COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Monday afternoon. Mr. Alfred Harrison reports having found great difficulty in disposing pf draughts and hacks at his sale on Satur day ; he, Howevei-, placed several at moderate prices. Implements found more ready purchasers, but during the whole sale the tightness of money was painfully evident. Bigs sold at from 6d. to 9d. per lb.; geese, 9s. per pair ; ducks, 4s. 6d. to ss. per pair; fowls, 2s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. Onions,; o|d. .to Id.; potatoes, 50s, per ton ; carrots, 405.: chick wheat, IGd. per bushel J cheese, sd. to 6d. per lb.

AUCTION SALES.

Monday, May 3. J. E. Buchanan and Co., at the yards, close to Mr. John Hood’s, Mount Somers—Horses, Cattle, Pigs, and Sun dries. . Sale at 1 o’clock sharp. Tuesday, May 4. Messrs. Edmislon, Gundry, and Co., at the Ashburton Saleyards—Great Clearing Sale of Farming Implements, Horses, Farm, etc., in the estates of Edwin Watkins, Risely Bros., and others. Sale at 12 o’clock. Wednesday, May 5. Alfred Harrison, at his rooms, Havelock street.—The Farm at Seafield, now in the occupation of Mrs. Dannihy. Sale at 2 o’clock. Also, at the same time and place, 14 Suburban Sections. Thursday, May G. Matson & Co.—Mob of 80 high clam draught horses from Longbeach station Sale at . Tattersall’s at 11.30. . Saturday, May 8. J. E. Buchanan and Co., at their rooms, Havelock street.—l 6 Splendid Suburban Sections. Sale at 2 o’clock. Matson & Co.--At their rooms, Hereford and Cashel Streets, at two o’clock—l 32 sections in Methven township. ' Wednesday, May 12. Alfred Harrison, on the premises of the late Mr, James Cairns, Waterton. — Compact little Farm of 100 Acres. Sale at 12 sharp. Thursday, May 13. Edmiston, Gundry, and Co., at their rooms, East street.—3s Sections in the Township of Tinwald. Sale at 2 o’clock.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief .Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places . (subject to necessary alterations) as under':— Tuesday, May 4. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per Arawata, at 3.15 p.m. The next mail for the United Kingdom via" Brindisi (for correspondence specially ' addressed. only), will be closed at Christ church on May Gth, and will be due in London on June '26th. The next mail for the United Kingdom via San Francisco, will be closed at Christ church on May 22, and will be due in London on July 6. SYDNEY J. DICK, Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

Smithbl. —On May 1, the wife of Charles ' Smithel, Alford Ford road, of a daughter; both well. 412c-817g

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1880.

It is with much pleasure that we pub lish a cablegram we received last night from Auckland regarding the missing training ship Atalanta. With the 16ss of the Eurydice still fresh in people’s memo ries, the long absence of the Atalanta was the source of great uneasiness, and it was begun to be feared that she had shared the same fate as the Eurydice. But the cablegram received : by Commodore Wilson, of the Wolverine, yesterday, puts the matter, at rest, as it announces her safe arrival in England. The message is necessarily meagre, giving no hint as to where :she has been, or why she went ©missing. But, the information that she

is safe will be sufficiently satisfactory to all who read the telegram, and we can well afford to for details as to her detention - till . some more, convenient season.

A most remarkable inquiry was made last week in Wellington— a case of pecu liar. interest to ail who have to travel by bur coasting steamers. Our telegrams last week made our readers acquainted with an accident that occurred to the steamer Manawatu while on a voyage between Wanganui and Wellington, by which the boilers were rendered useless, and the vessel had to make her way to a by-port under sail. From gross carelessness on the part of those in charge of the steamer, the boiler was allowed to become encrusted with salt to a dangerous degree, and hence the accident. But the most extraordinary part of the affair comes out in the evi dence given before the Court of Inquiry. It appears that the only certificated engi neer on board was a man named Symons, and he stoutly asserts that he joined the steamer only for the trip, and he was to receive “no remuneration—no nothing,” for his presence. He was simply to be there while the other man, Seager, who held no certificate, worked the engines. The inference from this, of course, is that he went on board the Manawatu to enable her owners to evade the law that requires them to carry a certificated engineer, and the facts—which came out in evidence— that he never signed articles, but that his name was signed by the purser for him in his absence, and the chief officer , added his as the attesting witness, give a certain color of truthfulness to the construction he wishes to put upon his connection with the vessel. The Captain asserts that ,he always looked upon Symons as the officer in charge ; Seager says that he did not go as engineer of the vessel, and was to receive no pay for his work, he being only with the vessel in the interest of his brother, who was contractor for repairs on the steamer, and Seager only went to seethe working of the air pump; Mr. Martin, evidently mana ger of the Company, asserts that Symons was engaged at £lB a month, as engineer, and Seager was not recognised as engineer at all. Between the lot of them, how ever the Manawatu’s boiler was allowed to go to pieces, and the lives of the crew and passengers were risked. It does seem peculiar, too, that Seager should have done all the work about the engines on the trip while Symons looked on, and only relieved Seager for a spell of four hours. The evidence certainly is against poor Symons, and on it he has been de prived of bis certificate for three months. But the question very naturally arises— How comes it that, with all our maritime laws, it is possible for a number of men to get aboard a steamer, each on a misunder standing as to his neighbor’s position—a misunderstanding that might result, as this one resulted, in an accident, and one that may not end as this one ended, with no loss of life? There is a screw loose somewhere, and, as usual, nobody is to blame, I ut we hope we have not heard the last of the affair.

The Recent Accident. —Mr. Clark’s son, who was run over last week, has so far recovered from the injuries sustained as to be able to walk about. The Suez Mail. —The mail via Brin disi will close at- Christchurch on Thurs day. It will be necessary, as far as pre sent arrangements go, to post here on Wednesday night.

Ahicultural and Pastoral Associa tion.—The special meeting of the Agri cultural and Pastoral Association will be held to-day to elect a Committee in accord ance with the Act.

The Ashburton Bridge. —On Saturday it was found necessary to stop road traffic over the Ashburton bridge, owing to the planking in some places requiring repair, and not a few travellers had to make use of the fords. The Steeplechases. —We hear there is every probability that the steeplechases will be run over the old ground—vizi, the paddocks belonging to Mr. Joseph Hunt. A meeting of the committee, however, will be held to lay to come to a final decision.

Longbeach Road District.— Owing to the unavoidable absence of some of the members of this Board on public business, the meeting to have been held on Monday lapsed for want of a quorum, only Messx-s Chapman and Dawson attending. The meeting was adjourned until Thursday, the Gth instant, at 3 o’clock p.m. Pay Up.—Defaulting ratepayers who, through negligence or other causes, have omitted to pay their rates due to the Borough Council are referred to the re port of the Council’s meeting last night, which appears in another column. A speedy interview with the Town Clerk will be a more pleasant and cheaper course of conduct than an interview with the Resident Magistrate. . ■ “The Evil Results of Protection.” —We have received from the author a copy of a neat little pamphlet, by Mr. Win. Bateman, of Christchurch, entitled “ The Evil Results of Protection.” It is a reprint of a paper read by Mr. Bateman before the Kaiapoi Farmer’s Club. The pamphlet is well worth perusal, as the author has in quite a masterly manner ex posed many of the fallacies that have hung .around protection. Geeat Sale of Horses.— We would call the attention of farmers, contractors, and others to the eighth annual sale of horses from the Longbeach estate, which takes place at Tattersall’s on Thursday next. There are 44 horses, broken mostly to all kinds of work, and the fact that they have been bred on the Longbeach estate is sufficient guarantee as to their character, and if a good draught horse is wanted this affords the opportunity, for there is no reserve. Mr. Matson’s sale of draughts on that day will number 80 horses.

St. Mark’s, Rakaia. —The Bishop of Auckland, assisted by Archdeacon Wil liams, officiated at Dirine service in St- Mark’s Church on Sunday, both morning and evening, the Bishop preaching both sermons and the Archdeacon reading the lessons. The Church in the evening was crowded. On Sunday next the E.ev. Harris will preach two sermons in St. Mark’s Church and will hold a meeting in the Public Library on Monday evening for the purpose of inaugurating a Church Work Society, Unclaimed Letters. —The following is a list of letters received at the Ashburton Post Office from places beyond the colony during the month of March, and remaining unclaimed on the Ist May, 1880 :—Frank Amos, James Armstrong, William Barry, John Baxter, John Cald well (2), William Cassells, George Clay don, Mr. Dayton, W. Fletcher, A. G. Jagnes, R. H. Jackson, F. Madge, H. P. Magnusson, John McDonald (2) Philip D. G. ’Payne, Adam -Poison, A. Selby care of H. Pratt), James M. P. Stuart.

Tinwald School Committee. —The monthly meeting of this committee was held in the schoolroom o» Tuesday last. Present—Messrs. F. Lewie, W. Stalker, J.[Hampton, W. Norrie, W. H. Smith, and J. S. Houston. In the unavoidable absence of the chairman, Mr. F. Lewis presided. After confirmation of the minutes of last meeting, the master’s re port was read, showing the average atten dance for past month' to have been G 5. Resolved, that the chairman be authorised to procure the necessary fuel for the win ter, and that the' Secrej&ry write to the Board of Education for a grant for special repairs, also for some copies of the Educa tion Act, 1877, for the use of the com mittee. The meeting then adjourned.

The New Court House. —We have been informed that the tender of Messrs. England Bros., of Christchurch, has been accepted for the erection of the new Court House in Ashburton.

; Sergeant Felton. - There are very few of our Ashburton citizens Who will not be pleased to learn that, Sergeant Felton has so far recovered from his prolonged illness as to be able to resume duty to-day. Mr. W. F. Neilson. —Wc regret to learn that Mr. W. F. Neilson died after a long illness on Sunday last, at the age of 29. This gentleman was a short time ago well known in sporting circles, and was one of the best cricketers in the colonies. Young Gleeson. —Young Gleeson, the pedestrian, in the Town Hall on Saturday night, accomplished the task ho set him self of walking 13 miles in two hours. He had some four minutes to spare when his work was done, but the patronage he re ceived from the public was not extensive. Property Assessment. —The following gentlemen have been gazetted as Assessors under the “Property Assessment Act, 1879,” for the undergiven districts : Borough of Ashburton—James Wilkie ; Wakanui, Longbeach, Upper Ashburton, Mount Somers, South Rakaia, and Mount Hutt Road districts —0. F, Barker, and J. H. Sharpe, Christchurch. A Runaway. —A horse and trap belong ing to Dr. Stewart came to grief on Satur day night last. The horse, which was' standing near to Mr. Cambridge’s shop taking fright at something, suddenly galloped off at a furious pace down Tan cred street, and did not bring up until get ting past the Masonic Hall, where he and the trap were stopped, the latter being minus a wheel. Sporting. —The members of the re cently formed Geraldine Beagle Club held their first meet at Mr. Posthlewaite’s es state on Saturday last. There were about 40 horsemen present, in addition to several ladies, one of these latter, Miss. Guinness, of Ashburton, took a foremost part in the sport of the day, and was up at the “ death,” which closed a very bril liant run of twenty minutes.

Sale of Suburban Sections and Farm. —To-morrow Mr. Alfred Harrison will put to the hammer a number of sec tions, situated in the suburbs of Ashbur ton, also a block of 14 near the hospital, and the whole are for unreserved sale. The properties being so convenient to the business part of the town ought to cause some competition. Mr. Harrison will also dispose of the farm at Seafield, the pro perty of Mrs. Dennihy, which is one of the best ip the district, and ought to fetch a good price.

Volunteer Inspection Parade. —An inspection parade of the Ashburton Rifles was held on Friday night at the drill shed, when a fair muster attended at roll-call. Sergeant-Major Morgan, the drill instruc tor, made the inspection! of the men,, who in their new uniforms, made by Mr. Lublow, tailor, present a very creditable appearance. The officers present were Captain Bullock, Lieutenant St. George Douglas, and Sub-Lieutenant 0. C. Fooks. Belts, etc., have, we believe, been applied for, and shortly a rifle range will he pro cured, so that soon our Volunteers will be in regular practice at the targets.

Mistaken - Identity. —A man named James Dunn, who had been arrested on a warrant from Christchurch, charging him with obtaining money under false pre tences, was brought before Mr. Guinness on Monday. It appeared, however, from the evidence of Sergeant Pratt, that Dunn was the wrong man, and hence he was dismissed. Dunn wished to know from his Worship what satisfaction he would get after undergoing the ignominy of being arrested for a crime of which he was innocent, and the disgrace of being forty-eight hours in the lock-up. His Worship said that the accused would leave the Court without the slightest blemish on his character, but any redress would have to be sought in a court of law.

Police Case. —Two men named John Doyle and Edward Hogg were brought before his Worship on Monday, for the offence of being drunk while in charge of a dray on Saturday last. It appears that through some repairs being done to the Ashburton bridge, the gatekeeper refused to allow the accused to cross on Saturday night, and they then attempted to ford the river. This was a task which they failed to accomplish, and they soon came to grief in the attempt, the arresting con stable giving the horse over to the tender mercies of Mr. Price, and leaving the dray in the river bed. Doyle said he was not in charge of the dray, but was merely getting a “ lift ” homeward. Hogg ad mitted having had a little to drink, but attributed his failure to cross the river to not being acquainted with the ford. His Worship fined both men L2 and the ex penses of keeping the horse, or one week’s imprisonment. Cricket. —The match, Ashburton v. Mount Somers, was not played out on Saturday, owing to darkness coming on, and the Ashburton men therefore won on the result of the first innings. There was some very good cricket displayed, and though there were some individual in stances of loose fielding, on the whole the appearance of both teams was very credit able. We give below the detailed scores :

ASHBURTON. —First innings. Eyton, b Peters ... ... ... 5 A, Fooks, c Potts, b Hood ... o March, c Cvosbie, b Hood ... 7 Amos, c Potts, b Peters 22 Crisp, b Peters o Westenra, b Peters ... ... 7 Giant, c and b Potts ... ... o Hill, not out ... ... ... 9 Curtis, b Potts ... ... ... 9 Martin, c and b Potts .. ... I B. Ede, c Potts, b Peter... ... 3 Extras 24 Total ... ... ...87 Second Innings. Eyton, b Potts ... 11 Fooks, run out ... .. ... IO Hill, run out ... ... ... 3 Amos, b Hood ... ... ... o March, c and b Hood ... ... 6 Curtis, runout .. ... ... o Westenra, b Hood ... ... S Crisp, b Peter ... o Martin, cA. Potts ... ... 9 Ede, bHood ... ... ... o Grant, not out ... ... ... 14 Extras... ... ... ... 29 Total 87 MOUNT SOMERS.—First Innings. Lovell, b Westenra ... ... 6 Tomlinson, run out io Bailey, c Martin, b Westenra ... II Peter, c Fooks, b Westenra ... 3 A. Potts, c Hill, b Fooks ... T 3 Taylor, st Grant, b Eyton ... 2 D. Potts, b Westenra ... ... 2 Giffkin, b Westenra ... ... o G. Potts, b Fooks... ... ... 2 Cookson, c and b Westenra ... 8 Hood, not out ... ... ... o Extras... ... ... ... 15 Total 72 Second Innings. Bailey, c Hill, b Grant ... ... 6 G. Potts, b Westenra 14 Hood, b Westenra ... ... o Tomlinson, run out ... ... O Lovell, b Westenra ... ... 1 Peter, Ibw, b Westenra ... ... 8 A. Potts, not out 7 Taylor, not out X Total .... ... .... 37 A Great Light. friends, if in the providence of heaven that time should ever come when the Bible shall be banished from the councils of state and the halls of legislation, from the palaces of the great and the homes of the humble, its last asylum will be a Masonic hall, its last resting place a Masonic altar, and its devotee an honest, upright Mason. —Bro. Jairus E. Neil, Kansas.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE AD MINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN ASHBURTON.

To the Editor.

Sir —l have read with a considerable amount of amusement, as well as con tempt, tlie letter on the above subject sent to laS night’s Herald, by Mr. W. H. Gundry. Mr. Gundry endeavors in a roundabout spasmodic fashion to make three points. (1) That his interview with Mr. Guinness was after all a mere nothing ; (2.) That Mr. Gundry and his side only, in the great dog case, told the truth ; and (3.) That my letter was dic tated simply by a desire to injure Mr. Guinness, because he had done something towards my cousin. As to the last point, it is too contemptible to be even alluded to, much less answered. The mere sug gestion of such a motive is sufficient to show the writer’s narrow mind, I hesi tated some time before I sent my letter to be published, for it occurred to me that some such notice might possibly be im puted ; but after arguing the matter to myself, and with friends, I determined to let the letter be published, because we all thought, my friends and myself, that no such motive would be suggested by any antagonist who was prepared to meet me in a fair and honorable combat, and to op pose his facts to my facts. As to the second point, this is a clumsy endeavor by Mr. Gundry to draw a red herring across the scent. The facts of the dog case, and whether one side told the wh»le truth, and the other perjured itself, have nothing, whatever to do with the ac cusations I made against Mr. Guinness. Those accusations are—That Mr, Guinness had an interview with one of the parties to the action, at which some conversation took place about the action itself ; that at the hearing Mr. Guinness showed his bias against my client by characterising our case as “ suspicious” ; and, lastly, that for no valid reason, Mr. Guinness re fused to allow the costs of defendant’s witnesse", - indeed, that he refused to give his reasons for adopting that unusual course. At the same time, since Mr. Gundiy has taken the trouble to remind me that the evidence about the interview which he gave, and the evidence about the sale which Mr. Bullock gave, was on oath, let me also remind Mr. Gundry that Mr. C. Branson’s evidence on the first point and Mr. J, Ireland’s on the second was likewise on oath.

Now, Sir, as to the first and important point—that the interview between Mr. Guinness and Mr. Gundry was nothing but a mere question about ■ money paid into Court. Allowing this to be perfectly true, still, the fact remains that such an interview did take place, and the gist of my complaint against Mr. Guinness is that he permitted such an interview to take place. There is no attempt made to deny the fact that Mr. Guinness and Mr. Gundry did have some conversation about a case which was set down for hearing the next day, on which Mr. Guinness was going to decide, and in which Mr. Gundry was an interested party. As a member of the public I protest—and feel sure that many more will heartily join with me in protesting—against these private inter views. Where is this sort of thing to end ? Mr. Gundry may think it nothing to ask Mr. Guinness about money paid into Court in a case about to be heard, and Tom Brown (the plaintiff in Brown v. Jones) may think it nothing to interview the worthy R. M. the day before the trial of the cause, to tell the worthy R.M. the facts of the case, and to ask the worthy R.M. what judgment he would be likely to give on the morrow. After all it is only a matter of degree between these two cases. If Mr. Gundry’s sole object was to ascertain about the payment of money into Court in his case, that afforded no justification for an interview with the Magistrate. The proper person to have given such information was the Clerk of the Court, and that this was the case both Mr. Guinness and Mr. Gundry must have known, or, at all events ought to have known. Therefore, no matter what questions were asked and answered at the interview, Mr, Guinness’ conduct, from every standpoint, is alike improper and indefensible. As lam debarred by the rules of my profession from making public any facts communicated to me by my clients, I cannot, without the authority of Mr. C. W. Ireland, divulge some very interesting facts as to Mr. Guinness’ conduct towards him relative to, or at all events engendered by his (Mr. Ireland’s) determination to defend the dog case. Should I obtain Mr. Ireland’s consent, I will most certainly publish the facts alluded to.—l am, &., Gerald D. Branson.

asdf

To the Editor.

Sir— Mr. Gerald D. Branson having given your readers a rather one-sided view of the case, Edmiston, Gundry, and Co., v. Ireland, 1 must ask you to allow me to state a few facts which I would otherwise gladly have suppresed. Mr. Branson begins by saying that I admitted having a “ private interview ” with the Resident Magistrate, relative to the case, implying that the matter had been talked over and prejudged. Upon referring to the evidence you will find that this was Mr. C. B. M. Branson’s version ‘of the affair, and this I flatly contradicted, having only asked Mr. Guinness the simple question “ if the money had been paid into Court,” my object for so doing I explain further on. Why Mr. Gerald Branson has construed this simple question upon a Court matter into a “ private in terview,” I am at a loss to understand. With the evidence of Messrs. Bullock, Smith, and J. L. Crawley, before them (to «ay nothing of my own evidence), there can be very little doubt in the minds of those who have read the report of the case, as to who was the real purchaser of the dog in question, and when I have to add the fact that Mr. 0. W.. Branson met Mr. Edmiston in East street, on the 23rd April, and told him he could not get Charles Ireland to pay for the dog, and asked Mr. Edmiston to recover it for him, I will leave it to them to judge of the worth of Mr. C. B. M. Branson’s evi dence. After Mr. Branson’s conversation with Mr. Edmiston, they walked over to the Court together, and then and there took out the summons against Mr. 0. AV. Ireland. Up to this time Mr. Ireland had never repudiated the value of the dog to our knowledge, only referred us to Mr. 0. Branson, who, as above stated, in structed us to take action, and then turned round on us at the last moment without any notice, and after we had actually placed him in the witness box as our wit ness, and swore that he had never looked to C. W. Ireland for the money.

A few clays after serving the summons, Mr. Gerald Branson called and told me we were suing the wrong man. My answer was, that we had no claim against the brother, as we did not know him in the matter, and told him that Messrs. Bul lock, C. B. M. Branson, Smith, Crawley, and myself were prepared to prove the sale of the dog to Mr. 0. W. Ireland. It was thus “ we opened our hand ” to Mr. Gerald D. Branson, who never offered to allow us to withdraw vnthout costs, nor in the least explained the case. Subsequently I met Messrs. Charles and James Ireland together, him why they did not settle the matter, ’ as one of them had taken the dog, and Charles Ireland said his “ brother had paid for the dog.”, I asked him to whom he had paid it, and he said it did not matter, it was paid for. As

I was entering my office immediately after this, I met Mr. Guinness at the door, and asked him if he could tell me if the money had been paid into Court, thinking perhaps the Irelands had paid. it in. He said ‘ ‘ Yes. ” I asked if he could tell me who had paid it in, as we had not, and he said he did not know. We were not in com pany one minute, and this is the “ private interview” Mr. Gerald Branson is trying to make so much of, and thereby attempt ing to cast a slur on Mr. Guinness, by saying “that the public must not be put off with mere assertions that only this and only that occurred.” I would remind Mr. Branson that these “mere assertions” were made on oath.

On Thursday evening I called on Charles Branson and said, “ Mr. Guinness says the money is paid into Court. Did Ireland pay it in, or did you 1” He re plied, 1 ‘ I did. ” I asked him if ho had been paid, and he replied, “ No ; I have not received a penny of it yet.” I then asked him if we wore to go on with the case, and his answer was, “Yes, cer tainly.” Mr. Gerald Branson came at this moment and I left. At the door, I again said, “ We go on with the case to morrow,” and he said, “ All right, old man. ” Imagine my surprise, and that of our solicitor, when, on putting him into the witness-box, ho asserted that the dog had been sold to James Ireland, and that he had never looked to either C. W. Ireland or to us for the money ; and, this being our witness, Mr. Branson argued we were bound by his statement, to the exclusion Of that of Messrs. Bullock, Smith, Crawley, and myself, and that our solicitor had not the right to cross-ex amine onr own witness, Mr. Gerald Bran son’s objection to which called forth the remark from the Bench, that any objection might lead the Bench to infer there were “suspicious circumstances connected with it,” and of which I will leave your readers to judge. Mr. Gerald Branson says, “ Had I not full confidence in my case, both on merits and law points, I should have unhesitatingly objected to Mr. Guinness sitting to decide it.” I think I have clearly shown both the “ merits and the lav points” in which Mr. Branson had so much confidence. I must again refer to Mr. Charles Ireland’s remark that the dog. had been paid for. Mr. Gerald Branson, in the examination of Mr. James Ireland, on Tuesday last, remarked that he (Mr. J. Ireland) had a claim against the dog for Bs. per day, for seven or eight days, for bailiff’s fees, which the Magis trate had previously disallowed as ex orbitant. This, I presume, is what Mr. Ireland referred to in saying the dog had been paid for, and which undoubtedly throws some light on the form .the case eventually took. With regard to Mr. C. Branson’s state ment that I said “ the old man had been up to see me about it,” it is havdly necessary for me to deny it. It is only on a par with the expression used by Mr. James Ireland when he asserted that Mr. Bullock turned to him at the sale and said, “ Mr. Ireland, I believe,” and which Mr. Bullock in his evidence, emphatically con tradicted. These expressions give such a natural tone to the conversations.

Mr. Gerald Branson's grievance seems to be that in the face of the evidence given, the Magistrate did not allow full costs to all the members of the Branson and Ireland families who were in attend ance, and npt subpoenaed as witnesses. Are the circumstances connected with this case of sufficient public interest to warrant Mr; G. D. Branson in taking upon himself the questionable practice of making such an attack upon a public officer in the discharge of his duties 1 Do not the assertions distinctly show the sole reason to be simply Mr. Branson’s spleen against our local Court and Mr. Guinness, because his relative (Mr. 0, B. M. B.)has been removed from his office as Bailiff of the Court, a letter to which effect Mr. C. B. M. Branson received after my inter view with him on Thursday evening I

I must apologise for trespassing so much upon your valuable space, but I think this explanation is due to our worthy Magis trate as bearing upon our “ private inter view,” and placing him in a false light, and to ourselves as showing the origin of the case.—l am, &c.

W. H. Gundry. Ashburton, Ist May, 1880.

THE ASHBURTON WATER SCHEME.

To the Editor.

Sir, — Absence from home, and duties of more importance to myself than being engaged in a newspaper quarrel have pre vented me from replying to Mr. Wilkie’s letter at an earlier date. lam sorry that the severe indisposition that he apprehends I was suffering last week should be mani festing itself in at least one other indi vidual besides myself,, and would recom to Mr. Wilkie a soothing draught before he again “rushes into print.” The re marks in my letter were not in any way intended to refer to Mr. Wilkie. If he tendered for the work at what he con sidered a fair price, and the Council saw fit to give him the job, he would have been very foolish not to have taken it. If defending the Council is part of the contract, I hope the next tenders they call for will have these conditions stated in the specifications (perhaps this is what one of the Councillors referred to when he spoke of Mr. Wilkie’s'“ practical knowledge,” etc.) Mr. Wilkie has made some rather un called for remarks as to the veracity of my “facts.” As truthfulness is one of the few things in which I pride myself, and the platform on which ! now stand or fall, “ impugn it whoso lists.” In my schedule of works tendered for, the following items are enumerated : Water Supply—To cutting channel, form ing embankment, laying drain pipes, fluming and concrete work, according to plans and specifications, £s. d. Outfall Drain—To cutting drain extras, £ s. d. Fencing, £s. d. Total—L236 13s. If this does not embrace “ the most important part of the work” I am very much mis taken, and until Mr. Wilkie proves which of the three sections I have omitted to tender for I will leave the public to judge who is stating “facts” or “drawing on their imagination. ” , “ As to Mr. Black being the contractor,” how Mr. Wilkie can draw such an infer ence from my letter I am. at a. loss to know. What I intended to infer was whether Mr. Black could not do as good work under the Borough Engineer’s supervision as under Mr. AVilkie’s, at a saving of Ll 9 to, the ratepayers. As to the merits or demerits of Mr. Black’s teams or my own, I think that quite out of place to discuss in your columns. All I can say is that I have seen as good work done by Mr. Black’s teams as by those of any other contractor.

In conclusion, I must again congratulate the townspeople that in their midst there has arisen a living patriot who has taken up the cudgel to defend the Town Council —a real modern Samson—but before yoiirs truly is vanquished, as Mr. AVilkie’s intendedly scathing remarks intended he should be, it will take another wag of Samson’s weapon {quid pro quo, James). —I am, &c. W. J. SILCOCK.

ASHBURTON" BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held last night in the Council Chambers. Present —His.Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Messrs. Bullock, Priedlandcr, St. Hill, and Williamson. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. chairman's statement. The Mayor said a special meeting had been called of members of the Council to sign the burgess list, but, through want of a quorum, the meeting had to be ad journed until the close of the ordinary meeting of the Council that night. The balance sheet for the year ending 31st March, 1880, would be laid before them, and a special meeting would have to be called for the purpose of considering the same, and the annual report. The question of selling the water-pipes would be laid, before the Council during the evening, and also the report of the Corn mittee appointed to interview the Rail way Commissioners. There was an amount of L 325 still due from the .allo cated land fund. The overdraft at the bank had been reduced to L 97 odd. On this subject the Mayor said the banker was very unwilling to cash their cheques whilst this amount remained to the Coun cil’s debit, and had only consented to do so on the understanding that the- account was squared by the end of the current month. Since last meeting, Ll2O 4s. lOd. had been paid in for rates. CORRESPONDENCE. From W. C. Walker, Esq., Chairman of the County Council, requesting that the Council would defer the question of selling the waterpipes for the present. Ordered to lie on the table. . From Saunders Bros., intimating that the alterations made in their lease with the Council by the Borough Solicitor were objected to by their legal adviser. Re ferred to Borough Solicitor. From the Town Clerk of the Borough of Lyttelton, requesting information re the Council's iron water-pipes ; also a letter from the Town Clerk of Oamaru, with reference to the same subject. Ordered to lie on the table. From Mr. George Cates, offering to lease from the Borough Council one of their cottages. This letter contained several items of interesting work which Mr. Cates had executed on the premises in question, showing that ho had been renovating the Council’s property to no little extent, tor doing which he suggested that for the first twelve months he should bq allowed the cottage rent free. From Weeks and Dixon, submitting a price for which they were willing to com plete the printing of the by-laws, and re questing further information on the sub ject. . Mr St. Hill thought that tenders should he called for the completion of this work, or that Messrs Weeks and Dixon should send in the amount for which they would print the extra clauses which had been added, and the amount of corapeasation they required for keeping the type stand ing. He admitted that some compensa tion was only right, but objected to the. large amount which had been submitted to them. Mr. Bullock suggested that the matter should be left in the hands of the By-Law Committee, which was agreed to. MISCELLANEOUS. The Mayor reported, on behalf of the Finance Committee, that,they had ar ranged to pay off the overdraft at the Bank by the end of the present month. On behalf of the committee appointed to interview the Railway Commissioners. His Worship said that the committee had brought before the Commission the un satisfactory state of the railway crossings, and had suggested that the gates of the bridge be removed from their present position to the commencement of the ap proaches to the bridge. The question;of the accommodation at the railway station was also brought prominently before the Commissioners.

Mr. Bullock said tlie Mayor had alluded to the question of clearing off the over draft by the end of tile month. He wished to know in what position they now stood with the bank, as there were accounts before them which would have to be paid. The Mayor stated that he had received a promise from the banker to the effect that accommodation would be granted until the end of the month.

Mr. St. Hil stated that he had inspected one of the best of the Council’s cottages a few days ago, and found that the windows had been broken, the doors smashed, and the whole building in a scandalous condi tion. He ; suggested that the cottages should be let at a very low rental, and thus be cared for, rather than be allowed to go to ruin as they were now doing. Mr. Williamson suggested that when the cottages were empty the overseer should bo instructed to board up the windows, and thus secure them from damage. On the AVorks Committee’s report being called on, Mr. St. Hill reiterated his statement at last meeting, that the thing was a farce. Mr. Bullock wished to draw the atten tion of the Council to the question of planting, as the present was the time of the year when it was necessary such work should be done. He also wished the AVorks Committee, when they could get a meeting, to direct their attention to the state of the Tancred street crossing, sug gesting that a few loads of gravel be laid there. It was also necessary that the trees which had been planted last year should receive some attention, as the weeds were growing luxuriously around them, and interfering with their growth. Mr. St. Hill said that as the County Council’s property was benefitted by the trees planted in Baring Square, it was only right that they should attend to the trees in that locality. Mr, Bullock said he had a matter to bring before the Council which was rather a vexed question, but nevertheless an important one—namely, that of drain age. He thought that something might be done to clear the side drains in Tancred and Burnett streets. He was in favor of putting concrete channelling in Tancred, Burnett, and Peter streets, and thought that money would be well spent if so de voted, and the ratepayers would not be displeased with such necessary and useful expenditure of their funds. The Mayor was pleased to see that some of the Councillors were coming round to his way of thinking in the matter of drainage. AVhen he brought the matter of concrete channelling on some time ago he was opposed by Messrs. Saunders and Williamson, who argued that, with good clay bottom to be obtained, the concrete channelling was not necessary. Mr. Williamson thought the Mayor was in error in referring to Mr. Saunders and himself as being opposed to the channel ling. AVhat they said was that it would be better to have the clay alone rather than nothing at all. The Mayor was of opinion that if the matter were laid before the Chairman of the County Council, he would have no objection to allow the balance of the water supply grant to be used for channel ling purposes.

Mr. St. Hill thought it was time they had gas as a means of illuminating the Council Chamber. The present method of street lighting was very unsatisfactory ; and he was under the impression that, by utilising the workmen employed by the Council, the cost would not be great. He moved that an application be made to the Gas Company for the gas to be laid on to Chambers ; and the cost of fittings, &c., not to .exceed Ll2. ,

Mr. Williamson seconded the motion, which was carried- Mr. Friedlander brought before the Council the state of IJast street and a por

tion of Tancred street, and trusted that when the Works Committee were able .to get a quorum, they would call for tenders for the same. i

In consequence.r of the absence of Mr. Saunders, the disposal of'the water pipes question was postponed till the next meet ing. " ! . The Mayor stated the amount of rates now outstanding was L 154, and he thought it was but fair to those ratepayers who had been prompt in their payments that the defaulters should be subjected to some pressure. However he would like an expression of opinion from members as to the advisableness of ap pointing a collector, or at once taking pro ceedings against those who had neglected to pay up. Mr. Bullock thought with the Mayor that ratepayers should pay, but would prefer to see a collector appointed at 2\ per cent, rather than subject the rate payers to law expenses. Mr. St. Hill coincided with the last speaker, but suggested that 5 per cent. - would be little enough to offer, seeing that the cream of the work had been taken by the majority of the ratepayers having paid their arrears. Mr. Williamson was in favor of adher ing to the Council’s resolution on the subject. There were some people who would not pay until they were forced, and as sufficient notice had been given, he thought summonses should at once bo issued to defaulters. . , ■ It was resolved that the Clerk give effect to the resolution on the subject, and sue at once for unpaid rates. The Mayor also requested the reporters to draw atten tion to this resolution..

Several accounts and the pay-sheet were passed for payment, and the . Council then held its .

■ SPECIAL MEETING, which had been adjourned from last week, for the purpose of signing the burgess list. - . .

Messrs Bullock and St. Hill, with the Mayor, were appointed to sign this list, which was done, there being no objection thereto.

This concluded the business, and the Council then went into Committee on works, finance, &c.

SAFETY OF THE TRAINING SHIP ATALANTA.

(By,Telegraph.) Auckland, May 3. Commodore Wilson, of the Wolverine, has received a cable message stating that the training ship Atalanta, supposed to have been lost, with 300 souls on board, has arrived at htr destination in England safely.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EOKOPB. (Reuter's Telegrams.) London, April 29. The total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is L 16,000,000. At the wool sale to-day, 17,000 bales were offered, making a total of 93,200 cata logued since the opening. The tone of the sale was quieter but steadj'. The homeward mails, via Brindisi, were delivered to-day. Parliament met to-day. The new mem bers were sworn in, and the Right Hon. H. B. Brand was again elected Speaker of the House of Commons. ' ,

London, April 29.

Lox-d Carlingford, formerly Mr. Chiches ter Forfcesquo, lias been appointed British Ambassador at Constantinople. April 30. Lord Carlingford has declined the Am bassadorship at, Constantinople. London , April 30. Adelaide wheat per 496 lbs., ex ware-, house, 525. ■ At the wool sale to-day 12,000 bales were offered, making a total of 94,400 bales catalogued since the opening. The tone of the market was in favor of the buyers.

The Englislx’and American harvests are reported to be favorable. Lord O’Hagan has been appointed Chancellor of the House of Peers.

Mr. Farrer Herschel, Q. 0., has been ap pointed Solicitor-General in the new Ministry. London, May 1.

Earl Oowper has been appointed Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland, and Lord O’Hagau has been appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

At the wool sales to-day 10,600 bales were offered, making a total of 111,200 catalogued since the opening. The tone of sale was quieter and weaker. For inferior and faulty wool the demand is purely speculative. (Per Hero at Auckland.) London, April 21.

There is a split in the camp of the Home Eulers, the followers of Parnell being dissatisfied with the moderation of a small section of the party. The Irish Nation, newspaper, identifies itself with the extreme party, and in consequence of a violent article in a recent issue the pro prietor, Mr. Arthur M. Sullivan, was served with a writ for libel by Mr. Philip Call, a member for Dundalk, and a well known Home Ruler. London, April 21. Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, is on a visit to Paris, where he intends to make a short stay. London, April 22. Sir Henry Bulwer, Lieutenant Governor of Natal, succeeds Major Strachan at the Windward Islands. AUSTRALIAN. (Per Reuters' Agency,') Melbourne, April 30. It is thought probable that the Govern ment will at once appoint an Agent-Gene ral in London, in consequence of Mr. Childers having resigned his position of Chairman of the Board of Advice. The wheat market is firm, but the price of oats is easier. Melbourne, May 1. It is stated that Sir Andrew Clarke will be appointed temporary Agent-General for Victoria in London. Sydney, May 1. Yane, an ex-bnshranger, has been com mitted for trial on a charge of sheep stealing. Hon, Sir Jno. Robinson, Vice-Presi dent of the Executive Council, and repre sentative of the Government in Legisla tive Council, will temporarily take the portfolio of Minister of Education, which is instituted under the new Education Act. Sydney, May 3.|| Arrived—Union Company’s steamship Te Anau from Auckland. The crew of the Chandernagore having shown a mutinous spirit, police observation of the vessel day and night has been found to be necessary. News has been received that a steamer, with several hundred foreigners for the colonisation of New Ireland, has been sighted in the vicinity of that place. Adelaide, May, 3. The Orient Company’s steamship Acon cagua has arrived here from Plymouth; Brisbane, May 3, It is reported that 600 Chinese are p’re-' paring to proceed to the Colu goldfields, which have for some time been abandoned owing to the blacks and difficulties of transport. Auckland. May 3. ; All the members of the Civil Service - Commission are now here, and will com mence to-morrow the examination of the railway and public works officials. Messrs. Hamlin and Harris will ad dress their constituents this week. ‘ , Mr.

Sheehan-addresses the Thames electors about Saturday next. !. The beach from the Whangarei Heads is thickly strewn with dead schnappers. The cause is a puzzle to the local savans. The larrikin element is increasing. They pulled down and hustled the street preachers last night, chasing them along the main street. The police are quiescent. An information has been laid by .Mr. Strickley, Superintendent of the Indus trial Home, against Constable Adams for indecent assault on an inmate aged 18. The farmers complain of drought. At the Kaipara Steam Navigation Com pany’s meeting the report showed a loss of LI3OO on the half year. - - Gunner Henderson is again the winner of the Champion: Belt of the Auckland Artillery. The caterpilar pest is very bad in dis tricts south of Auckland. Wellington, May 3. Government have determined to ex tend the hours during which Post-office Savings Banks shall be open on Satur days. The offices will now be open from 6.30 to 7.45 on Saturday nights.. This is done to offer further facilities to the working class for transacting business with the office. A boy, unknown, aged 13, was drowned off the Queen’s wharf to-day. He was fishing and slipped in. The body has not yet been recovered. Invercargill, May 3. The steamer Kakanui, which went ashore at Toitoi harbor, got off yesterday, with comparatively little damage. , , John Rogers, rabbiter for Mr. McKel lar, was found on Sunday, at the Blue Mountains, near Tapanui, with his head severed from his body, having been shot by one barrel ot his gun exploding while he was charging the other.

HOW THE EARTH WAS FIRST MAPPED OUT.

What these early maps were we do not know, hut we can form a reasonable con jecture. The earth at that time was sup posed to bo a flat circular plain, or disk, the broadest part being from east to west, which was entirely surrounded by an ocean, or great river, that washed it upon all sides. In about the centre of this plain Greece was supposed to be situated. The great central sea of the inhabited re gion was the Mediterranean. The farthest point known at the west was the Strait of Gibraltar, then called the Pillars of Her cules. The southern part comprised the north of Africa as far as the deserts ; while the region north embraced the countries bordering upon the Mediter ranean, and an unknown hyperborean land further to the north, with the Buxine and Caspian seas at the south-east. The farthest eastern point known was about the western limit of India. Tiiis was what would then be contained in a map as a representation of the earth. The sun was supposed to pass under and around this flat plain, which was then the mode of accounting for the changes of day and night. The space beneath was supposed to be a great vault, called Tartarus, the abode of the spirits of the wicked among men, as the region corresponding to it, above the plain, was the heaven or abode of the gods. The unknown regions be yond the Pillars of Hercules was filled up with creations of the fertile imagination of the Greeks. ; To the north-west and north were the Cimmerians, a people living in perpetual darkness ; arid' the Hyperboreans, a race supposed to be exempt from toil, disease, pr war, who enjoyed life for a thousand years in a state of undisturbed serenity. , west of Sicily were the enchanted islanus of Circe and Calypso, and the floating island of Bolus. A little to the north of the Pillars of Hercules was the entrance to the infernal regions; and far out in the western ocean, beyond the limits of the known earth, was the happy region called Elysium, a land of perpetual summer, where a gentle zephyr always blow, where tempests were unknown, and where, the spirits of those whose' lives had been ap proved by the gods, dwelt in perpetual felicity. Here, also, were the Gardens of the Hesperides, with their golden apples guarded by the singing riymphs, r who dwelt on the river Oceamis, which was in the extreme west, and of which was constantly shifted as geographi cal knowledge increased.—Chief Justice Daly in Popular Science . Monthly for February. ' , . ■

A NOVEL BANK.

The Boston Herald gives an account of the novel banking institution bearing the title of “The Ladies’ Deposit.”lts prospectus, printed on a little patch of red paper, says that “ the Deposit is a charitable institution for single ladies, old and young, snd contains the following startling j reposition t-rlo terest at the rate of Bdoia. bn jLUOdoJs. per month, is paid every three mbnths’an advance. The principle can be withdrawn upon call any day except Sunday. -Flo deposits re ceived from persoris owning a house,” The Herald reporter was not able to get all the information that he wished )at the “ Ladies’ Deposit,’’ though ;he visited that institution in petticoats, and, according to his own account, very naturally conducted himself in his character of a woman. He could not learn from ; the manager, Susan Orandell,, how the concern cou £ afford to pay 95 per cent, a-year on de posit, or what disposition was . made of the money received, that made it so valu able. Nevertheless, he saw. a depositor come in, and saw her advance interest paid over to her in the manner stipulated. Later in the day a reporter for a com mercial agency called at the “ Ladies’ Deposit,” but he could not learn- much more. He was told that Mrs S. E. Howe was president of. the concern,.land the money deposited was not loaned, but em ployed for. charitable purposes.' It could not be learned how the Deposit could afford to pay such a high rate of interest, the president replying simply, .” Excuse me, that is my business. ” It is said that the questionable character of tlm busi ness has been the subject of attention by the authorities," who have decided that, as no complaints have- ever rbeen, made by persons claiming to have been .swindled in any way, and as the “ bank *’ does not solicit patronage, they are not called upon to interfere. Although their business is conducted upon an apparent preposterous basis, and with the utmost secrecy, the fact that the managers solicit no business, but receive money only from those who come voluntarily, is said to cl ear them from legal responsibility should anyone fail to receive principal and interest ac cording to agreement. It is remarkable that such a business as this has been going on in the heart of the city for nearly two years, with an apparently in creasing number of depositors.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1880.



MESSRS- H. MATSON AND CO., AUCTIONEERS, &c., OLD FORTNIGHTLY STOCK SALES at Ashburton and Tinwald. Next sale at the TIN WALD YARDS, on TUESDAY, April 27, 1880. C. PERCY COX, 27g* Agent, Ashburton. NOTICE TO FARMERS. |HE 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* 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 Wellington Nelson Wanganui New Plymouth Napier Thames Christchurch Auckland A SINGLE GARMENT AT WHOLESALE PRICE. N.B.— Our New Winter Manufactures are now ready. “ TRY THE XZ. OVERCOAT.” SHIRTS, HATS, and HOSIERY, of every description at WHOLESALE Prices. ASHBURTON BRANCH— East Street. &Wm. SPARROW, Manager.



How To Do It. —The Ohemland Herald gets in a point by advising/Jliristiana to hire a steamer, give a Sunday excursion, and then suddenly open religious services on the crowd of loafers. They must either listen or jump overboard. Beetroot Suosar.— The manufacture of beetrqot sugar is at present attracting con siderable attention in Canada. Sever.al capitalists have launched into .the .. busi iieiis, and at ’ Montreal a company with half a million, dollars as its capital has been started; with view to encourage the cultivation of beetroots.



Serving a Writ.— One morning re cently an Irish M.P. received a ; letter, dated from a remote Corner of his consti tuency, aind duly signed, that a meeting had been held with- intent to encourage him iii his patriotic obstruction of the Saxon, and that a deputation had been appointed to wait upon him with the resolutions. Where and when might‘they be received ? The M.P. , promptly taking up his pen, made an appointment for ah early day, and, renewing his injunctions about the bailiff, gave orders that the deputation was to be admitted. With the hour came the honest wearing green ribands and brimful of loyalty. The M.P. received them in a private; room, and, holding out his hand toirtecpive-from the spokesman the resolutions -agreed upon at the meeting of. his constituents, had placed in it—a writ ,! The meeting, the deputation, the green'ribandsVand the copy of the resolutions, were all a device of an astute firm of Dublin, solicitors.