewitoh and Czarina’s visit to Vienna. is. devoid of political bearing, re turning to St Petersburg via Vienna and Berlin. „ News states that .Russia has abandoned the Turkestan expedition fpr the present,

AUSTRALIAN.

Melboobnb,Nov. 14. The,- .Sandblast, . mine.; owners, have abandoned, the attempted reduction: of wages,. whilst,protesting *g»inst the aotibn ofiGovernment.,

• SYDNEY, Noy. 14 .. Hennessy’s brandy, case, 355; qr-cask, 10s 6d ; New Zealatid iwheat, none, in the market;; New:Zealand oats, ,2s >6d per bushel; .maize,: 2s 8d par bushel; Sugar OoaqpßDjr’a: Nor.rl prices, £3B ;; candles, D.E. J.’s, BJd per lb. Adelaide, Nov. 14. , Wheat, 6a 9d; flour, £l2los to £l3 ss. Brisbane, Nov.lG. ; A; destructive fire: occurred at Port Douglas. Welsh’s stores, and Benvio’s hoMi were completely destroyed. Damage estomatad at £IO,OOO. ; I - , !'• ■ • {Special.) - *i« Melbourne, Nov.. 15. Dr Ptarson, Vicar of Newark, has been appointed Anglican Bishop of Newcastle.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, Nov. 14. No nominations for the Mayoralty have yet been made. An Industrial Exhibition has been ■opened in connection with Trinity Church Sunday School.

A in an named John Brady, on eight ■charges of larceny, got three months imprisonment for each offence. Auckland, Nov. 15.

The Working Men’s Political Associa tion held a meeting respecting Major At kinson’s Chinese Immigration Bill, of which they disapproved. They have tele graphed to Mr. Swanson for further par ticulars, and have convened a meeting for next week.

Macey Quintal, a solicitor practising at Tauranga, was brought up on a cl targe of forging a bill of sale in which Mr Warden Shaw was interested. He was remanded on bail.

Owing to breaking down of good stuff in the Alburnia, shares have gone up to £4 63. Three larikins have bien arrested for causing a fire at the back of L. W. Eaton’s premises last Tuesday night. They had collected and placed a lot of inflammable materials close to the stable door, and then poured kerosene upon them. The case has been remanded. Mr James M'Cosh Clark has been solicited to permit himself to be nomina ted for the Auckland Mayoralty, as Mr Peacock is indisposed to take another term of office.

Mrs Hardinge - Brittan conducted a spiritualistic service over, the remains of a child of Mr Potter’s in the Anglican Cemetery. A portion of the Anglican burial service was also read. She subse quently closed the service with an address, which moved the mourners to tears.

The bodies of George and Thomas Day, father and son, drowned last Saturday through the overturning of a boat, were recovered to-day. At the inquest a verdict of “Found Drowned” was re turned.

A mile race was run at Ellerslie between Messrs Roth and M‘Ginley, for £25 a side. M'Ginley won by eight yards. Andrew Boltro, a miner at Kawakaw f a coal mine, w'as badly hurt through an ex plosion. While going to examine a fuse the charge went off. The new Masonic Hall has been erected at Newton, for the Eden Lodge of Free masons, E.C. A meeting has been held at Cambridge regarding the branch line to connect with the Thames Waikato line. A resolu tion was carried in its favor, and Mr. R. D. Ferguson was requested to proceed to Wellington to urge the scheme on the Government.

Gkahamstown, Nov. 14.

Alburnias receded during the day to 555, but closed firm at COs. The outlook is hardly so favourable in the mine. The breaking down has been postponed till Monday. Grahamstown, Nov. 15.

The Alburnia mine prospects are still •favourable, there being a good show of gold in the slopes for about a foot. The prices have not shown any great fluctua tions, and sales were made this afternoon at 85s. Moanataiii shares are hardening.

The mainmast of the cutter Stag, lying at Mr Bagnall’s sawmills, was yesterday struck'by lightning, cutting out a crescent shaped splinter seven feet long, and causing much alarm to those on board. The “ Advertiser’s ” Pareora correspon dent says that Tutukino’s people have been busily engaged for the last two days in mustering, preparatory to driving off all cattle belonging to Europeans from the Komata Block.

The nominations for the Mayoralty of the Thames will be received on Mr Firth’s steamer the Kotuku is stranded on a sandbank in the Waihau river. She is heavily freighted. New Plymouth, Nov. 15.

A child of Mr Alexander Colson was playing near a well at the Racecourse, fell into it, and before measures could be obtained to go down the child was drowned.

Wellington, Nov. 14.

The Divorce Court commences its sittings on Monday. Four cases are set down for hearing. Wellington, Nov. 15.

A deputation of the Foxton and Palmerston North settlers waited on the Minister for Public Works, asking Govern ment to commedce the West Coast Rail way at each end. He replied that the matter wonld receive the consideration of Government, but the finances of the colony at present were not in a very flourishing condition, and like other public works the matter would have to stand over sor some time.

Jacob Brown, who was arrested down South on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences has been committed for trial

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court to day, the case of Lingard v. Gillon was heard. The following are the particulars of the case. In 1876 plaintiff had been playing certain pieces in New Zealand, and when leaving the colony in March, 1877, Mr Gillon claiming to be agent for Mr Coppin, had made a demand for pay ment of £l6 for author’s fees, threatening legal proceedings ; if refused. Mr. Lin gard, rather than bo arrested, had paid £lO under protest, for which he had a re ceipt. He now sued to recover this. His Worship reserved judgment. Wellington, Nov. 17.

A man named Jamas Taylor, a clerk in the Treasury, committed suicide this morning by blowing his brains out. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Thomas Young was committed for trial for stealing a cheque for £l3 from Colonel Whitmore.

, The Divorce Court sat this morning, the Wellington case of Cooper v. Cooper is now over, being heard. Later.

In the Divorce Court to-day, rules abso lute were granted in Carlson v. Carlson and Keys ; Harvey v. Harvey and Jones ; Jackson v. Jackson and Little ; Hender son v. Henderson and Flynn. Particulars of the ■ suicide of Taylor show that he complained of toothache the previous evening, and on rising this morn ing was given a cup of tea. Immediately afterwards he shot himself with a re volver, completely blowing off the roof of his skull. Ho was a single man, and was a native of Nelson, and about 27 years of age. It is, believed ho has a brother .and water residing near Invercargill.

Gbbymouth, Nov. 14. The funeral of the late Charles Broad was largely attended, there being between 300 and 400 persons present.

Tjmaru, Nov. 14.

The weather for the last few days has been exceptionally cold and wintry. The crops all over the district are looking magnificent, bus warm weather is now required.

Oamaku, Nov. 14,

The weather for the J:wt two days has been unusually cold, mure like v. inter than summer. Hail fell to-night. Dunedin, Nov. 16.

Messrs H. J. Walter and H. T Fish have been nominated for the Dunedin mayoralty. The Caledonian Hotel, a wooden build ing in Walker street, was destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. *The • origin of the fire is a mystery. The furniture and effects of the landlord, Mr. Hutton, were insured for £IOOO in the Standard Office and partly re-insured. The building, which was insured in the Standard Office for £SOO, was owned by Mr. Ross (M‘Lan dress, Hepburn and Co.)

LATEST

Per our Special Wire.

INTERPROVI NCI AL. GIIAHAMSTOWN, NoV. 17. Mr L. Ehrenfried, brewer, was the only person nominated for Mayor, and he was declared elected. By an accident in the Alburnia Mine, this morning, a man named Ensor was badly injured in the chest while blasting. Dunedin, Nov. 17.

A petition signed by over one hundred telegraph operators has been forwarded to the House of Representatives through Mr. Dick, M. H. R., protesting against proposed extension of working day to eight hours, and abolition of overtime.

A four-roomed house at the Glen, owned and occupied by Mr. J. Barton, was des troyed by fire last night. The house was insured for £l5O, and the furniture for £75 in the South British office. Messrs. Babgate and Buchanan, from whom Mr. Barton had purchased the house, on time payments, have also an insurance of £IOO on the building. The origin of the fire is not knuwm.

With respect to the fire in Walker street on Saturday £IOOO of the Standard Com pany’s risk on Hutton’s stock, furniture, etc., is reinsured as follows :—Transat lantic, £3OO ; Northern, £2OO ; London and Lancashire, £130: and Norwich Union, £2OO. Arrived—Tiatipu, from Kaipara; Good Templar, from Timaru. Sailed—Maori, for Oamaru ; Waitaki, for North. Passenger for Lyttelton—Mr. Sinoff.

SPORTING.

The Racing Club held a meeting at Shearman’s Hotel last night, for the pur pose of receiving acceptances for the first day’s handicaps. The Committee held an interview previously with the Cale donian Society, a report of which is un avoidably held over until our next issue. The following acceptances were re ceived for the first day’s handicaps. Handicap Hurdle Race. Mr Butler’s Te Whetu, list. 71bs. Mr. J. Lunn’sßobin Hood, lOat. County Hurdle Race. Mr. P. Husband’s Raven, list. 121bs. Mr J. J. Dawson’s Lonehand, list. Maiden Plate. Mr. Anderson’s Tam o’ Shantcr. Mr. Oakley’s Sir Roger. Mr. M. Friedlander’s Cassandia. Mr. M. Friedlander’s Dogrid. Mr. Standiah's Longbeach. Mr. Primmer’s Ada. Mr. J. Smith’s Tim Flaherty. Ashburton Cup Handicap.

Mr. Ray’s Titania, 9 sat. Mr P. Butler’s Laertes, 7 at. 12 lbs, Ladies Pukse. Mr. C. C. Fook’s Billy Buttons. Mr. P. Husband’s Raven. Mr. Anderson’s Tam o’ Shanter. Mr, Dawson’s Lonehand. Mr. McCausland’s Orange Peel. Mr. Smith’s Tim o’ Flaherty. Farmers’ Plate. Mr. Dawson’s Lonehand. Mr. McOausland’s Orange Peel. Mr. Primmer’s Jonny. Mr. Herrick’s Merlin. Mr. Smith's Tim o’ Flaherty.

SPORTING NOTES.

(Robin Hood.) The Ashburton Spring Race Meeting, to be held to-morrow and Thursday next, bids fair to be a success. The entries for the local events are good numerically, and should produce some excellent sport, but outside horse owners have not patronised our meeting so largely ns I expected. Financially, I understand the Club is in a thoroughly sound position, the falling of! in public subscriptions being met by the judicious and energetic business tact of the honorary Secretary and his Committee. The course has been much improved by the recent moist weather, but is still not all that could bo wished.

The first day’s racing commences with the Open Hurdle Race, for which there are only two acceptors, Te Whetu and Robin Hood. Of this pair I must select Te Whetu to win, although being such a fickle jumper ho may be beaten by the lighter weight. The District Hurdle Race is no more fortunate in the; direction of acceptors, Raven and Dawson's-horse be ing left to do battle, and,Lone Hand should win.

There are seven entries for the Maiden Plate, and it looks like an open race, I think TAM O’ SHANTER about the best, and if so inclined he will win. Of the rest Tim Flaherty and Ada take my fancy most, Sir Roger having a good chance broke down in training. For the Ashburton Cup only two horses have cried content with the weights allotted by Mr. Lance. Numa and Lara are a fickle pair, but if the former can be held he should win with a bit in hand, and I spot NUMA for the big event

The Ladies’ Purse has seven nomina tions, and in looking down the list

TAM O’ SHANTER again catches my eye as a probable winner. Orange Peel and Tim Flaherty should run into places, but I do not think Raven or the ever green Billy Buttons will have much to say at fbe finish. Raven may

have another suaprise in store for us, but 1 shall not believe him a flat racer until ne disposed of the other horses 1 have mentioned. MERLIN will about win the Farmers’ Plate, but the others are all good enough to make a good racy. I will touch upon Thursday’s events after seeing the previous day’s racing

THE COLONIAL TREASURER’S FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

♦ Per our Special Wire- The following is the financial statement delivered by Hon. the Colonial Treasurer to-night The difficulties and dangers of the position into which we have per mitted our finance to drift are admittedly so great, and the time at the disposal of the Government has been so short, and so broken, that I feel confident I shall have the sympthy of lion, members when I ask the Committee for as favorable a con sideration of the proposals I am about to submit as may be found compatible with careful criticism and a full discussion of their merits. Sir, I think that all those who have given any real thought to the question of our present financial condition must have come to the conclusion that it will be impossible to surmount our mon strous difficulties and escape the dangers of our position without something like a complete remodelling of our finance, both general and local ; without careful admin stration of Ministers ; and without the exercise of much thrift and self-denial on the part of all classes of the community. The period of the session at which we have now arrived renders it impossible to properly consider the whole question of our finance. This year my unfitness for the responsible position I have the honor to hold would be at once manifest if I were to pretend to be capable, in the short time I have been in office, of maturing and sub mitting in detail so complete a financial policy as the Government believe to be practicable and necessary. I shall, how ever, Sir, endeavor to indicate clearly the general scope, and to give what I hope the Committee will consider sufficiently full details of such parts of it as we think possible to deal with this session. But first it will be necessary that I should recall to the mind of the Committee our present financial position—l venture to say one unparalleled in the history of the colony ; for, with abundant national resources, with excellen' credit, and with an increasing ordinary revenue, notwith standing great commercial depression, we find ourselves reduced to such a position as to cause the greatest anxiety to all true friends of the colony, an 1 to necessitate important measures of financial reform involving large additional taxation. POSITION OF THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDS EE STATED. In the speech which I had the honor to address to the House on the 14th of Oc tober Last, I si owed that the total ex penditure within, and on account of, the year 1878-79 was £4,006,961 ; and the total receipts amounted to £3,875,137, in cluding therein the surplus of 1877-78, amounting to £116,844 ; and the assets of the year 1878-79 amounting to £6,996 realised since 30th June, .1879, and that the transactions of the year ended by leaving deficit of £131,824. Notwith standing the fact I have just mentioned, that wo began with a surplus of £116,844, 1 showed that the deficit of £131,824 would have been £50,000 less had the Land Tax for the half year been collected within the year ; but I did not mention, as perhaps I ought, that bills taken on ac count of , the sale of the old Supreme Court site, and the reclaimed land in Wel lington, and amounting to £82,544 were included in the last year’s re revenue account. Of this amount £33,114 has been paid, and £49,409 remained still outstanding. I found these bills credited to revenue in the treasury accounts, and did not therefore disturb the arrange ments, although I am clearly of opinion that they should not have been credited as if the amount had been received in cash. Of course, but for this mode of treating those transactions, last year’s deficit would have been £214,348 instead of £131,824. This, then, was my start ing point for the current year—a deficit of £13,824, to which I added the esti mated expenditure for year 1879-80, amounting to £3,975,034 taken from esti mates left in the treasury by the late Go vernment which obtained £4,106,888 as the year’s estimated revenue. From this amount I deducted the estimated revenue derivable from our present sources of income, amounting to £3,193,900, and arrived at a total estimated deficit of £911,948 to be provided for in some way this year. ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE AND INCOME OF THE YEAR, 1879-80, REVISED. Sir, since I last addressed you upon this subject, the Government have gone carefully through the Estimates of Ex penditure as left by our predecessors. These were necessarily imperfect, no pro vision having been made for several necessary services, and the estimates as now presented show an increase of £39,044 the total amount being £4,013,078, instead of £3,974,034. The total of these Estimates is larger by £6,117 than the actual expenditure of the previous year, but it must be remembered that they include provision for interest on the new loan and deficiency bill to the extent of £IIB,OOO as well as the expense attending the second meetingof Parliament within the year. We hope, mox*eover, by careful administration to bo able by further experience to effect cqnsiderable reductions ; but on this point it is impos sible to do more than promise that we will use our best endeavors to confine the ex penditure within the narrowest limits con sistent with efficiency of the public service. We shall also, during the recess carefully examine into the presentorgamsation of the Civil Service, and see how far, by the com bination of necessary offices and the aboli tion of unnecessary ones, the expenditure canbe furtherreducednextyear. Competent well paid officers are absolutely essential to good government, while a large staff of under-paid civil servants is not only costly but is in its very nature fatal to efficient administration. The estimate of revenue has also been carefully reconsidered, but with the advantage of four months’ actual collections to guide us, I am unable, I regret to say, to increase the amount esti mated. It is possible that the Land Fund may be under-estimated, but I don’t see any reason to expect an appreciable increase in land sales until a fall takes place in the price of money, and this can’t be hoped for until a good harvest has been

successfully housed. The problem, there fore, for solution is how is this largo esti mated deficit, amounting after correction, to £951,002 to he provided for this year, and what action rm.st wc take to equalise our income and expenditure in future ? For, although it is somewhat unusual, I am compelled our peculiar circumstances to look beyond the present year, and in some measure to take counsel for the next. But before we can answer these questions satis factory we must examine the nature of the deficit, and ascertain whether it is of a temporary or a permanent character ; be cause our mode of dealing with it will greatly depeud upon the result of that ex amination. Now, to enable the Com mittee to come to a decision upon this im portant point, it will be necessary to examine and compare the receipts of the Consolidated Fund for some time past. I propose to do so for the last three years, and under three heads—Taxation, Services Rendered, and Land Fund. There was raised by Taxation in the financial year 1876-77, £1,318,643 ; in the year 1877-8 £1,424,029 —being an increase of £104,386 over the preceding year. In the year 1878-9, £1,505,237 —being an increase of £81,208 over the preceding year, of £185,584 over the year 1876-77 ; and this year the estimated amount of receipts is £1,512,300, being about £7OOO only more than lastyear, though largely exceeding the receipts of the years 1876-77 and 1877-78 respectively. For services rendered (omitt ing for reasons I will presently give, re - ceipts from railways) there was "received for the year 1876-77 L 318,250; fur the year 1877-78, L 366,377 ; for the year .1878-79, L 421.377 ; this year the estima ted amount is L 401.600. Here, also, as in the case of taxation, it will be found that the increase has been marked and steady during the three years named, and that while the estimate of the total re ceipts for this year in respect of services rendered was about L 20,000 less than the actual receipts of last year, an increase of amount in some of the items of receipt is anticipated. I will not trouble the Com mittee with remarks upon the separate items included under the two heads of taxation and services rendered, but I may say that the examination of tables, which will be appended to this Statement when published, will show that in almost ever}' case there has been a steady increase from year to year. As I have said I have omitted receipts from railways. My reason for so doing is that our railway system was too incomplete in 1876-77 to compare fairly with the receipts of 1878-79, but according to the comparative statement of Receipts and Expenditure on the railways made by the late Minister for Public Works in August last, the figures I have given under the head of services rendered do not show as large an increase as I might fairly claim. It is not, however, desirable in any way to over state the case. I have not thought neces sary to take receipts of more than three years for comparison. Had I done so, however, the only deduction to be drawn from a careful consideration of the figures, would certainly not have weakened n.y conclusion. On the contrary, the further back we go the stronger would my case appear. It may, then, I think, be fairly stated" that our receipts from taxation are steadily in creasing, as also our receipts from services rendered, and that the slight check winch the revenue derived from these sources has met witli during the current year is temporary only, and is fairly accounted for by the general depression of trade throughout the world. This fact should, I submit, give us confidence in the future as showing undisputably that our population is hard working and prosperous. In the financial year 1876-77, we received from land sales L 870,819 ; pastoral rents, L 135,036; total, L 1,005,855. In the year 1877-78 land sales, L 1,440,824; pastoral rents, L 145,738; total, L 1,586,562. Last year, land sales, L 737,694 ; pastoral rents, L 132,035; total L 869,729. The esti mated revenue, for this year is, land sales, L 248,000; pastoral rents, LI32,000; total, £380,000. It will be seen that the land sales last year only reached £737,694, falling short of the estimate by £384,304, and that this year they are estimated to produce only £348,000. Here, then, we find the cause of our deficit—the falling off in the Crown land sales of the last year. They had reached the estimate, and could he relied upon this year to yield £150,000 (this amount being about the average receipts of the last two two preceding years. We should have this year a small surplus instead of an estimated deficit of £951,002. In other words, under our present system we require from land sales, exclusive of the cost of survey, and administration, some thing like £900,000 per annum ; and of ordinary revenue it may be, I think, fairly anticipated that with the return of prosperity the annual sales will again be in excess of the Estimates for the current year. With these facts, then, before us, Sir, we are in a position to affirm what we should con tinue to treat land fund receipts as in come, and were we content to sacrifice the future settlement of country for the sake of a temporary ad justment of finance, the deficit to which I have drawn atten tion would, with our large area of unsold land, be for some years to come of a per manent nature. So long, however, as we do so treat these receipts, we can’t disguise from ourselves that in years of depression wo shall be subject to large deficits, which it will be difficult to provide for without adding from time to time to our permanent indebtedness. In other words, we shall have an un certain and therefore unsatisfactory finance, and shall ho continuing the ob jectionable practice of relying upon what is really capital for ordinary expenditure, instead of providing for such expenditure as ought to be done out of our legitimate income. If on the other hand, we should determine that receipts from land sales are not income, and shall not in future be so treated, then it is clear that there is a permanent deficit of 'from LBOO,OOO to L 900,000 a year upon our present expenditure and income. So much then, Sir, for the nature of the deficiency with which we have to deal. Be fore, however, I answer the question as to how the Government propose to meet the estimated deficit of this year, and obviate a deficiency in future, it will be convenient that I should call the attention of the Committee to the state of our public debt, and the condition of the Public Works Account.

The Statement was still in course of transmission when the wire closed at 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary' fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council wus hold last night. Present : The Mayor (presiding) Messrs. Parkin, Friedlander, Roberts, St Hill, Oit, and Williamson. the mayor’s statement. The Mayor su’d that he had been in communication with the railway autl orities ro the water hole at Mr. Lancaster's, and it would be tilled up. The £l Ol had been paid by the County Council, but they' declined to pay for any planting within the borough. He had received a copy of Mr Hutchison’s Corporations Act Amend ment Bill, and had telegraphed to Mr. Wright to have inserted in the Bill a clause providing for Boroughs obtaining a share of the land fund. At last meeting he had proposed to lease the rural endow ments of the Borough, but the matter had not been dealt with’ He hoped it would be dealt with that evening. Referring to the fire of Saturday night, the Mayor paid a compliment to the pluck and energy of fire brigade, and expressed a hope that one or two more tube wells should be sunk, as it was the one in use on Saturday that had saved a large amount of property. Since last meeting a letter in one of the local papers had appeared, written by a member of the Council. It was not a courteous letter, and it would be for the Council to deal with it. AN UNPAID CONTRACT. A letter was read from Mr. S. B. Nel son, claiming £6 still unpaid upon the Baring Square fencing contract. It appeared to be the opinion of one or two members that the work had been done, and passed by the Works Committee, but no Engineers’ certificate was produced. It was resolved to refer the matter to the Engineer ; the money to be paid imme mediately on the Engineer’s explanation being received. MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. Regarding the suggested Municipal As sociation the Waimate Borough Council wrote, expressing their wil, bigness to co operate in the matter. The Mayor said that only two of the boroughs had now to reply, and next meeting the Council would require to deal with the subject practically. THE TOWN BELTS. Mr. C. C. Fooks wrote, enclosing a cheque for £62 15s, being the share of the Wakanui Road Board in the cost of forming and metalling the north east Town Belt. The writer expressed the Board’s desire that the contractor bo not paid until the road is put in good order which he has used—namely, the continua tion of the north east Town Belt—for cart ing metal, and left in a bad state. The Engineer was instructed to attend to the Board’s wishes in the matter. THE WATER-HOLE AT LANCASTER’S. J. H. Lowe, Resident Engineer, wrote, saying that the Council’s offer re the water-hole opposite Mr Lancaster’s would be given effect to. The offer made by the Council was the offer of Mr Trevurza to do the work of filling up for £5. BOARD OF CONSERVATORS, The Clerk to the County Council wrote, saying that it was the Chairman’s opinion that as two-thirds of the owners and oc cupiers of land within the proposed conservation district were ratepayers within the borough, the petition to be pi'esented to the Governor should be ad vertised as lying for signatures at the Borough Council’s offices. A description of the proposed district was enclosed, and has already been published. It was resolved to write to the County Council, asking them to do the necessary work, and the borough would bear its share of the expense attending advertising and canvassing for signatures. THE N. E. BELT. The contractor, Mr T. Trevurza, ap plied for an allowance upon the contract he had undertaken, as he said it was too low to pay him, and if he did not get an allowance upon it he would not be able to meet his bills. The Mayor said it was a hard case for poor Trevurza. Mr Williamson said he understood the work had been taken in hand by Trevurza from Wake’s securities, and the Council did not know any contractor, in the matter. If any money had been paid to Trevurza on the contract an error had been made, as the Council had only to deal with the securities of Wake. FIRE BRIGADE. The Secretary of the Fire Brigade wrote asking that permission bo granted to the Brigade to hold its meetings in the Council Chamber, until they were in a posi tion to build a suitable room for them selves. He also called attention to the unprotected state of Messrs Saunders’ block of buildings in East street north, and Mr. Quill’s hotel. He suggested that to admit of working the pipe well near by those buildings an approach G foot deep should be cut for the engine, and 4 feet taken oft' the pipe. Mr. St. Hill moved that the Chamber be let to the Brigade, which Mr. On seconded, and the motion was carried. It being understood that the Brigade’s meet ings were not to clash with those of the Council. An application was made from the Fire Brigade for a crossing leading from section 503 to Wakanui street, so as to allow the fire engine to bo taken from its new site to the main road. Referred to the Engineer with power to act. THE LAMPS. Mr. Dark in pointed out that 17 lamps were being paid for by the • Council, but only 1G were erected. He suggested that the lamp not erected be put up at the new Brigade, station. The Mayor said the-arrangement with the Gas Company did not provide for lamps diming the summer months ; and some of the citizens thought the -lights should he kept burning. The foreman was ordered to erect the lamp, referred to by Mr. Parkin, near the Fire Brigade Station, the Brigade to color the glass as they choose. DOG COLLARS. Resolved a supply of collars this year from the County Council, and to gazette Mr. Braddell as collector of the tax for the Borough. TUBE WELLS. It was resolved to invite tenders for the sinking of a well for fire prevention pur poses in Baring Square. RURAL ENDOWMENT. Mr. Parkin moved that the rose, ves ia hand be let by public auction. The Mayor suggested that they should be let with a provision increasing their rent 15 per cent, every four years. It was ultimately decided that the re

serves be vested by (lie Reserves Com n;ittee, and that the hind -lie let for 12 years with a 4-yearly increase, the rate of increase to be decided at next meeting. BRIGADE'S report on thb fire at fowler’s. ■'

The Secretary to the Fire Brigade, in slruc"d by the Captain imported as uiidorj;— 'i ho Brigade congratulated the borough on the complete success of the coupled pipe wells, which gave a practically inex haustible supply of water. Thanks to the additional hose and other plant the Brigade had been able to tlirow fairly good jets of water. The Secretary made a suggestion for an increase of the coupled wells, and another to procure a steam fire engine for the borough. Several of the Brigade members had suffered loss by burning of clothes, boots, <fcc., and a hope was expressed in the re port that the promised uniform would he proivded fur the Brigade as soon as pos sible. It was impossible for brauchmen to work in safety without a helmet. A dis tinguishing uniform was also wanted to enable the police and the crowd to recog nize the members, and give way when re quired. The Secretary also called the (Ji-uucil’s attention to the want of a fire police and salvage corps. The following disbursements by the Brigade had been made, and a cheque was solicited for the amount, 49 men, for pumping, at 4s each, £9 Gs. Two men in charge of plant and debris till (Jam- on the IGth at 10a each, £1; refreshments to pumpers, 9 gallons a;e at 2s 6d, £1 2a Gd : 3 bottles brandy at 7s, £1 Is. 25 bottles lemonade, at Gd, 12s Gd ; cab hi re to MV M‘Rae for dragging engine, 10a ; cab hire to belts, 5s ; ringer of alarm bell, 5s ; repairs to hose and buckets, sa. The Mayor said he was sorry that the state of the finances would not admit of uniforms being supplied as yet Mr St. Hill was in favor of supplying helmets. Mr Parkin said several of the members of the Brigade had had whole suits of clothes and boots burned, and they ought to be reimbursed.. It was resolved to approach the In surance Companies Association for an in crease to £IOO of their grant to the borough. Mr St. Hill moved that the account pre sented by the Brigade for £l4 .17s be paid. Mr On - seconded. Mr Parkin said the disbursements had been made, not to members of the Brigade but to outsiders. Regarding the formation of a free police corps, he said he would confer with the Brigade. engineer's report The Engineer reported that the Scavengers road had been made passable; that 75 loads of stuff had been spread along the hollow place in Peter street, and that shingling had been commenced on the north-east town belt. It was announced that it would be necessary, owing to the work in hand, to retain Mr Fooks another fortnight. SCAVENGER. Mr Henry Dudley’s tender for the position of scavenger was accepted. Rates —one pan, Gd ; rubbish,, 2s per cubic yard : Is 6cl per half yard ; and to collect the fees. The pay-sheet, amounting to £l6O 19s 2d, was passed for payment. PRIVILEGE. The Mayor said a letter had appeared in a local paper in which it was stated that the Council had appointed a rate collector upon a •* foregone conclusion.’’ He desired that that Councillor to with draw those words. Mr. St. Hill said he had no intention of withdrawing the statement, not one word. If it was wrong on his part to make use of the words, it wag equally so on the part of the Mayor to tackle him on the street regarding the matter. He said he wrote what he believed to be the truth when he said that Mr Friedlander had: been appointed as the rate collector. Mr Williamson said he was not favorable to the appointment of Mr Friedlander, and was sorry that he had been appointed, to the exclusion of men who would have made a better roll than the man who had been appointed. Ho was equally sorry, that Mr. St. Hill,, when he. said he had made a blunder, should hare turned round and tried to place the blame upon another. Mr. St. Hill had the whole evening opposed the putting of Mr. H. Friedlander in the position of valuator, and then with strange inconsistency turned round and moved the veiy motion: that put him in. Mr. St. Hill replied in a very excited manner, and after some further discussion of a stormy character the matter dropped. The Council, here adjourned.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

THE MAYORALTY.

To the Editor.’ Sir, —As an observer of our highly gifted Municipal Council and its doings in: general, I have come to the conclusion, (and I flatter myself I am not singular in. my opinion) that instead of electing; another Mayor we should show our wisdom by allowing the Municipal power to retire on their laurels for a period of at; least ten years, whilst we place our affairs under the surer and less costly’ guidance of the Wakanui Road Board, at the end of which time our Municipal Council might rise again with eclat, audit* a hotter financial position. Utility before Pride

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON. —Sat.ukday,\Nov. 16. (Before Thos, Bullock, Esq., J.P.) BRBACH Of* THE RAILWAY HBCULATK >H . Jaa. Brown and Win. Wallace were* charged with the above offence. It ap • peared from the .evidence of Mr Pilkingtom and a railway guard, that the acouscdl booked from Ashburton to Timaru om Friday morning, travelling by the 111 o’clock express. They got out of the traim at Tenmka, anc later on entered tlwn Glii’istchurch train, arriving in Ashbnrtom again by the afternoon express. The mem were asked to produce their tickets, an<E ■ failing to do so were asked to pay their railway faro from Temuka. Refusing to >' no this they wore given in charge. Hi si Worship remarked that the accused hat rendered themselves liable to a line of £lO each. Taking a lenient view of f the cal-e they would be lined :20a ench jwad coats,.: in addition to paying railway fare from Temuka. t

Tuesday, Novkmbek 18, i 79. |

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

3