MAIL NOTICES.

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 Ohertsey Eakaia. Ac., 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, Elgin, and Seafield, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 6 a. m.

BIRTH.

Yaughan. —On the 17th inst., the wife of Mr. F. A. Yaughan, of a son. 760 c MARRIAGE. Saunders—Johnston. —At Manor Place, Dunedin, on the 13th August, by the Rev. Dr. Stuart, Samuel Saunders, Esq., third son of Alfred Saunders, Esq., M.H.R. for Cheviot, to Helen Johnston, granddaughter of the late Captain Cargill, of Dunedin.

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1880.

In the House yesterday afternoon Mr. Moss gave notice to move for the institution of a system of local Govern ment with a view to relieve Parliament of -a : great amount of what Mr. Sheehan called the “ parish business ” it is called upon to perform. We have no wish to see the old provincialism re turned to, with its mock Parliament of “ honorable members,” sitting in every chief town, and the way Mr. Moss puts his motion makes us feel as if the spirits of the provincial parliaments had begun to “ walk.” But when one sees how much real legislation has to be shelved.each session simply because the House has had its time taken up with matters that could have been just as well attended to by the Counties in the districts which these matters affected, he is inclined to favor some scheme that will relieve Parliament of any “local” duties that help it to fritter away its time without profit to the colony. As it is, there is an element in the House sufficiently prodigal of time in its tendencies, no matter how important to the country the issues of a question may be, and the result of the action of this element is that we find the Legisla ture, as the session draws to a. close, having a pile of work to get through that it has no hope of accomplishing. This session is no exception, and we fear the Representation Bill lias shown all of itself we will see this year ■, the Licensing Bill we would not be sur prised to see held over at the last moment till next year, while the Hos pital and Charitable Institutions Bill stands a good chance of sharing the same late. It is aggravating to find a session that opens hopefully and full of promise having to close with its work half done and a large proportion of it done hurridly and therefore less thorough!}' and carefully than it might have been. To remedy this state of affairs in some measure at least is Mr. Moss’s intention in the motion lie wishes the House to consider and adopt. But we fear his reform in this direction has been mooted at too late a period in the session to receive the consideration that, not so much his scheme as his intention, merits. Some thing, however, will have to be done in the direction lie hints at, but as it is hopeless to expect a private member to carry through a reform of this kind, the matter ought to be taken up by Go vernment. We hope that during the recess Government will consider what is best to be done to relieve the House of the pile of purely “ parish business ” it is annually called upon to do, and yet retain some sort of direct control of such bodies as they may relegate it to, or specially create for its transaction.

Farmers’ Supplement. Our usual monthly farmers’ supplement will appear in Saturday’s issue.

Eire Inspector. —Mr. James Wilkie has been appointed Fire Inspector of the Borough.

Methven Pound. —The by-law for providing for the scale of fees and charges for the Methven Pound appears in another column.

In Bankruptcy, —A meeting of William Banks’ creditors will be held on Wednes day, the 25th inst., at 11 o’clock, in Mr. Crisp’s office, to consider the debtor’s ap plication for discharge. Mr. Joshua Tucker is trustee in the estate. Mr. F. Pavitt has been appointed trustee in the estate of Thomas Hicks. The Tree Stealing Case.— The two men men Nolan and Hefferman, were tried on Tuesday on the charge against them of stealing trees from the Domain. His Worship, after hearing a witness as to the previous character of Hefferman, gave judgment as follows Nolan would be convicted and lined L 5 on each informa tion, L2O in all, and if not paid within an hour to go to gaol for two months on each information. Hefferman would be fined LI on each information, and if the fines were not paid within an hour, prisoner would have to go to prison for fourteen days on each information. A full report will be found in another column. Ashburton High School. —lt will no doubt be interesting to many of our readers to observe that tenders are being called for the erection of a building to form part of the intended High School. .-Apart from the educational privileges which will follow from the establishment of this school, the mere erection of the building, along with the cattle yards, Messrs. Matson, Cox, and Co.’s store, and the infant school will give at least temporary employment to a number of men, and''when the sound of the hammer and saw are once more familiar ( to our ears, we may imagine there will be no more murmuring in our streets.

L. O.L.—A meeting of the Star of Ash burton LoyaJ Orange Lodge will bo held this evening, at 8 o’clock. Masonic. —The regular monthly meet ing of the Thistle Lodge takes place to night in the Masonic Hall.

Thee Planting. —Persons who are on the look out for trees suitable for plant ing, should pay a visit to Mr. Alfred Har rison’s yards to-day at 12 o’clock, when 4,000 trees of various kinds are to be brought to the hammer.

The Court-House. —We are authorised to state that none of the tenders hitherto sent in for the fittings of the Ashburton Court-House will be accepted, being all greatly in excess of the amount that can be granted.

The 1 ‘ Wheatsheap. ” —Messrs Will cocks and Escott, invite their friends to a dinner on the 24th of this month, to cele brate the entrance of Mr. Escott as the new landlord. A dance will take place afterwards.

Poad Work. —The Upper Ashburton Road Board invite tenders for shingling, formation, etc., on Bland’s Island, Stitt’s cross road, Town Bolt road, Winchmore road, and from Thomson’s corner to the Winchmore road. Specifications at Mr. Pullar’s office, and tenders to be in by Monday, at noon, 30th inst. Lecture. —The Rev. Mr. Hands gave a lecture in the Templar Hall on Tuesday, under the auspices of the Temperance Society. The rev. gentlemen took for his subject “ The Wines of the Bible.” There was a fair audience, and the lecture which was well I handled, was listened to with much interest. At its close, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Hands. Trotting. —Some betting is going on in the township just now regarding the fastest time taken to trot 100 miles. We are requested to state that Mr. R. Lan caster distinctly remembers a trotting match between a horse named Archie and another called Whisker, in which Archie did the 100 miles under ten hours. Whisker broke down on the road, which was between Fiery Creek and Geelong.

The Library Rearing. —Another of the series of entertainments for the benefit of the Library was given in the Town Hall on Tuesday, to a very fair audience. The singers were Messrs. Gates, Zouch, and Stott, while the pianists were Mrs. Eyton and Miss Gates. Recitations were given by Mr. Minnis, and a reading by Mr. Guinness, the entertainment concluding with “Bumble’s Courtship,” from Dickens’ “ Oliver Twist,” by Mr. Jacob son and Mrs. Thomson. The Domain Corner. —Workmen are at present busy putting up a fence round the reservoir at the corner of tile Domain. The fence is a very substantial one, and as neat as strong, but to our seeming there is not enough of it. We would re recommend such members of the Borough Council as have an eye to the tasteful to take a walk along to the Domain corner. We are sure they will at once be con vinced that as much again of the same kind of fencing is required at the corner, and a ten pound note would cover the expenditure. Lecture. —At the Library entertain ment on Tuesday it was announced by the chairman, Mr. Ward, that shortly a lec ture would be given in aid of the Library’s funds by Mr. F. P. O’Reilly, barrister, the subject being the eminent statesman “William Pitt.” This is not the first time that Mr, O’Reilly has been on the platform as a lecturer, for not so very long ago he made a very favorable impression on a large audience in Sydney in a lecture on “ Memory,” which was noticed at great length by the Sydney press and favorably criticised. But for Mr. O’Reilly’s depar ture for New Zealand the lecture would have been repeated. We have no doubt the lecture on Pitt will be well attended, and highly appreciated by the Ashburton public. Contempt of Court. —On Tuesday while the case against Nolan and Heffer man for alleged tree stealing iv as proceed ing the Sergeant took a man into custody for conversing with Hefferman and carry ing the results of his conversation to a witness named Sullivan, who' along with the other witnesses in the case had been ordered outside the Court. Mr. O’Reilly, for the accused, called Hefferman to prove that the conversation did not in any way bear on the case, and his Worship dis charged the offender with a sharp repri mand. In the course of Sullivan’s evi dence, he had emphatically stated that a man named David Evans, with whom he had had an interview at Acton station, was at Rakaia at present. When the name of the offender against the rules of Court was enquired for, it was ascertair ed to he “ David Evans,” who up to that moment was supposed to have been in Rakaia. There was a look of blank dis may on the faces of both police and counsel, and the titter which went round the Court, showed that the general opinion was that some one had been “ had.”

The Literary Institute, Cheetsey. - The Chertsey Literary Institute was opened for the first time on Saturday last. It consists of a detached building of one large room, well furnished with cabinets for the books. Residents in the district have lent (for use in the room only) several works of authority as reference books, besides bound volumes of English illus trated papers, and works of general in terest, amounting in all to about fifty volumes. The circulating library com prises about ninety volumes of the works of standard authors, so that for the size of thg place the library is very well stocked. The subscription for members has been fixed at the low figure of ten shillings per annum, which ought to induce every one within reach of the library to join. Owing to the success of the recent entertainment the Committee have LlO in hand, and the institution may therefore be looked upon as financially healthy. The benefits of the library ought to be widely taken ad vantage of by those in the locality, as the greater the support given to it, and the larger the number of members, the better able will the Committee be to increase the stock of books. The reading-room is open, daily, and is greatly appreciated by those residing at a distance, while the library is open for the distribution and exchange of books on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Important Decision. —ln a case heard at the Resident Magistrates’Court on Tues day, in which the plaintiff sought to re cover certain goods from the defendant, who held them as a lien until an account was settled, Sir. Branson argued for the plaintiff that no lodginghouse-keeper could detain goods in such a manner. The learned gentleman quoted cases in support of his argument, and showed the different relationships in which hotel keepersandlodginghonsekeepers stood. A hotelkeeper is compelled by law to accom modate travellers, and would be running the risk of being indicted should he re fuse, and hence the law which made it compulsory on the hotelkeeper to supply accommodation also gave him a means of protection from loss in allowing him io de tain the goods of his “ guest ” as a lien for the debt contracted. A lodginghouse keeper stood in a different position. He was not compelled tc accommodate the public. It was entirely a matter of choice with him, and lie could accept or refuse any person applying for accommodation. Hence, as the law does not force a lodginghouse-keepor to take in travellers, neither does it allow him to detain the goods of his lodgers pending the payment of a debt incurred for such lodging. The Magistrate agreed with Mr. Branson’s statement of the lodginghouse-keeper’s position and gave judgment in favor of the lodger.

Smxtggling.— A man named Thomas Smith has been fined L2O at Auckland for evading the duty on a gold watch, valued at L4O.

The P. and O. Steamers. —lt is stated that shortly the Peninsular and Oriental Company’s steamers will trade regularly to Wellington, whence their traffic will be distributed.

Ante Up.—The Hon. J. T, Peacock has given notice in the Legislative Council to move that Education Boards having balances in hand at the end of the year should refund the same to Government.

The Late Mr. Ireland, M.H.R. — The remains of the late Mr. Ireland, M.H.R. for Waikaia, were brought to Lyttelton by the Hinemoa on Tuesday morning. They were forwarded South by the evening train to Timaru, whence they were despatched to Dunedin yesterday morning.

The Unemployed. —More unemployed were sent up country to railway works from Christchurch yesterday. Altogether 1000 men have been found work for under “ unemployed ” terras this winter. The number shows how real have been the workmen’s complaints of want of employ ment.

Under Age. —At Napier the Education Board are growling about the capitation paid for children under age. 3000 children have thus been paid for, involivng an ex penditure annually of L 12,000, and a further indirect outlay of LBOOO. In the present state of the colonial finances one member thinks the Minister for Education ought to be talked to.

Death op Colonel Kenny. —Colonel Kenny, M. L. 0., died at his residence at Ponsonby on Tuesday morning without premonition. Whilst dressing he was seized with a fit of apoplexy, and fell heavily to the floor, striking his head against the bed, and inflicting a severe gash. He died almost instantly. He was at All Saints Church on Sunday, and got up on Tuesday in his usual health and spirits.

The Okarito Rush.. —The West Coast is again becoming popular as a goldfield, and many old hands are setting out for the scene. A special coach left Christ church on Monday with a cargo of twenty diggers, who mean to try their luck at Okarito, and on Tuesday evening the Grafton took twenty more men with her as passengers for the goldfields on the West Coast.

A Wicked Lamp. —The Lynch family of bellringers, while performing in Ewart’s Hall, Blenheim, on Tuesday evening, had an adventure. One of their number accidentally upset a kerosene lamp, when leaving the stage. He threw some costumes over the lamp, then seized it, blazing as it was, carried it round to the back of the stage, and threw it out side the window, where it exploded. Locae Industries. --In the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the Hon. Mr. Cham berlain gave notice to move that in the opinion of this Council • the Government should state whether it is going in for a policy of Free Trade or Protection. He also asked whether Government intended to bring in a Local Industries Bill ; and was the Local Industries Commission to continue its work, or another of less Free Trade tendencies to be appointed. The Hon. F. Whitaker said that the report of the Commission was now under considera tion ; also, whether the Commission shall continue its labors ; but whatever decision was come to no new Commission mould be appointed.

An Unrehearsed Scene. — A remark able scene occurred at a reading recently given at Louisville by Mrs. Scott Siddons. The first part of the programme had just been concluded, the last feature of which was “ The Maniac.” Mrs. Siddon ap peared in costume, and the audience was much moved by her dramatic display. Suddenly a woman, pushing past the door keeper, ran down the main aisle, leaped upon the stage, and, rushing to Mrs. Siddons, attacked her savagely. The woman had a dog in her arms, and a colored man followed her. People inter fered and prevented any injury to Mrs. Siddons, who explained that the young woman was a demented cousin that had escaped from her custodian.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE. {Per Reuter's Agency.) London, Aug. 15. Obituary— Viscount Stratford de Red clift’e. London, Aug. 10. Three per cent. Consols have declined and are now quoted at 97J. .New Zea land securities were unchanged at last quotations, viz., Five per Cent. 10.40 Loan, 1031? ; Five per Cent. 1889 Loan, 103 ; Four and a-hal£ per Cent. Loan, 1879-1904, 99J-. New Zealand wheat, ox ship, is quoted at 4Gs., being a decline of Is. Adelaide wheat and flour have also fallen, the present prices, ex warehouse, being, wheat 475. Gd. and flour 355. Gd. Australian tallow remains firm, at 345. Gd. for beef, and 3Gs. Gd. for best mutton. No arrangements has yet been come to for a match between the Australian cricketers and an All England Eleven. Numerous land meetings are being held throughout Ireland. At a recent meeting at Kildare, Mr. Dillon, Home Rule mem ber for Tipperary, made several seditious speeches. The cathedral which has been in course of construction at Cologne for some time past is now completed. London, Aug. 17. In the House of Commons to-day, the Marquis of Harrington, Secretary of State for India, in reply to a question, stated that he disbelieved the report of an entente cordiale existing between Abdul Rahman and Ayoub Khan. Obituary—Madame Neilson, actress. Paris, Aug. 15. M. Gambetta has written a letter in which he says democracy will strengthen France, and will enable her to recover the provinces of Alcace and Lorraine, which she lost during the last war with the Ger mans. Paris, Aug. 16. It now transpires that Garnbetta’s letter is of old date, and has not been recently written, as it first supposed. St. Petersburg, Aug. 15. General Melikoff has been appointed Minister of the Interior. Constantinople, Aug. 17. Owing to the Great Powers not consent ing to any change in the Turko-Greek frontier as fixed by the Berlin Conference, Turkey has asked for twenty-four days’ extension of time to further consider the question as regards the settlement of the rectification of the frontier. Calcutta, Aug. 14. Confirmatory information has been re ceived from Oandahar, which states that Ayoub Khan has commenced military operations for the seige of Oandahar. Calcutta, Aug. 17. Intelligence has been received from Afghanistan that a large body of Pathesis attacked the British garrison at Kach madan, but were repulsed. The British pursued and inflicted severe loss upon them. Capetown, Aug. 14. The Basutos, the inhabitants of the ter ritory to the west of Natal, have at last submitted to the colonial troops. AUSTRALIAN. (Renter’s Telegrams.) Sydney, Aug. 17. Parliament has been further prorogued till September 28th. A box which should have contained

12Goz. gold from Cooktown, addressed to the City Bank, arrived here empty. Melbourne, Aug. 17. New Zealand oats, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 7d. Best milling qualities are firmer. Melbourne, Aug. 18. Mr. R. Bowman, the member for Mary borough, made a speech last night, in the course of which he denounced Mr. Williams, the member for Manduraug, as a political traitor. The Tararua sailed for the Bluff to-day. INTERPRO YIN 01AL.. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, Aug. 18. A man named Robert Montgomery died at Cambridge from lockjaw. He cut his toe with an adze a week ago. The prospecting party, for which Adam Peter got money voted, is now at Te Aroha where they have struck several reefs. Wellington, Aug. 17. At the Magistrate Court H. Willis, schoolmaster at the Hutt, was sentenced to two months’ hard labor for assaulting a resident there. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Johnston, assistant clerk at the Magis trate’s Court at Masterton, on a charge of embezzling L3O of Court moneys Invercargill, Aug. 18. The Invercargill School Committee have decided to adopt the compulsory clauses. The Forest Hill Chamber of Agricul ture intend making an attempt .to procure the calling at Bluff of vessels with meat freezing chambers.

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Monday, August IC. After some minor business, at the even ing sitting of the House, Mr. Shepherd resumed the debate on Mi’. Moss’ motion re the report of the Railway Commission. He condemned the report, and all Royal Commissions, as assuming Government’s duties without, its responsibility. Captain Russell spoke in defence of Coramissious. Log-rolling had retarded the Public Works Policy of the colony, and neutralised its object. Self-reliance was wanted more than borrowed money. It was important that the various rail ways should be connected, but that should be done as circumstances permitted. Re ferring to several lines of railway as need ful, and that might very well bo gone on with, he said all traffic tended towards the seaports, and coast lines of railway should be completed. They should finish through railways, and not fritter away their money on fragments.

Mr. Thomson was averse to Commis sions.

After Mr. George, Mr. Hurst, and Mr. White had spoken, Mr. Jones, denying a statement by Mr. Pyke, said the Livingstone line would not benefit Mr. Reid, a member of the Com mission, and had not been made at his instigation. Mr. Hutchison thought that of the three documents, the Railway Commission; Public Works Statement, and the Civil Service Report, the latter was the most important. He was afraid, however, that that,document was buried from the public gaze .beneath a heap of replies, reports, and so on. If the gentlemen who made that report were satisfied with the recep tion it met with they were very easily satisfied indeed. The report told the truth, and in doing so it had not made a single friend all round. So much for the truth and love of it. He believed himself that he was the only one in that House who had a good word to say of this un fortunate report. Regarding the Publie Works Statement, he said it was not the outcome of a policy. It was simply a thing of patches and shreds. The Govern ment had no policy, and all they were doing was to damage the credit of the colony. They were throwing over a few under-paid clerks, who were compelled to do work in excess of what they were paid. Those men were dismissed, while not a single office-holder of any importance was cut down or dispensed with. The other night he asked what they proposed to do in reference to the recommendation made by their own Commission about dispensing with the services of the two Railway Com missioners, who had cost the country not less than L 20,000, and he could get no reply. Then, again, the proposal to reduce the Governor’s salary was shirked wit'll equally little ceremony. Mr. Pitt generally supported the re commendations of the Commission, con tending that from the impartial manner in which the Commissioners had conducted their inquiries, instead of conveying cen sure, as the motion is intended to do, the Commission were deserving of the best thanks of the colony. The question was then put for going into Committee of Supply. Ayes—3o. Noes—ls.

In committee of supply on the Public Works Estimates the following votes were passed : —class 2—L14,870 ; class 3 Kawakawa, L 47,000 ; Wangarei, L 39,000; Kaipara-Waikato, L 131,000 ; Waikato Thames, L!)9,000.

Wellington - Napier, L 37,000. Mr. Seddon moved it be reduced L 20,000 Ayes—ll ; Noes—33. The item passed as printed. The following other items were passed:— Woodville, with branch to Greytown, L 120,000; Wellington toFoxton, L 36,000: Foxton to New Plymouth, Lll7,000; Carlyle to Waitara, L 199.000 ; Nelson to Greymouth, L 13,500 ; Greymouth to Nel son, L 70,500 ; Greymouth to Hokitika, L7OOO ; Picton to Hurunui, LIO,OOO ; Hurunui to Waitaki, L 178.000 ; Canter bury interior main line, L 15,600. Progress was reported and the House rose at 3.50.

Tuesday, August 17. The Hon. Major Atkinson explained that unpaid beer duty could not be re covered under the resolution passed in Committee of Supply, but the Beer Duty Bill, if passed, would be made retro spective, and then the amounts unpaid could be recovered.—Government said one-third of the amount voted last year would this year be placed on the Supple mentary Estimates for the maintenance of public domains.—Mr. Oliver recognised the importance of opening tracks on the West Coast, but declined to put L7OO on the Estimates for connecting the Marina and Hanmer plains by a track through Cannibal gorge. —Mr. Armstrong, the locomotive engineer on the Southern rail ways, would have an opportunity given him of rebutting the Commission’s charges. Ho had been dismissed because he was not an engineer, but a carpenter. The Public Works Bill was read a first time, and its second reading fixed for Fri day. On the motion for reporting the resolu tions from Committee of Supply, Sir George Grey moved that the matter be postponed until after the Revenue Bills had been disposed of. His reason was that the depressed state of the country had been, in his opinion, over rated, and the consequence of that was to create an unnecessary panic', suspending commercial enterprise, and otherwise operating seriously against the labor market. When the Revenue Bills had been discussed he believed it would be shown that this alarm was altogether un necessary, and that much more money than was supposed would be available for public works purposes.

The Hon. J. Hall said that the motion had taken him by surprise. They had ascertained correctly the amount available for public works. They had the state ment of the Treasurer, and the statement of the Public Works Minister, and if those

hon. gentlemen did not know the state of the public works fund it could never be ascertained. The course was unusual, unconstitutional, and would be calculated to obstruct public business. He thought that there was not the slightest possibility of the hon. gentlemen being right, there fore he could not give way.

Mr. Moss denied that the state of the public works fund was made clearly known. For himself he could not say whether the balance available was one or three millions of money. His own impression was that one million was to be made available, and that two millions were being kept back with a view of giving them a surplus on some future occasion.

The motion for reporting was then put and carried.

On the motion for agreeing to the reso lutions, several members took exception to votes that had been passed in their absence; and the Hon. J. Hall promised to re-consider the Greymouth-Nelsoa section vote which had been reduced by L2OOO. If the reduction would endanger the work, the vote would again come before the House.

At the evening sitting, the motion for agreeing was carried, and that for going into Committee of Supply proposed. Mr. Speight challenged a sum of L 1,433, arrears of pension to Dr. Pollen, and the matter was referred to the Public Accounts Committee.

Mr. Montgomery objected to the Chatham Islands being added to the Akaroa electorate but the Premier was firm.

After a motion of Mr. Pyke to limit the 10 per cent, reductions in salaries to those over L2OO had been negatived, the House went into Committee of Supply. Yotes passed—Waitaki to Bluff with branches, L 365,000. Invercargill to Kingston, L 11,500. Otago Central .Rail way, LBB,OO0 —passed with a reduction of L 20,000. Western Railways, L 64,000.

Mr. Pyke moved the reduction of the item Otautau to Nightcap, L 12,000, by L 4,000, which was lost on a division by 31 to 11. Mr. De Lautour moved that the vote Riverton to Oropuki be reduced L 1,500. Mr. Pyke said there was a time when he had had a good .opinion of some mem bers of Government, but now he had lost it on every one of them. He would table before long a direct vote of want of con fidence. They were false to the House and the constituents who returned them. With a large question they could not grapple, but with a small twopence-half penny matter like this they herded their abject followers into the lobby to vote with them.

The motion was lost on a division by 9 to 35, and the vote passed as printed. Surveys .of new lines in the North Island, L3,ooo—passed. Surveys of new lines in the Middle Island, L 6,550. Progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 2 a.m. Wednesday, August 18. The House met at 2.30. Mr. Pyke gave notice that he should ask Government if they were aware that the line from Sheffield to Oxford, recom mended by the Railway Commissioners, was a mere pretext to get the line con tinued to Temuka, so that it may pass through the estates owned by the Premier and Mr. Wright, a member of the Rail way Commission. Mr. Hall said there was no foundation in fact for the statement set forth in the question. Mr. Pyke produced a telegram on the subject from a resident of the district, who was well known and highly respected in the House. He refused to give the name. The Speaker ruled that the telegram could not be read. Mr. Pyke desired to read it, and laid it on the table, but this was ruled out of order. Mr. Hall said that Mr. Pyke would not give the name because he was thoroughly ashamed of himself, and the position he had taken up. Mr. Pyke gave notice that on going into Committee of Supply, he would move that an address be presented to the Go vernor, informing him that Ministers did not conduct the business of the House in a satisfactory manner. Mr. Moss gave notice that he would move that it is expedient, to relieve greatly the Legislature of all duties that can be more efficiently performed by local governing bodies directly responsible to the electors by whom they were chosen, that School districts be grouped to form Road districts ; Road districts grouped to form Counties ; and Counties grouped to form Provinces sufficiently large to warrant the creation of local legislatures to maintain peace, order, and good government within their respective boundaries, with power given to local bodies to manage local matters in' accord ance with such laws as may be passed by the legislature of the Province. Replying to questions it was stated that Government had communicated with the other colonies regarding joint action to bring to justice men who deserted their wives and families. New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania, had replied favorably. The others had merely acknowledged receipt of the com munication. Further action would be taken.—Government had under consider ation the recommendation of the Local Industries Commission, recommending a thorough examination of the west coast of the Middle Island, with a view of ascer taining what aid can be given for the development of its resources.

Mr. Hall moved that for the remainder of the session Government business should take precedence on Thursdays at 7.30. The motion was carried, on a division, by 47 to 20. Mr. Murray gave notice that he would ask the House to sit on Saturdays for the consideration of private members’ busi ness.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr. DeLautonr moved “ It is desirable that the Minister of Lands, before the close of the session, should give a dis tinct enunciation of his policy in regard to the future administration of the Crown Lands in Otago now occupied by pastoral tenants on lease.”

Mr. Rolleston said that the Government had all along followed out the principle of affording every possible facility for the settlement of waste lands. No cast iron rule could be laid down on the subject, but only a few general principles, to be acted upon as occasion required. The policy of settlement was laid down in general terms by the Act of 1877. The course Government proposed following under that Act was a subject on which the House had a right to expect the fullest possible information, and he was quite prepared to supply that information. The discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(By Telegraph from our own Correspon dent.) Wellington, Aug. IS. The House has made little progress with business this week, and none of the essential Tax Bills are yet in print. This afternoon the majority of the-Opposition again declared that they had no leader. Mr. Pyke has attempted to fill the gap by giving notice -of a want of confidence motion in the management of the businsss of the House, but that member’s estimate of himself is the reverse of the opinion that the Households of him, and the best of causes would fail in such hands. Sir G. Grey is now going through his usual tirade against Messrs. Bolleston, Dick, and Hall on the land question.

SKETCHES FROM THE GALLERY.

Ho. 11. {From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, Aug. 8. Mr. Wakefield has taken a back seat be hind the Government, where he sits dreaded by all, yet silent as the grave ex cept now and then an authoritative “Order, order.” No one knows what he is bottling up for, or whom he means to demolish when he begins. He probably scorns to throw his pearls before such swine as now undertake to entertain the House. Mr. Stevens is seldom heard, and is never a bore. Ho seems to have given up talking finance since he has been Chair man of the Public Accounts Committee.

Mr. Richardson says but little, and that little is always about something on which he has some special knowledge. His weak voice would be quite lost on an unwilling House, but he commands the attention. of both sides to the little he has to say. 1

Mr. Moorhouse is speaking more than usual as to quantity, and much as usual as to quality. He still despises all common economies and “ cheese-paring,” and would enrich the colony by some bold stroke of extravagance. He would borrow another L 50,000,000, make a few' more tunnels, import a few million immigrants, and send all the fools who talk economy to break stones on the road.

Mr. Montgomery seems every session to get more pompous and less wise; He has been joked out of attempting financial statements, but he has some very good notions of taxation and economy, and, compared to most of his party, is still a sensible man. He naturally accomplishes nothing in the false position he has placed himself. He despises Sir G. Grey, and disbelieves him as much as most persons who know him, but he would rather be top of the tail than tail of the top, and therefore electa to stay With a party in which a very little judgment or ability makes a man conspicuous. ; . Your member for Coleridge keeps very’ quiet,' and is perhaps reserving all his powder and shot for the defence of his Commission, of which he is the only representative in the House. Mr. Andrews is greatly altered since last session. He has become a much sadder and a much wiser man. His fine gold has turned to dross, his golden idol has proved to be clay, and he now finds that the man who was to lead him into all liberalism knows nothing of the business himself. He still talks far too much, and says many mischievous things, but he is a real economist as far as his light goes, and is one of the few men in the House who has kept clear of all social fetters and dares to bark at a lion, ho wever big. Mr. Allwright did not take near so long to see through Sir G. Grey, and has the courage to vote on his own convictions without putting himself under anyone’s wing. Although one of the quietest of men, he can walk alone, and rarely seeks advice. He is always found on the side of real .economy, and does not spend LIOO in trying to take off LlO. He has a good deal of the right sort of self-respect, so that ho man in the House can be more certainly depended upon never to make a fool of himself.

Your neighbor Mr. Studholme’s voiceis only to be heard in the lobbies, and there it cries “property, property, property.”, He came this year full of hope that the “ property ” was to be saved at the ex pense of education, but found little sympathy, except in the Upper House, and they could do nothing for him.

FENIANISM IN IRELAND.

Cablegrams from London give us t© understand that there is a certain amount of uneasiness in the United Kingdom regarding the movements :of the Fenians. It is stated that four hundred Fenian emissaries have arrived in Ireland, that four hundred rifles have been purchased in Dublin and taken to,Cork, while the same message hints the possible existence of a com plete Fenian organisation in Ireland. The message that gives this informa tion follows on the heels of one that told us of six boats, containing Fenians, being in. Cork harbor, and their crews boarding a vessel, overpowering the captain and crew, stealing three cases' of rifles, and escaping scot free. The recent famine in Ireland, the failure of crops and total collapse of the agri cultural interest in that unhappy country, followed by the rejection; in the House of Lords of the Tenants Compensation Bill, a measure intended in some degree to ameliorate the con dition of the Irish fanner, have doubt less greatly aided in spreading disaffec tion amongst that portion of the Irish people whose love for England is the reverse of warm. Agrarian outrages, too, consequent on evictions of tenants from their holdings for non-payment of rent, have intensified the bitterness of feeling against the Imperial Govern ment 3 add. the opposition to Home Rule, so ardently desired by many Irishmen, whose hopes of seeing it an accomplished fact have been so often deferred, and causes are not wanting why disaffected men, with memories of old grievances still green and rankling, should believe the present time a criti cal one, and a fitting opportunity for raising the standard of rebellion. How ever hopeless their cause may appear, the “National” Irishmen have ever been misguided enough to believe Ire land united could win its independence from England, and several times they have made abortive attempts in this direction—knowing, too, that Ireland was not united on this subject It is chiefly from American soil that the dis affection is fermented, as it is in America that most of the Fenians have taken refuge when their own country became too hot to hold them, and it is to American partisans that Irishmen look for aid when these apparently periodical ebullitions arise. ; A later cablegram tells us that fh'e farmers throughout Ireland have been holding numerous land meetings, at one of these, at Kildare, the M.P. for Tip perary made several seditious speeches. We have no fear of any serious conse quences from a simple rising of a few Fenian fanatics, but when the great land sore has burnt itself into the heart of the people, and the deep-seated grievance that the Irish tenant has ever held against his landlord is shown, by the almost suicidal stubborness of the “ hereditary legislators’” to- be farther than ever from removal, there appears to be some reason to fear that the rumors of trouble in the “ ould clart ” are more portenteous than usual, j

SAD ENDING TO A LARCENY PROSECUTION.

A ROMEO AND JULIET EPISODE. [BY TELEGRAPH. | Wellington, Aug. 18. The case against Matthew - Henderson, for alleged larceny as a bailee and em, bezzlernent, committed at Christchuvch had a sad ending to-day. Henderson had been apprehended some days ago on a telegram from Christchurch, but had been released, the Magistrate finding that he could not be apprehended on the autho rity of a telegram. He was again appre hended, however, on two other charges of larceny and and>was twice remanded. At the Court this morning he did not appear when his name was called, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. On a detective going to the Empire Hotel at noon to arrest him, he found the door locked. On breaking it open, he dis covered Henderson and a young lady named Bligh (supposed to be the daughter of a stonemason in Ohsistchurch) lying on the bed, apparently dead. It was ascer tained that they had taken strychnine. Ed otics were at once applied, but without avail in the case of Henderson, who died in a few minutes. The lady is still alive, but in a critical condition. Later. The suicide to-day caused quite a sen sation in town. Miss Bligh is reported to bo out of danger. Henderson was thirty years of age and the lady nineteen. Both are said to be respectably connected at Christchurch. ( A letter found on deceased shows the act was premeditated. . An inquest will be held oh Friday morning. :

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

(Before Mr. F. Guinness, R-M.) : Tuesday, Aug. 17. ■ . . BOROUGH .BY-LAW. CASES.; Charles Arnold, a mah.employed by Miv Lancaster, charged with driving sheep through the township without permission, was lined Is. a trotting match. ’ Charles Physick and James Appleton were charged on two informations, with furious driving and obstructing the thoroughfare in Moore street. The charge of furious driving was heard first. Physick stated ; that he and- his co-offender were riding a trotting match, but as the pace at which the horses were going did not exceed six miles an hour, he certainly did not think they could be accused of furious •riding. Under auy circhmstances'trotting could not be called furious riding, lio matter how fast they went. His Worship disagreed with the state ment, as, if a horse were trotting at the rate of twenty miles an hour it would un doubtedly be furious riding and dangerous to life and limb. - Physick remarked that trotting at such a pace was confined to America. Thomas Toppin gave evidence that he was present and held the stakes on the day when the trotting match occurred; The horses were going at about eight miles an hour. ' •* . • .

His Worship said he did not consider there was any by-law to prevent a trotting match taking place, and as the evidence did not show there was any furious riding ho would dismisstliecase. ; /

The.charge of obstructing the thorough fare by riding a race in Moore street was then hoard. : ” " ' '

Francis Doherty remembered his' horse being ridden in a trotting race; . The horse was being ridden against Mr. Wilkie’s horse. The race was from the Royal Hotel to Dr. Trevor’s and back again. He and two or three others rode with the racing horses. The pace was about six or seven miles an hour. A number of people „ congregated around the hotel. There was no obstruction caused by the horses racing. My horse won. There was not a great crowd at any part of the road. By Physick—There were a number of people around the hotel at the time we started. No one knew beforehand the race was to bo run.

Constable Neill remembered seeing, on the date of the offence, a number of people congregated in the yard of the Royal Hotel, and also on the footpath opposite. By Mr. Physick—There were a number of people in. the yard. The hohse’is called an hotel.' ‘ Cannot : say whether the crowd were there l for drinks.; , His Worship did hot think the informa tion could be sustained. He deprecated the conduct of the accused in racing in the public streets, which was decidedly improper, but would dismiss the case. CABBIES IN TROUBLE. George Appleton was charged with driving a cab, he not having a license. Appleton stated that in consequence of M‘Rae, the owner of the cab, having to go from Ashburton, he had consented to drive the cab for him in the meantime. J. W. M‘Rae stated that a relative of his having met with an accident in Timaru, he had to leave for f hat place, and on the understanding that when an accident, oc curred lie could get a* driver for twenty-four hours, he had engaged the accused. Wit ness had obtained permission from the Town Clerk. Constable Neill; gave evi dence that to his knowledge accused had been in cbai’ge of the cab for twenty-five hours. His Worship fined the accused Is. Edwin Bartlett was charged with driving a cab without a licence. Accused said he had applied for a license and paid for it, but had not received the license, and this he thought was sufficient authority. Con stable Daly deponed that he saw the accused driving a cab at nine at night on the 11th. Mr. Braddell, Town Clerk, produced the application of the accused for a license, which had been put in before five o’clock on the 12th. His Worship dismissed the case.

James M'Rae was charged with plying for hire in front of the Somerset Hotel, such not being a cab stand. His Worship gave a decision that any part of the Borough could be used to ply for hire, and dismissed the charge. ‘ James M'Rae was charged with leaving a cab, without locking the wheels. ; Ac cused admitted the offence, but did not consider it necessary, as it was never done in any other borough that he knew of, either at Home or in the colony. Fined ■ IS. , • . James M‘Ra,e was charged ‘with 1 leaving a horse and cab in the middle of East street, and thus obstructing the thorough fare. Accused plead not guilty. His Worship thought the intention of the bye law was to prevent any building material or, any thing, ofa , like nature being. in a thoroughfare. Constable Neill gave evi dence that the cab was certainly obstructs ing the thoroughfare at the time the offence was committed. The charge was dismissed. THE ALLEGED TREE THEFTS FROM THE , , DOMAIN. . Thomas Nolan and Jeremiah Heffennan were charged on four informations'with larceny of trees from the Ashburton, Domain. , Mr. O’Reilly asked that the informa tions be heard separately, but his Worship, .disallowed the application. In answer to Ids’Worship, 1 Mr. Purnell said it was in tended to proceed against the accused summarily. ; eA , • Mr. O’Reilly asked that the accused be tried separately, on the ground .that Hefferman was simply a lodger with Nolan, and it was his intention to. call; Nolan as a witness to verify that'state ment, which he could not do if the prisoners were tried conjointly. After argument, his Worship disallowed Mr. O’Reilly’s application. Mr. Purnell read the clause under which the information was laid, and, called H. W. Oharleton, caretaker of the Ash burton Domain, who said the trustees of

the Domain were Dr. Trevor, Mr. John Grigg, and Mr. Edward Saunders. 1 am employed by them, and have been in their employ for about three years and , three months. Have missed numbers of trees. The first lot taken was on the 7th of July. I missed them on the Bth. The trees taken on that occasion,, were an euonomous, a cypress, an Irish yew, two laurestinus, and two pinus insignis ; there were also two small shrubs, and some others—various kinds of pines. Seven teen shrubs altogether were taken. I average their value at Is. each. The next time I saw these trees was on the morn ing of the 9th of this month, in a garden ,on the other side of the East Belt. On the night of the 23rd I missed some more trees. They were taken on the night of the 22nd. There were twelve macrocarpa and four pinus insignis taken on that oc casion. I valued them at.ls. each. . Next saw the trees in the same, garden, and at the same time. The next lot were taken on the night of the 27th;of July. I missed them on the,2Bth. Thirteen macrocarpa and two pinus insignis were then taken. I also value them at Is, each. Also saw them in the aforesaid garden. Missed the fourth lot on the night of August 7 : eighteen macrocarpa were taken on that occasion. The average value of these trees was Is. each, and I saw tlierd also in the garden before mentioned. On Sun day morning, the Bth August, I was walk ing around the Domain,. Mr. Oookson came to me and asked me if I had missed any ; trees. I told him I had .missed .eighteen during’ the last ’ night.- He said his son had picked up one opposite Lucas’ boardinghouse. Cooksori, Con stable. Daly and myself; went to Cookson’s to see the tree. The tree was a macrocapa. , I recognised it as .a Domain tree. Taking into account the position of the Domain and the garden where the trees were found, ilie macrocarpa was found in a straight line to accused’s residence. On Monday morning I: wdnt down tp .the garden' which 1 -I , halve mentioned before. From the : road; I recognised some of the trees which had been stolen., Then went and got a search warrant. ‘ Constable Neill went with me and we executed the warrant. We went to the garden. Constable Neill read the warrant to ;the accused, who; were about the house. They said we could .search away. I recognised a inatipb,' an Irish yew, a cypress, a - euonomous,.' arid ftvvo laurestinus. These were, the trees I mentioned in the first part of my evidence. T recognised a lot of trees oh each Side of the garden, principally macrocarpa. I recognize the cypress . produced,, by marks oh it which were cht by myielf, and it was. a tree I took a deep interest in. It was the only one I had ih the Domain of the kind; The growth of the tree is also peculiar. The two pinus insignis produced were stolen , last earj but I recovered them:; iXeuf; it as marked last year,; and also recognise it from a peculiarity in its growth. Have seen them nearly every day in the ‘Domain. The cypress was stolen on the 7th July. I missed two laurestinus and found only two in prisoners’ -garden. When I first saw them; they corresponded with similar ones in a bed of trees in-the middle of" the Domainj which was part of the plantation, There is ro doubt, in. my mind that' the 'trees are the ones which were stolen on the 7th of ,Juiy. Cannot” swear, to -the ..Irish yew’ produced. I missed one, and I only found one in prisoners’ garden. It-is exactly,the same as the one I lost, but 1 cannot swear to it, as there' was (no mark. The inatipowas stolen on the 7th, and T found one in the prisoners’, garden, in- a -withered- state on the Bth of-August. It was the bushiest tree of the sort in the bed when stolen. These trees are hard to The one produced has been pulled up.by the roots. A practical gardener would'Tiot take it up in that way. A tree of this kind is likely to . wither in an; :endqayor to transplant it. r I recognise the euonomous produced. The tree waS stolen on the 7th. Constable Warring found the tips of the tree broken off, and lying on, the rground two days after the tree was stolen, and they correspond with the broken places on "the one now produced.' r;. Therpf are pecularities about; the tree,, and I had only transplanted it last winter. There were n o macrocarpa stolen on the 7th of July. On the 22nd July twelve macro carpa and four pinus insignis stolen. Four pinus insignis produced are similar to those stolen oh 1 the night l of/the 22nd, The macrocarpa stolen, excepting three, had been growing by a wire fence. Have examined the trees and they have the wire marks on them.' All the trees show signs of having been torn up by the roots. Constable Neill took up the trees,apth a spade in my presence. The’roots were not broken then; • The ground was sqft. A gardener in taking up a tree for transplant ing would cut off the roots.' ' A gardener always cuts the roots off about two months prior to transplanting. 1 • have missed forty-three macrocarpa in all. * We.took thirty-nine from the garden. We left one behind us, as we had some doubt about it. The; Domain Board’bought‘ all the macrocarpa and pinus'insignis from Sealy Bros. The cypress, Irish yew, and others, came from the Christchurch ' Domain. Some of the trees which I found in prisoners’ garden had been there for a month or more, as they were'changing color. ■ ’ ■ ■ ’ ■ • , By Mr. O’Reilly—lt would" be'a-very uncommon thing for a man to pull macro* corpa trees itp by the roots." Recognise the pinus insignis ‘ .produced : as being taken away on the 27th July. • It would be very improbable for other trees to be marked like the one produced. •; Tt is quite possible for -other persons to-mark trees- like this one; ■ Should-be very • 1 much- surprised if that tree came (from Timaru. ■ * *' v ■ John Simmonds, gardener, recognised the pinus .insignus. Charlton had drawn his attention to it in the Domain before it waS stolen, and also to the other which was of peculiar growth. • / ■ Constable Neill remembered executing a search warrant-on the premises :.of the accused on the 9th of this month. Mr. Charlton went with.me. Both,’,prisoners were in the house,-and I read the search warrant. Found; : the trees . . produced planted in . the/, garden* excepting one, which was standing behind the house un planted; X dug the trees up carefully.

The ground was soft, and I did not injure the roots. Charlton identified the trees in the presence of myself and accused.

He did not hesitate about most of them.

As soon as. we went inside the gate, Charlton identified one of the' trees as having been stolen last winter. While digging up one tree, Charlton pointed to another one, and said that if'the roots on that tree werethe same as those we were .digging up, ho could swear to it coming out of:the .’Domain. Nolan. said, yhen I arrested him, that he had got the trees : froin: Timaru. Hefferman said he had only been staying with Nolan for,' about a month, and lodged with'Nolan, j* ; Edwin Morris-deponed that .he was an engine-cleaner, ; and lived about,tsix or seven'chains from the prisoners’residence. Have noticed both of them lately engaged in planting, trees.; ~.1 first noticed them doing so about a month ago. . Have seen .them planting, off and o;i, , nearly every day. It did not attract ,my : attention at the'time ,;but afterwards I made a com munication to Mr. Charlton. ...Oh.Sunday week the accused were .planting trees in the same section. Cannot .say. what kind of. frees they were. . If.;was!' about a quarter . ~to one , when ..they were planting the : trees. Heard .on. Monday morning that trees had been lost from the Domain, and spoke to . Mr. . Charlton. Never spoke to the men, that lam aware of. Accused: have been living in the house for about six Weeks or two mouths.

Cannot say whether anyone'lived ; in the house prior to the accused; comipg-, there.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1880.



AUCTION SALES. Friday, August 20. Messrs. Matson, Cox, and Co., on the Eesorve. opposite Messrs. Friedlander Bros, btore, at 12 o’clock sharp— Horses, Implements, and Contractors’ Plant. Messrs. Matson and Co., at Tattersall’s —Horses. Carts, Harness, &c. Sale at 12 o’clock. Tuesday, August 24. Messrs. Davies and Murphy, at South Eakaia Saleyards, at 12.30 p.m.—Farm Stock, etc. fcAII .M k±jjpg*.r



'TT/'AjSTED KNOWN—That C. Haw- Y kins, tho Tinwald Bootmaker, has EEMOYED to premises Opposite the Tinwald Post Office, where he is still open to Sell first-class Boots and Shoes at his usual Cheap Kates. All kinds of Boots Made and .Repaired. 805a—417c



Illegal Expenditure by Looal Bodies.— The Hon. F. Whitaker does not appear to have a high opinion of the straightness of some local bodies. In re ply to a motion by Mr, Waterhouse, he said that if all local bodies who acted ille gally were to bo proceeded against, Go vernment would want half -a - . dozen Attorney-Generals. • The remedy at law lay with the ratepayers who suffered by the illegality. The motion, which was carried, was to cause the Hew Plymouth Harbor Board to refund some land fund illegally spent; failing the refund, the individual members of the Board to be proceeded against. ■ '