COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Monday evening. Alfred Harrison reports for the week ending Saturday, June 5, as follows : On Wednesday the household furniture and effects of S. J. Zander, Esq., were sold, the whole of the articles realizing good prices. On Thursday, at Winslow, on account of Mr. Alpheus Hayes, about 40,000 feet of timber was disposed of, at fair market rates. . Saturday, June 5, at his yards—Horses and implements found a very slow market, but most of those entered were disposed of. A consignment tf rabbits, from Southland, sold at Is. 6d. to Is. lOd. per pair. A consignment of cheese only realized 4d. per lb. Pigs sold well at about 6d. per lb. ; ducks, per pair, 4s. 6d. ; fowls,, 2s. 6d. to 3s. ; potatoes, L2 to L2 sb. peif ton ; onions, |d. to |d. ; chick wheat,'. Is. 6d. per bushel. Sundries, as usual, Aound a good market.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office— From Christchurch at 10.35 a.m., 4.55 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Chertsey, Rakaia, Ac. at 10.35 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.25 p.m. daily. Frem Temuka and Timaru at 9.25 a.m. and 5.25 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m. From Ashton, "Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a.m. daily. From Wakanui and Seafield on Tues days and Fridays at 2.30 p.m. Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows : For Christchurch and North at 6 a.m. 9. a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily. For Temuka, Timaru, and South at 6 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, and Seafield, on Tues days and Fridays, at G a. m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster. Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as under:— This Day. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per Arawata. Thursday, June 10. For Northern Ports, per Te Anau. SYDNEY J. DICK, Chief Postmaster.

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 1880.

In a paper presented to Parliament a history is given of the disgraceful piece of humbug that was recently perpetrated in connection with the introduction to this Colony of fifty coal miners (with their families) under engagement to the West port Colliery Company. The miners wore engaged in England by the Agent- General, for and at the request of the Westport Colliery Company, and when engaged the men were given to understand that they would be sent to work im mediately on arrival in this colony, at 10s. a-day wages, or an equivalent in tonnage if piecework were chosen. The letter of the manager of the Company, Mr. A. J. Burns, to the Minister for Immi gration, asking the men to be selected and engaged for the Company, is very ex plicit, and he laid down the instructions necessary for the Agent-General’s guid ance with a minuteness of detail that is perfectly refreshing. The men had to be selected from the best coal mining dis tricts in the Old Country ; had to be of the highest moral character and of the best skill as workmen; married, as a recommendation for steadiness ; and of small stature—we presume, so that they would work more handily in contracted spaces under ground. The Agent-General seems to have been particular in attending to the instructions of Mr. A. J. Burns— too particular, in fact, for we find that when the little army of carefully selected miners arrived at Nelson the fastidious manager of this Westport Company, that was going to raise coal enough to set the Thames on fire, objected to several of the men because they were “local preachers,” and no “ local preacher ” would ever find employment in his mine. Mr. A. J. Burns apparently had a holy or unholy horror of those who preach, especially amateur preachers, and stoutly averred that the sort of workman who with one hand cut into the obdurate heart of the earth and with the other into the equally ob durate souls of men, must naturally give only a half-hearted attention to the work for which he was paid in current coin, however well he may merit the reward which is not paid in silver and gold of an earthly coinage. Had Mr. A. J. Burns and his precious company been prepared to em ploy any of the colliers whom he had seduced Government in a weak moment to import for his benefit, we could have pardoned his fastidiousness ; but lie was no more prepared to employ miners than he was to employ preachers, and evidently sought only an excuse for getting out, no matter how, of a bargain he was not pre pared to fulfil. On the arrival of the Opawa, which brought the miners to Nelscn, as the port nearest to Westport, the Government telegraphed to Mr. Burns to fulfil a promise he had made in one of his letters on the subject—namely, to meet the men at Nelson. But all that could be got out of the doughty manager was that he had no instructions from the Directors of his Company, and until he got those the miners would have to remain in Nelson. Telegrams came and went between the Go vernment and the Company’s Secretary, and the Government and this humbug of a manager. The one blamed the manager for the delay, and the other blamed the Directors; and meanwhile the miners were put on rations in the Nelson bar racks, where they fumed and fretted, and expressed their opinion of those who had humbugged and befooled them. During their enforced idleness the more intelli gent of them wrote Home to the papers published in the districts from which they had come, and the accounts given of their treatment are any thing but pleasant, while assertions are made by them perfectly warranted by the usage to which they had been subjected. They do not hesitate to state thrt working men are really not wanted in the colony, and that the immigration scheme is only a move instigated by capitalists to flood the country with workers, and thus glut and cheapen the labor market. Such state ments as these, made by men brought over here under false pretences, and made as a special warning to their old fellow workmen at Home, cannot fail to injure the reputation of the colony amongst the working people in Britain, and they will tell against us on any future appeal we may require to make for immigrants of this class. After the poor fellows had spent many dreary weeks in the Nelson barracks, the Government were able to find employment for them in the Spring field Colliery, in the Brunner mine, and Coal Pit Heath mine at Greymouth, and the companies owning these fortunately absorbed all the men. There was diffi culty to begin with at the Springfield mine, owing to the absence of house accom modation, but the men bravely went to work, taking their families with them and choosing to live in tents until cottages were erected. By this fiasco the Government haxe been put to great trouble and no little expense, all because a blundering manager did not know his business, and only knew his own mind very imperfectly. But the humbug did not end with the finding of employment for the men. The Secretary of the Westport Colliery Company had the consummate impudence, after the men had been brought out at Govern ment expense, and maintained in Nelson waiting the Company’s pleasure, to deny all liability for their rations. To this denial Mr. Rolleston replied curtly that the Secretary would hear from him again. He did so on the 22nd of April last when a little bill amounting in all to £239 7s. was forwarded. Here the correspondence, so far as the paper submitted to Parliament is concerned, ends, and we are not told whether the Government has been paid the amount or not. The sum covers only the bare cost for food to the men and their families, and we are surprised to find the Minister for Immigration so amaz ingly lenient. We had fancied it ivas quite within his power, from the cor respondence published in this paper, to recover from the dilatory Company not only the rations but all the passage money paid, not only to the colony, but from Nelson to the various places to which the men were sent. The whole conduct of those concerned for the Company in bring out the unfortunate miners is throughout a gross outrage upon the men, and in the interests of justice the matter ought not to be allowed to rest at the simple pay ment of the rations, but an example ought to be made so that the colony and the Mother Country may be assured that men cannot with impdnity be enticed here on a wild goose chase to suit the caprice or cupidity of the promoters of any private enterprise or speculation. This is the first importation of a large body of skilled men for any special industry, and it is a blow to the colony’s reputation that the undertaking should have been attended by such unpleasant circum stances.

Parliamentry Papers. —We have to acknowledge the receipt of a batch of Par liamentary papers, &c., from the Govern ment Printer.

Business Change. —Mr. W. White has taken over the business of baker, Ac., carried on by Mr. Edward Taylor in Saunders’ buildings, East street north, and the announcement of the change appears in another column.

Railway Changes. —Mr. W. Ennis, Inspector of Permanent Way, at Ashbur ton, has been appointed to a similar posi tion at Invercargill, and, we understand, will remove thence on Monday next. Mr. Ennis is an efficient officer, as his pro motion to a more important district proves, and we learn that tangible ex pression is to be given to his fellow officers’ esteem before he partsj company with them. Mr. Ennis’ place will be sup plied by Mr. C. Hawkins, a gentleman from the Northern line. I. O. G. T. Waterton. The usual weekly meeting of the Cleavbrook Lodge was held on Saturday, the 29th ult., Bro. W. T. Norrish, W.C.T., presiding. After the initiation of a new member and the business of the lodge had been disposed of, the installa tion of officers for the ensuing quarter was performed by Bro. Fred. Clothier, L.D., The following were duly conducted to the respective chairs : —-W. C.T., Bro. Jno. Pearson; W.Y.T., Bro. Wm. M‘Rae; W.S., Bro. Sami. Norrish ; W.F.S., Bro. Wm. Alderdice ; W.T., Bro. Wm. Hous ton ; W.C., Bro. Alf. Norrish ; W.M., Bro. Jno. Barr ; W.R.H. S., Bro. Chas. Sheett;W.L.H.S. ,Bro.T. Timms; W.A.S., Bro. Jno. Shepherd ; P. W.C.T., Bro. Thos. Savage. Several new members were proposed, after which the Lodge closer!, the members having spent a very pleasant evening.

Lost Money. —On Friday night Mr. Wm. Frisby, Ashburton Forks, lost, between the establishment of Messrs. Quinton Bros., on the Alford Forest road, and Mr. Corbett’s farm, Ashburton Forks, a black leather pocket-book. It contained, besides several receipts and other docu ments, ten LlO notes and six LI notes, and was carried, previous to its being missed, in the left breast-pocket of the owner, who was riding at the time ho lost his property. The notes were new ones, .and were obtained that day from the Union Bank ; they were numbered consecutive!} 7 , and these numbers are known, so that any attempt to pass them will be dangerous. On Saturday morning, about daylight, a laborer named Leonard going to his work, picked up the pocket book in the vicinity of where it was sup posed to have been lost, and he also found several of the papers it bad contained lying about, but the notes were gone. The police are on the watch for the first finder, who has evidently taken possession of the money'.

Udolpho Wolfe. —We have heard many a man smother a curse after he had got half through one of the cleverly writ ten paragraphs in which Udolpho Wolfe and Co couch the advertisements of their “schnapps.” This firm also advertise that in every day’s bottling of their liquor they insert three orders for LI each in the capsules—one order at three intervals over the day’s work. There are those who are sceptical of the truth of this statement, and not long ago an individual wrote to a paper in this colony stating that ho had pur posely bought ever so much schnapps with a view to ascertaining whether there was anything in the “draw” or not. He failed to find a LI order in any of his pur chases. Last night, however, a resident called at this office and showed ns an order for LI that, he had been lucky enough to find in the capsule of a bottle he had bought at the Somerset Hotel. It runs thus:—“ Hamburg, January 1879. —Ll—Good for one pound sterling, pay able at the office of Messrs. M. Moss A Co., Sydney and Melbourne, —Udolpho Wolfe, Son, and Co., No. 450.” This is a proof that after all there is some body in the advertisement. Drunk in a Railway Carriage. —ln the absence of Mr. Guinness, who was at Longbeach attending the Assessment Coup on Saturday, his Worship the Mayor presided at the R.M. Court. After dis missing with a caution, a first offender, who was brought up on a charge of drunkenness and being illegally on the premises of Mr. Mossman, Robert Macready, a respectable-looking man, was charged with three offences, namely, being drunk in a railway carriage, ob structing a railway guard in the execution of bis duty, and likewise violently assault ing the said official. Charles Heaton, railway guard, deponed to finding accused in a first-class carriage with a second-class ticket, while on the journey from Timaru to Temuka on Friday ; and on demanding the excess fare from accused, who was in toxicated, the latter collared him, and it was only on gentlemen coming to witness’ assistance that the danger of both passen ger and guard rolling over on to the line

was avoided. John H. Fox, another rail way officer, gave corroborative evidence. Sergeant Felton said that on Friday he had gone down in the train as far as the Rakaia, and Mr. Hurst, M. H.R. for Wallace, who witnessed the affair, had desired him to state that the guard had acted in a most temperate manner, and that it was on liis (Mr. Hurst’s) advice that the accused had been apprehended. His Worship said that conduct like that which Macready had exhibited deserved severe punishment, and it was onty right that the railway officials should be pro tected from such offensive characters. He would inflict a fine of L 5, or fourteen days imprisonment. Ashburton Gas Company. —A special meeting of shareholders of the Ashburton Gas Company was held in the reading room of the Public Library yesterday. The purpose of the meeting was to confirm the resolutions passed at the special meet ing held last month, at which the articles of association were adopted with two slight alterations, and two auditors were elected. There was a fair attendance, and the resolutions were confirmed. Pre vious to commencing business, Mr. Bullock said that at next annual meeting a recommendation by the Directors would fall to be considered - namely, that the price of gas to consumers should be re duced. Consumers had been complaining of the high price ; but he wished them to bear in mind that Ashburton was far from port, and costly freight had to be paid on the coal used. Having this in view consumers would understand that gas could not be produced so cheaply here as it could be in places whose proximity to the seaports saved a great expense on the overland carriage of coal. Still, he believed gas was just as cheap here as it was in Oamaru and Timaru. Regarding the Company, he might say that the workswere now in excellent condition, and a very satisfactory feature of their working, and one that said much for the manner in which the mains had been laid, was the fact that the percentage of waste had been largely reduced since work commenced. When they began they had had a waste of forty per cent, of the gas manufactured ; but now that waste had been minimised to seven per cent. The monthly con sumption of gas was now 170,000 feet, and thisamong seventyconsumers. There was a gradual but steady increase taking place in the number of consumers ; and gas was steadily forcing its way into private houses, many more of which lie hoped to see supplied ere long. Coke was now being made at the works, and the price of this article had been reduced from L2 to 355. per ton, with a view to inducing con sumption. Mr. Bullock then thanked the shareholders for their attendance, in timated when the next annual meeting would take place, of which due notice would be given, and the meeting ad journed.

Sudden Death. —Mr. James Blair, a farmer, of Lincoln, fell clown whilst walking along the Prehbleton road on Saturday last, and died immediately.

Cricket. —Members of the Ashburton Cricket Club are reminded that a meeting is called for this evening in the County Council Chambers at 7.30 o’clock. Settling Day. —The Steeplechase Com mittee met on Saturday night for the pur pose of striking a balance-sheet, &c. The Treasurer reported a deficiency of some Ll 5, which was accounted for by the paucity of contributions from the public. The great bulk of the work and expense has fallen upon the Committee, and this can easily be understood when we state that the total subscriptions from the public, outside the Committee, which have been collected to date amount to L 5 14s. 6d., of which Mr. Quill subscribed L 3 3s. If the Ashburton people wish to enjoy racing, as they seem to do when sport is provided for them, surely they can assist the Race Committee a little better than this. As it is the Committee will have had all the work to do, and have the sub sequent pleasure of paying for it. They have themselves to blame to a certain ex tent in not having had a reliable canvas ser and collector, and hence the defi ciency.

Rates. —The Wakanui Road Boai’d don’t intend to givo any further tick to the ratepayers, and the collector has strict injunctions to at once issue tickets of admission to the R.M. Court to all de faulters.

A Sham Parson. —A man named Atter bury, alias Cornock, who had passed him self off as a clergyman, is in trouble at Auckland, where the police have then hands on him for larceny. He is now under remand. The Colleen Bawn. —There is still no sign of the missing schooner Colleen Bawn. The Hinemoa hailed to find any trace of her, and has returned to Wellington. It is now believed the schooner has foundered at sea.

Queer Prize. —We learn (says the Thames Advertiser) that Mr. Brassy has given a perambulator as a prize to be fired for by the Thames Scottish Battalion. Only single men are to compete for this prize, and the winner is allowed six months within which he must marry, or the prize falls to the company to be again competed for. We understand that a member of the Brokers’ Association has also given a prize of a baby’s cradle to be fired for on the same condition as the per ambulator prize. Marriage Service, A.D. 1479. Martrymonye was ordeyned of God for two causes, Fyrst prycycypally into ofiyce to brynge forth childern toGoddes servyce, also in to remedye to flee fornycacy’sn and lechery'o. For the first cause it was ordeyned in paradyse byfore Adam’s synne ; for the second cause it was or deyed in Paridise after Adam’s synne. Thre good thynges be pryncypaly in Martrymonye. The fryst is faith that echo of theym kepe truly his body to other and rnedle flesshely with none other. The soconde is bryngyth forth and nourys shyngc of childern to the worshyp of God and to Goddcs seruyee. The thyrde is the sacrament whiche may not be undo but only by clethe. And therefore the ordre of wedlokc to full woi’shypfull for it repveseuteth the grete sacrament of unyte and of endless lone bytwene Cryste and holy chirche. And the faith ful lou that ought to bo bytweeu bus bonde and wyfe betokeneth the lou that ought to be bytween Cryste and holy Chirche. —Notes and Queries.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Wk do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by onr correspondents.

THE IRISH RELIEF FUND.

To the Editor. Sir —Although I have never “professed to be of Irish blood,” being a Conuaught tuaii, my profession of nationality is put in fewer words and in a more emphatic form ; still lam no doubt one of those members of the Irish Relief Committee referred to by the correspondent “ Sub scriber ”in last night’s Herald. That gentleman deserves the thanks of my countrymen for his letters, and the manner in which he expresses his indignation shows his heart is in the right place. The prompt action of Mr. Ivess enabled many in Ashburton to answer the cry of the starving Irish, and they have the satis faction of knowing their contributions have reached their destination. When I went to the Town Clerk (who is Secretary of the Fund), at the begin ning of last month, I found that the sub scription list was stowed away amongst the borough archives, where it would un doubtedly have remained until now, or rather until “ Subscriber’s ” first letter ap peared, had I not taken action in the matter. I got in the unpaid town sub scriptions and handed them to the Trea surer, and the whole amount would have gone early last month had it not been for what I can only designate, the in human conduct of those gentlemen in the county who were entrusted with lists and would not send them in after repeated de mands from the Secretary. Perhaps they have been perusing London Punch, where the starving Irish are deemed fit subjects for a joke. To “ Subscriber’s ” charges I plead not guilty, but I would be very sorry to join with the Committee in their de fence. I have taken considerable trouble in the matter, perhaps not so much as I should have done or as I would wish, but it is discouraging to act alone. Thanking “Subscriber” for his humane action, I beg to assure him that the patriotism and honor he enquires for are, in my case, in the keeping of an Irishman.—l am, Ac., F. P. O’Ribllt. The following is the letter referred to : Sib, — I am much obliged to Mr. Hugo Friedlander, the “ Treasurer,” for his in formation respecting the above fund, which is, so far, satisfactory. But, Sir, I think the fact that the bulk of the money is left to lie in the Bank to the good of no one, while hundreds of men, women, and children are starving for the want of it, tells a tale of want of sympathy, and is a crying shame against the inactivity of those who have the con trol of it ; and the fact that there are certain individuals who are in possession of subscription lists, and are either un willing or too indolent to hand them in, is a disgrace to their humanity, and the sooner the lists are advertised for, together with the names of the holders thereof, the better. But why retain the bulk of the money for the sake of a few more pounds which are difficult to get in. Why not send it on to its proper destination, and remit the balance afterwards, which could be easily done ?} What would have been the result if all the Committees throughout the world had adopted the same course ! Why, thousands of people would have starved, and died a lingering death ere the help would have reached them ; and, accord ing to the latest telegrams, hundreds are at this moment suffering the pangs of hunger, and the want of other necessaries of life, which the money now r lying in an Ashburton Bank would, had it been sent, have helped to alleviate. There are three on the Ashburton Com mittee who profess to he of Irish blood. Where is their honor ? Where is their patriotism I Where is their love for their countrymen 1 Subscriber.

THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

(From ihe Wellington Evening Post.)

The new Licensing Bill has just been circulated. It is a bulky document of 54 pages, containing 225 clauses. It repeals existing Acts, and abolishes present licen sing districts, new districts to be pro claimed by the Governor, with boundaries so far as possible conterminous with those of boroughs, wards, ridings, or road dis tricts, as most convenient, hi ew or special districts may be proclaimed where and when necessary. A “ licensing com mittee ” is to be constituted for each dis trict, comprising the Resident Magistrate of the district, and four persons appointed from time to time by the Governor. The usual provisions are made for the elections and tilling up of vacancies. All persons interested in the manufacture or sale of liquor, or in licensed premises, and all paid officers of the General or Local Government are disqualified from being members of such committee. The mem bers of committee hold office for two years, but may be re-appointed. Two members of committee form a quorum In native licensing districts a Native Assessor is to be a member of the committee, and no license is to be granted in his absence. Present licenses are to be subject to this Act, which is to apply equally to all districts. No “ bottle licenses” are to be granted in future ; existing botde licenses are to con tinue in force until 30th J une, 1881, and then to cease absolutely. Unmarried women may hold licenses, but constables and bailiffs may not. The .Minister for Public Works may license railway stations and refreshment rooms. Brewers and spirit merchants must take out wholesale licenses, and no person is to hold more than one license. Seven different classes of licenses are provided for, viz : —(1) Publican’s, (2) family hotel, (3) billiard table, (4) conditional, (5) packet, (G) club, and (7) wholesale licenses. No. 1 author ises the sale of liquor from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; No. 2, the sale of liquor to hona fide residents at the hotel; No. 3, the keep ing of billiard or bagatelle tables, to be used between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.—-this, however, is included in the publican’s license; No. 4, provides for booths at races, regattas, matches, Ac.; No. 5, for coasting vessels at sea; No. G, for hona fide clubs; and No. 7 for sale of liquor in quantities of two gallons or more. Midnight licenses may be granted on payment of LlO extra, and additional bars at the rate of one third extra fee for each. Family hotels to be licensed must contain at least ten and public houses six available rooms, and have ample facilities for escape in case of fire ; public houses, in addition, must have stabling. Quarterly licens ing meetings are to be held in March, June, September, and December every year ; one month’s public notice being given beforehand. All applications are to be heard in open Court, and the hearing may be adjourned. An inspector of licensed premises in every district is to furnish a rejjorfc on each licensed house ton days before each meeting, and also on every new application, transfer, Ac. At the licensing meeting applications for new licenses are to be taken first, new applica tions for old houses next, and renewals, Ac., afterwards, unless the latter are ob jected to, in which case they come second. Due notice of objection is to be given to applicants. No new house is to bo licensed if any part is fitted up as a retail store, the.'iU'e, concert room, or dancing hall. The committee are to determine cases on “ such evidence as shall seem to them suf ficient whether strictly legal evidence or not.” The committee are to decide by a majority, the decision to be announced by the chairman alone, who is to have a cast ing vote,, and no decision once announced is to be questioned or reconsidered. The granting of publicans’ licenses for new houses is to be subject to the vote of the ratepayers or the electors of the district, the sole question to be submitted to the vote being “ The proposal that the number of publicans’ licenses in the district may be increased,” and a majority of votes to be decisive if in the negative, but an affirmative vote does not oblige the Com mittee to issue new licenses. Objections to granting or renwal of licenses may be made by memorial of persons over 18 years of age, by police, by incorporate bodies, .or others, and the Licensing Committee may take cognisance of such objections, and may award costs r gainst either objector or applicant. An application, if refused, may be renewed at next annual meeting, unless refused on the ground of personal unfitness, when three years must elapse. The usual provisions are made for enforc ing payment of license fees, renewals, transfers, removals, Ac. Packet, club, conditional and wholesale licenses may be granted at any time by the Licensing Magistrate, or any two members of the Committee. The granting of any licenses is to be entirely at the discretion of the Committee, and at any quarterly meeting a license may be cancelled of a house im properly kept. The annual fees proposed are as follow :—Publicans’ license, L4O in a borough, L3O outside ; family hotel, L2O; billiard table, L 1 0; conditional license at discretion, not to exceed L3O ; packet license, LlO ; club, L2O ; whole sale, LlO. The fees are to go to the borough, county, or road board funds. Registers of licenses and applications are to be kept, and the customary provisions are made as to the conduct and manage ment of houses. No post or rate office is to be kept at a licensed house, and no liquor is to be sold on credit. The penalty for permitting drunkenness on premises or selling liquor to a drunken person is L2O for the first offence, and LSO for subsequent offences. For keeping a dis orderly house, harboring or bribing con stables, or supplying them with liquor, permitting gaming or unlawful sports, Ac., the first penalty is LlO and subsequent L2O. Licensed houses are to be closed on Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Fri day. All convictions of licensees for offences are to be recorded on their licenses. There are the ordinary pro visions as to hona fide travellers and lodgers. The maximum penalties for sly grog selling are LSO, or one month’s im prisonment, for the first offence ; LIOO, or three months’ imprisonment and five years’ disqualification, fop second ; and LIOO, or six months’ imprisonment, and perpetual disqualification, for third. No actual communication between licensed houses and places of public amusement is permitted. No liquor is to be supplied to persons under twelve years of age, or to habitual drunkards. Inspectors of licensed premises are to be appointed, with power of entry and search. Sale of adulterated liquor is made an offence involving forfei ture and publication of conviction. Pre mises may be disqualified on account of offences committed thereon, or may be closed in case of riot. It will bo seen from the above that the principle of local option is applied to new licenses only, as we intimated tyould probably be the case, and consequently the vexed question of compensation to licenseJiolders does not enter into the matter..

PARLIAMENTARY.

(pee press association:)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday, June 4.

EVENING SITTING.

The House re-assembled at 7.30 p.vn. HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS BILL. The.debate on the motion for the second reading of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill was resumed. Mr. Hutchison said the Bill, from clause 4 to 33 would be found to be cum bersome. He thought there should be the beginning of the principle of settle ment inserted in the Bill. He meant by that that every person requiring relief should be admitted into the institution at once ; the question of what district should bo chargeable with their relief ought to be left over for after consideration. His reason for advocating that principle was that every part of the colony was not to be chargeable alike for the maintenance of these institutions, consequently it vyas but right that the settlement question should operate. The constitution of the Boards was a most important matter. It was necessary that these Board should not only be prompt in their endeavors to render relief, but they should also be careful not to destroy in any way that spirit of self-reliance, which was one of the most noble instincts of our nature. It was likewise necessary that great care should be taken not to weaken in any way the family tie—that tie which should lead them to do their utmost to prevent mem bers of their family becoming chargeable on charitable aid. In connection with this subject, he deprecated the conduct of Government in attempting to reduce the rates payable for labor. That was economy at the wrong end, and tended to aggra vate the evil" this measure was meant to alleviate. Mr. Barron regretted that the measure, though a good one, was necessary. Sir W. Fox looked on this as one of the most important measures that could be brought before the House. He could not apiprove of the Bill to the extent that other , members had done. The fault he found with it was that it dealt with the symptoms not the root of the disease. In doing so they only succeeded in driving the disease inwards. It was calculated to promote a taste for pauperism. The poor law agitation in England years ago had this effect. The men were, so to speak, born in pauperism, and they lived and were content to live in pauperism. After having grappled forty years with the evil it was a common saying that every respect able person or ratepayer carried so many paupers on his back. The fact was they had made a mistake in not striking at the root of the evil. How was it that the French peasant was enabled to hoard up his money. It was this : They did not indulge in the habit of the bar parlour ; they did not indulge in horse-racing or sweepstakes ; they did nothing of that kind. The only amusement indulged in was a game of dominos in a little parlour on Sunday afternoon, and they practised the most rigid economy in their expendi ture and persevering industry in their labours. If they could rescue the money that was at present paid for drink ; if the Licensing Act proposed by Government was amended in a certain direction then that would be striking at the root of the evil. Close at least some of the public houses, and remove the temptations at pre sent existing for drinking and “shout ing.” Let them inquire what were the tendencies to pauperism. Let them ask the relieving officers, governors of reformatory schools and other public in stitutions, and they would be told that it was drink. If they would remedy those evils then the} 7 would grapple with the evil; they would be striking at its very root instead of merely trifling with it, or rather, encouraging pauperism by means ot a Bill of this kind. Sir G. Grey said that Providence had brought one essential aid to his side that night in the speech.just delivered by the previous speaker. He had traced out the evils of pauperism as it existed in Britain, and then contrasted it with the state of population in France. It was true that pauperism of the most dreadful kind ex isted in Britain. The Premier had ad mitted that this was a poor law. He maintained that a poorlaw oughtuottobe at present required in this country. The description of the French peasant, with his small holding of land, presented a striking contrast to the English paupers. The great difference was this, the latter had no little plot of ground he could call his own and had no home—he was an outcast. Looking at a starved wife and family was a sad picture, which made him resort to drink ; that was the secret of his sinking deep in the social scale. Now, what were the facts of the case in New Zealand 1 The Government and their friends had gridironed the country and done other things to prevent the poor man acquiring homes here as in Franco. He looked upon it that the tendency of our legislation was to create a pauper population, to make men drunkards and outcasts. He believed that if the previous speaker would only follow out his argu ments to their own reasonable conclusions he would most assuredly come round to his side of the House, and take care that not another acre of native land was grasped for purposes of acquiring great landed estates to the detriment of popula tion as a whole. In some of the countries referred to by the Premier in support of his proposed poor law scheme the chief portion of taxation was drawn from land. For instance, in Belgium 20|- per cent, of the taxation was taken from the land, but in New Zealand land was made to con tribute next to nothing. He agreed with the previous speaker in thinking that this Bill was calculated to promote pauperism. If the Government would tear up their Native Lands Bill and bring forward Bills for promoting s ona fide settlement instead of promoting Piako Swamp jobs they would do more to prevent pauperism; more to prevent drunkenness, than all charitable aid schemes could possibly do. The Hon. W Rolleston said that the re ception this matter had met with con vinced him that the country was now con tent to settle down to practical legislation, The q uestion was pne which had different origins, and therefore required to be dealt with by different methods of treatment, The distress contemplated by the measure before the House had had a variety of origins. For instance, indiscreet immi gration promoted by Government was one. Another was that arising from the vicious habits of the population. A third was that which arose from accident and disease. Each of these demanded different modes of treatment, and he claimed for the measure the credit of having made ample provision for each of these cases. Sir W. Fox had spoken of. certain evils which ought to be dealt with as striking at the root of the evil such as drunkenness and horse racing. He had to remind them that it was these evils in their secondary consequences, in their consequences upon the wives and families of guilty men with which they were called upon to deal. What they had to do was to face the evil as existing, and he claimed for the measure that it would effect that object through the local bodies. By assisting Government to make the Bill a complete measure they would do good service to the country. Mr. DeLautour could not agree with Bill. It would bear particularly hard on the province from which he came. Out side Dunedin all the hospitals reared by the hands of the people would fall. They had not been in the habit of looking upon their hospitals as semirworkhouses, but as

institutions provided by their forethought, and into which they could go without sacrificing their independence of character. As an administration Bill it was bad. They were raising up bodies responsible to no body. It was to local bodies they had to look for checking the tendency to pauper ism. Again, unnecessary expense and extravagance would be the order of the day, as it had been in connection with their education system. Government ought to know that making grants without the exercise of direct control by Govern ment was a great blunder, and one which had led to the most serious abuses. In Scotland it was found that the outdoor relief system had been the means of aggravating the evils of pauperism, and yet, with that fact before them, this Bill proposed to confer that power of outdoor relief upon the dispenser. He deprecated the combination of charitable relief with relief to accident and disease contemplated by the establishment of hospitals. This was an attempt to forego the system which had been established in Otago, and place them on the Canterbury system. The Bill was calculated to create pauperism of the worst kind, and was fatal to our insti tutions as they existed. For these reasons he would oppose the motion. The Hon. R. Oliver spoke in support of the Bill. He maintained that it was de signed to foster a spirit of independence, and would tend to the more perfect management of charitable institutions. •Mr. Speight thought the Bill had been presented to them in a straightforward manner, still he took exception to a number of its provisions. The Hon. J. Hall denied the statement that Government desired to reduce the price of labour. When Government wanted labour it paid current rates ; when it did not want labour it provided, so to say, for those unemployed, a kind of sub sistence. It was right that the terms under these circumstances should be such as would induce the person so situated to accept them for as short a period as he possibly could. In reply to the objections stated by Sir W. Fox; lie said that they had disease, and it was absolutely necessary that they should deal with it, as it at present existed. Had the evils been fewer, they would be bound not only to eradicate them, but take steps for the cure of the afflicted. He was alive to the necessity for encouraging habits of sobriety and thrift amongst the population. If there was one man in New Zealand who had done much to encourage the accumu lation of large estates, that man was Sir George Grey, and yet he took this oppor tunity of twisting the subject so as to make it a weapon of offence against the present Government. It was curious that he should condemn a Bill that the Govern ment of which he was the head had pre pared. Mr. DeLautour not only sneered at the Bill, but sneered at those who had gone the length of giving Government credit for good intentions. He could not have read it, or he would not have spoken as he did. He spoke about the tendency of the Bill to induce the erection of extrava gant buildings, as had been done under the education system. In fact, hoyever, the two wore very widely different. Under the education system, the districts pro vided no part of the fund, while under the Charitable Aid Bill, as proposed, the dis tricts would have to tax themselves to provide one half of the money. He looked to local taxation to avoid any tendency of the kind. The motion was put and carried on the voices, and at 10 15 p. in the House ad journed. “ CAPTAIN WILLIAM JACKSON BARRY.” In a parliamentary paper just received, is given the whole official correspondence relative to the appointment of Captain Wm. Jackson Barry as lecturer in England on the very important subject of emigra tion to New Zealand. Many persons who know the “ captain” have often wondered what strange infatuation seized the last Government, under the influence of which they sent the worthy “ Captain ” to Eng land to trumpet forth his own praises, with the colony’s as second fiddle. But the correspondence now before us gives us, an account of how the thing was done, and it appears from the letters there given that the Hon. Robert Stout must have fancied the idea a happy thought, of ridding the colony of the redoubtable “ captain,” inasmuch as he seems to have jumped at the proposal with great eager ness. The proposal to Mr. Stout to send Home the “Captain” originated in Otago, whether with Barry himself or with the 127 persons who in a memorial to the Premier recommended him as a lecturer, it is difficult to say; but a memorial thus extensively signed was forwarded to Wellington, with the almost immediate result that the Dunedin Immigration Officer was ordered to find the Captain a passage Home in a sailing ship at a cost of LIO, with L2O to find him in cash when he arrived in England. We do not say that Mr. Stout did not do the colony a service when he thus took steps to get rid of the Captain ; but do say that the service was not so effective as it was wished to be, for the Captain is here again. It was in Sep tember, 1878, that Captain William Jack son Barry set sail, and in the same month the Agent-General had penned to him a memo, by Mr. Stout, apprising him of what had been done, and stating that the passage and pocket money paid was to be recouped bj “ lectures” delivered by the Captain. When a sufficient number of these oratorical efforts had been made to wipe off the debt of L6O due by the Cap tain, “the question of his further employ ment” was left for Sir Julius Vogel to de termine. Sir Julius acknowledged this memo, in November, but at this time Captain Jack had not arrived Home. In December, however, of the same year, Mr. Ballanco saw fit to be at Sir Julius again on the question of the Captain. Barry had been vaporing about the colony of his grand appointment as an immigration agent and public lecturer, and Mr. Ballance not at all prepared to risk his Government’s reputation for wis dom, by owning to their selection ag a lecturer of a character like Barry, told Sjr Julius that with him lay Barry’s employ ment as a lecturer. Sir Julius, whatever his faults, has a keen eye to the colony’s good name, and he, failing to recognise the Captain’s merits, of course hailed' to eon ploy him. Captain William Jackson Barry then set oiit on his “ own hook,” and according to- his own story, the ex- May or of Cromwell became a great man in England. There is no further correspon dence between the Agent-General and the Government on the subject of Captain William Jackson Barry until January of this year, when we find that, however, successful the Captain may have been in England in his own eyes, and however high a pinnacle of fame he may have reached, he had become hard up. Any how Sir Julius Vogel paid his passage over here again, and from the tone of his published letter we infer that lie was very glad for the credit of the colony to have the old man hurried out of England, and back to the colony, which, while residing in it, he could not injure. The Captain is now in New Zealand, and it is quite refreshing to notice his “cheek.” To. wit j this is how he writes, almost im mediately on arrival, to the Immigration Minister : “ Referring to the memorial addressed to the Government in October, 1877, signed by many of the chief representa tive men of Otago, I have now respect fully to submit that it was only right that the Government shoukl reimburse me for the actual outlay which I have incurred in the service of the colony. It is true I have no legal claim, but I venture to think there is a moral obligation. I have

a letter from the Immigration Munster to the Agent-General, in which the question of my engagement was left to his discre tion: but when I reached Home bir J. had just received a telegraphic message from the Government which pre cluded him from incurring expenditure. I therefore proceeded to work on my own resnosibility and at my own cost and ex pense —expending £SOO in travelling through England and descanting upon the advantages which New Zealand presented to labor and capital. The result I need not describe. The press throughout the United Kingdom affords ample testimony to this, and I have no hesitation in saying that through my efforts and labor a wider and more extensive interest has been ex cited in New Zealand than has ever been created through any individual instru mentality. I may say that Sir J. Vogel, in a letter to Mr. Macandrew, admits the value and extent of the services which have been rendered by mo. I shall not further dilate on this now, as I trust that is unnecessary, and that the Government will see its way to ,reimburse me the out lay which I have incurred, either in money or in land.” The Minister for Education, however, fails to find any promise or undertaking in the whole correspondence on the sub ject of the Captain’s employment that would justify the Government in enter taining the application, and so ends one of the greatest farces the ex-Government ever enacted. It is amazing that men claiming to the character of statesmen, could ever have been so far left to themselves as to send home a mountebank like Barry to cry up the colony of New Zealand.

SERIOUS COAL MINE ACCIDENT AT WESTPORT.

(by telegraph.) Wellington, June 7. A private telegram received in town, states that a serious accident has occurred at the Westport Colliery. The particu lars to hand are very meagre ; but it appears that the mishap occurred on the incline by which coals are conveyed from the side of the mountain, where the works are situated, to the ship’s side. Damage to the extent of LI,OOO is said to have been caused, and one telegram being sent to the Company’s head office at Dunedin, a reply was sent ordering the works to be stopped at once, until the scene of accident had been inspected, and necessary stops taken in the matter.

LICENSED VICTUALLERS AND THE LICENSING BILL.

[by telegraph.]

Wellington, June 7. At a meeting of the Licensed Victual lers Association held this afternoon, the new Licensing Bill was discussed, and the following amendments proposed :—The fee to be reduced to LS!O, with uniform eleven o’clock licenses ; 'family hotel licenses to be struck out, as the result would be that all boarding-houses would get licenses; clubs to be owned jointly by members, and to be under supervision of the police ; malt liquors not to be sold in less quantities Jjfean five gallons. It was. stated that members of the Legislature supplied their private cellars 1 ' from Bel lamy’s, at cost price, and a resolution wa,s passed that Bellamy’s should stand iSi the same positions as the clubs. The meeting adjourned until to-morrow, when the dis cussion will be resumed.

TELEGRAPHIC.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

THE HOME MARKETS. London, June 3. Consola 98f ex dividend. June 4. Best Australian mutton tallow is to-day quoted at 3os. per cwt. The total stock of tallow in London on June Ist was 17,100 casks. Hew Zealand wheat, ex ship, is at 48s. At the wool auctions to day, 10,000 bales were offered, making a total of 304,300 catalogued since the opening. The tone of the sale was firm, and there was a better demand for cross breds. June 5. At the wool sales to-day, 8,300 bales were offered, making the total quantity catalogued since the opening, 372,600 bales. The firm tone which marked yes terday’s sales was again sustained. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL. June 5. The Homeward m?ils via San Francisco, with New Zealand dates from April 14 to 27, were delivered in London to-day. AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS. London, June 4. The cricket match between the Austra- . lians and Eighteen of Burnley, ■ in Lan cashire, was concluded to-day, and resulted in a victory for the Australians in one innings, with 27 runs to spare. In the second innings of the Burnley men, Spofforth took twelve wickets in fifteen overs. The Australian team has now scored its fifth win, w r ith one draw in its favour, and. has not yet lost a match. THE BURIALS BILL. London, June 4 In the House of Lords last night, the new Burials Bill was read a second time. The measure provides that the burial of Dissenters should be permitted to take place in churchyard cemetries without the recital of the Church of England service. THE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE. June 5. All necessary arrangements have been made for the approaching European Con ference to be held in Berlin. Lord Odo Russell, British Ambassador at Berlin, and General Sir Lintoft Simmonds will represent England. The Powers to be represented at the Conference have agreed to take the question of the Greek claim§ first into consideration. THE ALBANIANS AND MONTENE GRINS. June 5. The British Government are making efforts to prevent any serious conflict oc. curring between Montenegro and the Albanians, and hopes are entertained that a peaceful solution of the difficulty may be, secured. - THE BURMESE INSURRECTION. Ragnoon, June 4. Information has been received that a party of Burmese rebels who had been on a foraging expedition, but had been defeated in an encounter with the Burmese troops, have crossed the frontier into British territory. Later, The insurrection in Independent Bur mah is rapidly extending. A severe en counter has taken place between a force of Burmese Government troops and a body of rebels. The former were defeated, and their commander captured by thg rebels and beheaded. Four companies} of British which were ordered to the frontier of British Burnish, have already started, THE ASSASSIN OF COLONEL . COMMEROFF. . Constantinople, June 4. The question as to whether the sentence of death, passed upon Mahomed Velie, the assassin of the Russian attacks, Colonel Oommeroff, should be carried out, still remains unsettled. The Sultan desires that the sentence should be com muted, and lias referred the matter to the Ultemas, who will decide upon the course to be pursued.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 1880.



AUCTION SALES. This Day.' Acland, Campbell, and Co. —On the estate of Mr. Thomas Simpson, Wakanui road, Ashburton, 120 acres of freehold land. Wednesday, June 9. It. Davies and Co., at the Farm of Mrs. Dannihy, Seafield —Stock, Implements, &c. Sale at 1 p.m. Friday, June 11. Messrs. Acland, Campbell, and Co., at Westerfield Station —Horses, Cattle, Implements, &c. Saturday, June 12. Alfred Hairison, at his yards—Horses, Implements, Harness, &c. Sale at 12 o’clock. Saturday, June 19. Jameson and Roberts, at Messrs. Robert Wilkin and Co.’, New Zealand Wool Stores, Hereford street, Christchurch— Farm at Dromore, containing 1,050 Acres. Sale at 12 o’clock sharp. j- wvmiwwgHgßßßggH NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. All orders for insertion of advertise ments must be written legibly on the face of the advertisement. When no order is given the advertisement will be inserted until countermanded, and charged accord ingly. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor. MESSRS. H. MATSON AND CO., AUCTIONEERS, Ac., Hold fortnightly stock SALES at Ashburton and Tinwald. Next sale at the ASHBURTON YARDS, TO-MORROW (Tuesday), June 8, 1880. C. PERCY COX, 27g* Agent, Ashburton. T HE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY’S GARMENTS FOR MEN’S AND BOYS "WEAR. Fit Better Look Better Wear Better Are Better Cut Are Better Made Are Better Shrunk, And therefore give more satisfaction than any other goods offered to the public. Testified to by their Thousands of Cus tomers who purchase constantly at the NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FAC TORY’S BRANCHES, Now Established in Dunedin Invercargill Oamaru Timaru Ashburton ’ Lyttelton Christchurch Wellington Nelson Wanganui New Plymouth Napier Thames Auckland A SINGLE GARMENT AT WHOLESALE PRICE. N.B.— Our New Winter Manufactures are now ready. “TRY THE N.Z. OVERCOAT.” SHIRTS, HATS, and HOSIERY, of every description at WHOLESALE Prices. ASHBURTON BRANCH— East Street. Wm. SPARROW, 588 g Manager.



NOTICE TO FARMERS. rjjlHE undersigned will be prepared to treat with farmers and others in Ashbur ton, every Wednesday and Saturday, for the PURCHASE of GRAIN, or SHIP MENT on ACCOUNT of GROWERS. JOSEPH CLARK. February 28, 1880. 550g*



Unemployed Meeting. —A meeting of the unemployed of Christchurch was held in Cathedral square yesterday morning at half-past ten o’clock. There were about sixty members present, and several of them spoke at length on the subject of the scarcity of labor and the number of men out of employ in the town. A com mittee was formed, who was appointed to draw up certain proposals to be submitted to a geieral meeting of the unemployed at a future date. The draft of a petition to the United States Government has been prepared, praying Government to cause to be conveyed to the States such persons as are unable to obtain work here.