SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. To-day. Arawata, s.s., from Melbourne, via the South. Penguin, s.s., from Wellington. Sailed. Yesterday. Walcatipu, s.s., for Port Chalmers. Falcon, ketch, for Anahau. , - SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Arrived —Southern Cross, from Napier. ’ Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived—Florinda, brigantine, from Greyraouth ; Penguin, from Picton and Nelson ; Go-Ahead and Havvea, from the South ; Wakatu, from Nelson and Wan ganui. Sailed —Kennedy, for Nelson ; Murray, for .Greymouth. and Hokitika ; Spec, schooner, for Lyttelton ; Wairoa, ship, - for ‘London, with a cargo valued at L 62,053 ; Penguin, for the South. Port Chalmers, Yesterday. Arrived—Wanganui, schooner, from Greymouth. Melbourne, Yesterday. Arrived—P. and O. Co.’s s.s. Cathay, with the inward Suez mail, dated London, November 19. Adelaide, Yesterday. Arrived—Orient Co.’s s.s., Garonne, from Plymouth. London, Dec. 28. Arrived—Camperdown, from Lyttelton.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places ( subject to necessary alterations) as under Friday, December 31. For the United Kingdom, via San Fran cisco, &c., as under :— Money orders and registered letters, at 5 p.m.; books and newspapers, at 9 p.m.; ordinary letters, at 10 p.m. A supplementary mail will be closed at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January, 1, 1881. Late fee letters may be posted in the guard’s van attached to the 8.30 p.m. train on Saturday, January 1. Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows : For Christchurch and North at 5.30 a. m. 10 a.im, and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, Ac., at 10a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, .'joldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. For Timaru and South - , at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., and 4.20 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a ra. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, »t 4.30 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, Elgin, and Seafield, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 6 a. m. Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office — From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 a.m., 4.35 p.m., and 7.50 p.m.. From Chertsey, Ac. at 10.25 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.35 p.m. daily. Fr»m Temuka and Timaru at 10.15 a.m. 5.35 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somex - s, and Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m. From Ashton, Waterton, ' and Long beach at 10 a. in. daily. From Wakanui, Elgin, and Seafield on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2.30 p. m.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Friday, December 31. Mr. T. Bullock—Usual Weekly Sale. Quill and Co.—Usual Weekly Sale. Saturday, January 8. Mr. T. Bullock, at his rooms, East street —Freehold and Leasehold Property. Two o’clock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. Monday, January, 3. Upper Ashburton Road District—Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, Road Board Office, at 12 noon. Tuesday, January 4. Horticultural Society, Meeting of Com mittee, at Jacobson and Eyton’s Office, at 8 p. m. Degree Temple, Fortnightly Meeting, Templar Hall, at 8 p.m. Longbeach Road Board—Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, Road Board Office, at 12 noon. Wednesday, January 5. County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’c’ock. Thursday, January 6. Mount Somora Road Board Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, Schoolhouse, Mount Somers, at 12 noon. Wakanui Road District—Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, at the office of the Agri cultural and Pastoral Association Show Grounds, at 12 noon.

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton for Christ church and intermediate stations at 6 a.in., 10.30 a.in., and (Express) 5.48 p.m. Trains Leave Ashburton for Tuuaru and South, at 7 a.ra., 10.36 a. in. (E im press), and 4.50 p.m.—the latter pro ceeding no farther than Trnarn. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 24 a.m. (Express), 435 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Tiitarc and South at 10.15 a.m., 5.34 p.m. (Express), and 8.15 p.m.

BIRTH.

Tucker. —On the 30th December, at her residence, Ashburton, Mrs. Joshua Tucker, of a son. , 838

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 5 p-m.]

The Ashburton Guardian. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1880. The Borough Water Pipes.

It must be allowed that the County Council have certainly been liberal in their dealings with the borough of Ashburton, and the burgesses have no reason to complain of what has been done for them. Perhaps there is no other County in the colony that has behaved so kindly to a young borough at its parting from the County juris diction. More than two years ago, when the township was still a part of the county, and had not yet thought of was kind enough to offer a premium of £ 100 for the best scheme for supply ing the town with water. The winning becoming a municipality, the County of that premium by an Akaroa gentle man is matter of history, and if the plan he won his premium with was practically useless, that did not in the least detract from the credit due to the County Council for their willingness to serve .the township, and act towards it in a kindly spirit. There are many other little instances of friendly vqtes by the County to the town, and one great instance which the Borough has not forgot. We refer to the grant of to aid in giving the Ashburton residents a water supply. was a large sum to vote, and it was possibly the magnitude of the sum that kept the County Councillors from handing it over a free and untrammelled gift. It may have been, too, that they feared, were they to give absolute control of this money to the Borough Council, the gift might be frittered away without an efficient scheme being introduced to the township. Looking back to the time when the grant was made, and remembering the perscntcl of 'the Borough Council, and their inexperience in Municipal business, the County did not act unwisely in re taining a certain amount of control of the grant they had made for water sup ply. Now, however, we believe the Borough Council has given sufficient proof that they are perfectly trust worthy, and the existence of a water supply sufficient formany years’ wants of the township, constructed at wonderfully small cost, is no small evidence of their ability. The admirable financing of the body, too, 'guided by the Mayor, ought to count in their favor with the County, and we hope when the meet ing on Wednesday next is approached by his Worship he will be-successful in obtaining what the Borough desires —that is, full control of the water pipes recently purchased as a part of an expensive scheme of water supply. , The County so far relaxed their hold on those pipes, which repre sent four-fifths of the total grant of as to permit their sale, pro vided they fetched cost price ; but while the pipes are not the absolute property of the borough, and cannot be sold immediately, they are useless for the Borough’s purposes. The County Council would be doing a graceful thing were they to consent to the Borough becoming absolute owners of those pipes, so that means could be found to supply funds for carrying out what is of itself a part of the town’s water system —namely, the drainage system. There are many streets yet to channel, the outfall drain remains un covered and dangerous both to health and public safety from accident, while the upper portion of the town has yet to be supplied with water. Those works ones from the water supply fund, and we feel that the Borough Council deserves the County’s confidence that they will be completed as cheaply and efficiently as possible. We feel certain this con fidence will not be abused, and did the County release the pipes from their control, the Borough would be in a position to execute all these works at once. We hope the meeting on Wednesday will see its way to accede to the Borough’s wishes, and show that they have sufficient confi dence in the local public men to trust them with full control of the vote that was so handsomely made two years a g°-

The Banks.— Monday next will be a special bank holiday throughout the colony. Gold Discovery. —A fresh discovery of gold has been made at Welshman’s Flat, on the Duller road, near Westport. Mail for Australia. —Mails for the Australian colonies, per s-s. Ringarooma, close at the Bluff to-morrow evening, at eight o’clock. The San Francisco Mail. —The mail via San Francisco closes to-morrow at the Ashburton Post Office, at five o’clock evening. Racing Accidents.— At Westport on Tuesday, in the first heat of the Coalfields Handicap, the mare Princess ran amongst the crowd, kicking a boy and inflicting a gash in his forehead. The lad is in a precarious condition. In the second heat Mosquito fell and roiled over his jockey, but without injuring him. Timaru Caledonian Society. For several of the events at the Tiniaru Cale donian Society’s sports on New Year’s Day, entries from Ashburton have been made, and we notice that Groves and Lechner, who won the grand handicap flat races here at the local sports, are amongst the number. The Ashburton pipers and dancers have also entered. The Weather. —Last night the heaviest downpour of rain fell that we have ex perienced for some time. During the sitting of the Borough Council the noise of the deluge on the roof of the chamber was so great that the oratory of some of the members was rendered considerably less effective than it might have been, and at times it was simply impossible to intelli gently follow the speeches. As yet we have heard of no damage that has been done; but we could take more gentle,rain than last night’s shower. Tuhi, the Murderer. —Before Tnhi’s execution, he addressed a letter to the Governor in which he said: —“I have heard that I am to be put to death on Wednesday, and I am willing te die on that day, but I have a word to say to you. As lam to die, let spirits die also. Do not leave any of its kind in the world. Let it be destroyed from the face of this earth, lest it should remain to cause trouble to man. Man would then be answerable for his own trouble. If it was destroyed it would be well; man would then seek his own troubles ; then it would be well; there would be no cause for trouble. That is all from Tuhiata. ”

I.O.G.T.—The Degree Temple meets on Tuesday evening next as usu«l. Weekly Sales. —Messrs Quill and Co. and Bullock and Co. advertise their us ;al weekly sales to come off to-morrow, in stead of Saturday, The Flower Snow. — A meeting of the Horticultural 'Society’s Committee is con vened for Tuesday evening next, to make arrangements for the flower show. The Winslow Sports. —A special train will leave Ashburton for Winslow at 11.15 a m., on Saturday, returning at 6 o’clock. Return tickets will.be given for single fares. The Washdtkb Affair. —A fresh in formation- was laid by Mr. Back, the rail way superintendent, against Mr. Gal braith, the Washdyke statiomnastor, which resulted in the latter being bound over in two securities of LIOO each to keep the peace for six months.

The Governor’s Message to Te White —Captain Knollys, the Govern r’s Aide-de-camp, who was sent to Te Wl-iti at Parihaka, has returned. He carried to the prophet a letter from the Governor, containing an invitation to come to Wel lington. The old chief, in reply to the letter, quietly remarked, “ The potato is cooked. ”

The Footpaths. — A tender by Mr. Bradley was accepted by the Borough Council last night for asphalting the Last street footpaths, and such part of die work as the Council may select wil.be proceeded with. We believe that most of the owners of property along the. street have consented to bear their portion of the expense, so that • Mr. Harrison's asphalting project has every chance of being soon carried out.

The Orangemen. —At theannualsession of the Grand lodge of Orangemen for the Middle Island, yesterday, in the Orange Hall, Christchurch, there were about thirty delegates present. The Chairman stated that several new lodges had been opened during the year, and three new applications had been made for that session to consider. All the lodges were working satisfactorily, and lie spoke hope fully of the order’s future influence. The following officers were elected and installed for the ensuing year:—R.W.G.M., Pro. D. H. Christie, Christchurch; R. W.1)..V1., Bro. J. W. M ! Neale, Dunedin ; G. Secretary, Bro. T. J. Beresford, Christ church (re-elected); G. Treasurer, Bro. W. Prudhoe, (re-elect;d); G. Chaplains, Bros, the Revs. Cree an cl Dumheil ; Deputy G. Chaplains, Bros. Cooper, Ballantyne, Beck, and Gab hie ; .Committee, Bros. Stapleton, Shepherd, Webster, Palmer, Fleming; Auditors, Bros. Tribe and Charters; Grand Lecturer, Bro. Mills, of Tiniaru. It was resolved to hold next ■ Grand Lodge session in Timaru in the 24th May next year.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Renters Agency.) The Trial of the Land Leaguers. London, Dec. 28.

The trial of the Land Leaguers at Dublin has commenced, and a jury has been sworn in. Monetary and Commercial.

Three per cent. Consols, Adelaide wheat, per 496153, ex ware house, 50s. A Growing Rebellion.

The latest intelligence to hand from the Cape states that the Boers have seized Utrecht, and the rebellion is spreading. A Proposal by the Porte. Constantinople, Dec. 28.

It has transpired that the Porte in tends to make a proposal to the Powers that another Conference should be held to settle the Turko-Greek frontier question instead of the pro posed arbitration for the same purpose.

Indian Troops for the Transvaal- Bombay, Dec. 29.

It is announced that, owing to re inforcements being required for the supression of the Boer rebellion in the Transvaal, a contingent of Indian native troops is being ordered to pro ceed immediately to Natal, and the necessary arrangements are now being made for the despatch of the forces from this port without delay. A German Squadron for the Pacific. Berlin, Dec. 29.

A report is current here that a squad ron of the German navy has been ordered to be got ready to proceed to the Pacific in March next. No official con firmation of the rumor, however, has yet been published.

AUSTRALIAN.

[Pa Reuter's Agency.] Dropped Out. •Melbourne, Dec. 29. The following scratchings for the Champion Stakes are announced : Robbie Barns, Chester, Martindale,. Euclid, Sir Modred, Bathurst, Rapid Bay, First Water, Moonbeam, Roths child, Monaco, and Totalisator. It is

expected that Grand Flaneur, Progress, Sweetmeat, and Wellington will be the only starters. The Inter-Colonial Cricket Match. In the Inter-Colonial cricket match, Uictoria v. New South Wales, the for mer won by two wickets.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Qne Down for Twenty.

Wellington, To-day

The cricket match, Wellington v. Nel son, was commenced this morning. The weather is fine, but the attendance small. Nelson went first to the wickets, and at noon the score stood one out for twenty runs.

The Fencers Going Home. Dunedin, To-day.

Thirty-one Maori prisoners were re leased this morning, and left for Taranaki in Mr. Parris’ charge. Criminal Session.

There arc eight cases for trial at the Criminal Sessions, but none are of a serious character. The Turf.

At the Cromwell races on the second day, Poolburn Jack won, the Maiden Plate, and Atlantic the Jockey Club Handicap, Dandy second, and Unknown third. Idle Girl finished first for the County Plate, with Playboy second. The Sudden Death in the Hospital. The man who died in the Host's,! yesterday morning, has been JikrnfTfied as Campbell McAllister, a gap-fener, who left his home at Opdho to collect money. He had been drinking heavily. Fie leaves a wife and five children. He was not long out from Horae. The Pruning Knife. The Star states that fifteen officers of the Public Works Department in the Middle Island are now being dispensed with. This makes between seventy and eighty who will have left since the end.of the financial year. Reductions in the North Island are on the same scale.

Ashburton Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber last night, having been adjourned from Monday evening to clear the holidays. Present—His Worship the Mayor (presid- : ing), Messrs. Friedlander, Harrison, Parkin, St. Hill, and Williamson, and later on, Mr. Ivess. • THE MAYOR’S STATEMENT. The Mayor said the credit balance at the bank was L 346 3s. 2d.; rates collected since last meeting, LG 14s. Gd.; previously, L 1,077 35.; rents, L 9 145.; reserves, L 4. The Mayor reported having accepted Mr. William Anderson's (saddlei) tender at Bd. each for 330 dog collars. The matter had -been left in the Mayor’s hands, and ho now required the Council’s approval. No notice of payment of subsidy to the Council by Government bad yet been re ceived, but his Worship observed that the Road Boards had received notice of pay ment, and it might be as well were the Clerk to write to Government on the sub ject again. Regarding the water-pipes,. he had been unable to see the County Chairman, who was up country at Mount Possession, superintending his shearing, but at next meeting of the County his Worship would attend, with a view to obtaining an unconditional grant of the water pipes to the Borough, so that a tangible security might be given to the bank for an overdraft. Failing the County’s consent, ic would still be open to the Borough to strike a rate sufficient to give the necessary security. Ho had seen a Timaru councillor recentty, and learned from him that Timaru received a fire pre vention grant far greater in proportion than that given by the Insurance Com panies’ Association to Ashburton. Be thought it might be advisable for the Clerk to write to the various boroughs and ascertain what amounts were gi-en to them by the Association. It would be necessary to ■ consider the question of altering the by-laws at this meeting. A DUN. Messrs. Montgomery and Co. wrote, reminding the Mayor of a pxomise to pay their account of Ll3l odd at a certain date. The Mayor stated that he had trusted to an arrangement that was to have been been made with the bank for the money, but the arrangement was not .completed. He thought the money ought to be paid. Resolved to pay the account. THE FIRE RRIGADE PUMP. Mr. S. Hardioy wrote, asking for an investigation as to the satemeut he made regarding the pump ho had erected for the Fire Brigade, and Mr. Parkin’s denial of that statement. Mr. Parkin adhered to what he had previously said, but admitted passing'the boxing of the pump, Mr. St. Hill said he had seen the pump at a time when it was useless, and again when it was working well. He thought the letter should not be entertained. Resolved not to interfere in the matter. THE ENGINEERS. ' A letter was read from the Borough Engineers, offering to continue to do the Borough’s work at the terms of tile con tract made with them 011 Sept. 20bh last. They declined to continue Under the terms of the resolution last passed (in Decem ber-), but were unwilling to put the Couii cil to inconvenience, and would therefore bo prepared to complete works in hand* or undertake such new works as may be required at the terms — viz., seven per cent, commission on the cost. The Mayor stated that for four months Mr. C. E. Fooks had done the Borough’s work for no salary whatever. After some discussion, during which a heavy rain was falling and making a deafening noise upon the roof, x - endering the remarks made inaudible, Mr. Harrison moved “That the services of Messrs. Fooks be retained at the rates of 1 enumeration passed in September, viz. , seven per cent on the value of the work done.”

Mr. St. Hill said [as far as the storm permitted our reporter to gather] that it must be patent to all the Councillors that very soon the Borough would not want an engineer, as the work requiring a fully qualified man would be all executed. Still, there would always be work to do that required an intelligent and practical man to oversee, and if they did away with their professional engineer they had only laborers left, with nobody of any better knowledge than them selves, to guide their work. He suggested procuring an intelligent man at; say, L 175 a year—and he knew such a man could be got at that figure—and associating him with Mr. Fooks during the next twelve months. In that time he would be able to get at the run of all the levels, etc., of the town, and Mr. Fooks’ work in regard to these had been so care fully done, and the map he had drawn so accurate, that almost any practical man of ordinary intelligence could very easily pick them up. With such a man the Council would .then be in a position to relieve Mr. Fooks of the active duty of supervision, and only ask him to do such work as drawing engineering plans, and so forth, putting their own overseer to carry them out. During the last six or eight months there had been but three men at work, one overseer to run after them, and an engineer to look after him. He was quite sure L 175 would get a man to do the practical .oversight of the carrying out of Mr. Fooks’ plans. He would second Mr. garrison’s resolution if a clause were added 1 to the effect that no yearly salary be paid. The Mayor said it was well worth the consideration of the Council that some L 3,000 worth of work would require to be done this next year, and they would actually, under this resolution, have to pay more than the Engineers asked. Mr. St. Hill did not anticipate that a per ceutage would be given on the men’s wages, nor on any of the road maintenance done by them, but simply on the engineer ing work done by the Engineers. He desired to point out to the Council that on the chamber wall there hung a map on which all the levels of the Borough were plainly marked, and for L 175 a man could be got to do all the street work with that map for his guide. Mr. Parkin was in favor of paying com mission on extra works undertaken, but thought a good foreman should be capable of doing the supervision of ordinary work.

Mr. Williamson never anticipated that a highly paid Engineer should be per manently retained by the Borough, but for what work such an engineer did he (Mr. Williamson) would be perfectly will ing to pay in accordance with its value. He fancied that 7 per cent .was a very moderate rate to pay, and he reckoned that the Council were fpjd.unate in getting an offer like that of Messrs. Books. It was evident that there would be no more sub sidies paid by Government, and he did not think that any very large works would be undertaken. Mr. Ivess (who had just entered) thought Messrs. Books’ offer was a very moderate one.

The Mayor said; there, would, be over L 2,000 of income at the Council’s disposal this year. Rates, L 1,200 ; licenses, L 400; subsidy, say, L4OO ; L3OO from the Road Boards, and L2OO from reserves.; He felt certain that for some time they vvould be unable to do without an Engineer. There were several streets still unformed, and many things required to be done that no foreman could undertake.

After a desultory talk that the rain again drowned, . - Mr. Williamson suggested the appoint ment of a committee to ascertain what were the actual terms wanted by Mr. Books.

The Mayor approved of,the. suggestion. Mr. Ivess wished an addition made to Mr. Harrison’s resolution, to show that

the Council reserved the right to do .Work’ under the-sole oversight of their own fore man, without engaging the services;of an engineer. . - Mr.-Harrison objected to the addition' being made to his resolution, and it was therefore put asap amendment, and! both' resolution and amendment were carried. • . the mayor. A letter front the Department of Justice intimated the appointment of the Mayor to the Commission of the Peace. engineers’ report. The Engineers’ report was read as fol lows : ‘ ■■■ Forming Footpath, at Belt, and lie-forming Cox street. tenders have been received for these w_orks.; ... . . Asphalting. —Two tenders have been re ceived, but as no meeting of the Works Com mittee has .been, held for want of a quorum, they will be laid before you unopened. Water Supply for North-west side of Rail way.—We have examined the roads with respect to levels, &c., by which a supply of Water can be brought to tlie junction of the Alford Forest road with the Nouh-west Town belt. Two of- the cross roads could he made available for bringing the water from 'Winter’s ' road to’ Alford Forest road, namely, Charles street and Allen’s road. By the first-named the lavge gully would’ be avoided, but - the length of channel would be longer, so that, on a rough calculation, there' would not be much difference in the cost, which for the actual earthwork and culverts required ought not to exceed LtOO. As, however, arrangements would have to be made with the U pper Ashburton Road Board, there would be probably additional items of expendi ture for there being more traffic on the Allord Forest road than on Winter’s road, footpaths might have to he re-formed and fencing re quired. The d stribution of the water through the upper part of the Borpugh would be merely a. question of properly grading the Town Belt .and streets. ’ . -•

Noidh-we t 'Town Belt.t—'The. Upper Ash burton Road Board have commenced forming, thenorth west side -of the'Belt between the plantation,-and- the Borough boundary. We were not aware of the'fact until some days after the contractor had commenced work, but have communicated with the Surveyor to tire Board, informing him, that the Borough Coun cil requires any roads or footpaths within their jurisdiction to be formed to certain levels and grades. It appears that the Road B >ard were under the impression that the upper portion of the Town Belt was under their control, and we are now waiting a further communica tion from their Surveyor. Clearing Tussocks in streets. —The contractor reports having finished his work, but we have not been able to go over it. Only a portion of the tussocks have been burnt, and the con tract does not provide for their being carried away, so that as the time for burning allowed by the Council has expired, we have a diffi culty in settling the matter. Cement and Timber.— Uhere will not be sufficient cement to complete the channelling of Havelock street. All the timber provided for in Mr. Hayes’ contract has been delivered, and a further supply will be required shortly if the work of concrete channelling is continued. The Labor Gang have been engaged in the cutting in Aitken street, making and putting in culverts, taking up kerhing,.. &c., in West street,’ raking - large stones off streets, attending to water supply and side channels, &c.—We have, etc.— Fooks and "Son; ; It was resolved to defer the ’Cox and’ Aitken street work till after harvest, when the contractors would be more at liberty.

After discussion, Mr. Ivess moved that the north-west water scheme' be deferred until funds expected be in band. Mr. Parkin seconded. Mr- St. Hill said the north-western property was juot *as ' valuable as ttiut on the other side of the lirio, and he would move as an amendment that the work be proceeded with. On a vote the amendment was carried, the mover and seconder, only voting for the motion. It was resolved that the contractor be instructed to burn the tussocks, as pro vided for in his contract. The cement and timber supplies men tioned in theC report weferred to the Works Committee. - NUISANCES. _ • . , The Inspector reported having served notices on certain parties for allowing offensive matter, to flow into the streets, and for pig keeping. THE OVERDRAFT ON THE FIFES. Mr. St. Hill'desired to know if any of the other banks would grant the overdraft on the pipes. The Mayor said he thought not, but would see the County Council with a view to getting better security. TUB FIRE BRIGADE. Mr. St Hill urged the' payment of tho LSO subsidy to the Fire Brigade. He had been up to the practice and had seen the state of the hose, which was bad in deed. ' ' Mr. Park in said that the Brigade had to avoid practising in the streets with a view to saving the hose. Tile Mayor hoped the Captain of the Brigade would send in his report of what was wanted. DOG COLLARS. The Council confirmed the action of the Mayor in regard to a tender- for deg col lars. SUPERVISION OF WORKS. His Worship;obtained; leave to move the appointment of-Messrs. Williamson, Ivess, St. Hill, Hamsdrißanff the mover to consider anff report, how the work's’ of; the Borough can be 'hest and inost cheaply carried out. The : motion was passed.- - ASPHALTING. A tender for asphalting was accepted from Mr. James Bradley, at 2s. 3d. per yard, for such portions of the work of asphalting as the Works Committee re commended being done. In the course of a discussion,

Mr. Ivess said that it would be far better to do the whole footpath at once and all the breadth of it. He had advocated this work eighteen months ago, and he had always ui'ged that the chief street in the town should be made presentable to visitors. At present it was in a disgraceful condition, and he thought the extra cost of completing the asphalt to to the full width would only cost some 30s. or_3ss. per chain extra to the rate payers in East street. , Mr, St. Hill opposed the doing of the whole work, and objected to paying the general ratepayers’ money away for a,work that it was benefit only a few. If asphalt were to-be laid down,there, ought to be only a quarter of the width of the' fbotpath dene at the Borough .the re maining three-fourths to be borne by the owners of property fronting the street. It was all very well to talk of visitors, but dressing up East street at the other rate payers’ expense and leaving the other streets in their primitive wilderness state, was like a poor swell sporting a broad cloth coat over a dirty and dilapidated shirt. Mr. Harrison reminded Mr. Ivess of the cost that his suggestion would be to ihe Borough were it carried out. There wer.o very many chains of reserves front ing East street, which meant" a high figure if their frontages were all asphalted. Besides, many, of the burgesses were pre pared to do a fourth of the footpath, but yvould not do a half. The matter then drepped. 1 Accounts to the sum of L 350 os. Id, were passed, and the Council adjourned,

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

LETTERS FOR THE TIMES.—No. 9.

, . To the Editor. Sir,--My'last two letters have, I fancy, disseminated a little ' useful information about the “commission” exacted from the colony by a favored few for their real or supposed services in connection with the raising of our loans, as well as upon that of the salaries and perquisites of Ministers,, while a flood of light has been thrown upon, the well-paid patriotism of sorao-of our legislators. A French proverb,, however, fells us that ioujours perdrix pro duces. satiety ; and figures, useful as they,, be as guides to the dark corners of colonial politics, soon become wearisome ; wc will, therefore turn our mental eyes for a brief season, in another direction, and see, if we can, the manifold blessings which we enjoy under a Canterbury Ministry. It will be remembered that when the late Government was in. office, the Hallites, on such rare occasions as hap pened when they could cairn their frantic souls sufficiently to give utterance to co herent remarks about Sir George Grey and his colleagues, were accustomed to declaim strongly against the undue weight of Otago and Auckland in the Cabinet, and the absurdity of this part of the colony expecting to get justice from a Ministry so constituted. And in order to preserve that rigid impartiality which has characterised these letters, I must admit that the members of the Grey Govern ment and their principal supporters, privately, at all events, suggested that one excellent reason for keeping themselves, in office was, that their ejection would entail, as a necessary sequence, the politi cal supremacy of Canterbury , the tyran nous domination of its ‘ shepherd kings; and the unchecked development of the in teresting science of gridironing. It was

true the shepherd king ■ was in many in stances, seated on an uncomfortable throne of mortgages, and there was very little land left to gridiron ; but it would never do for the political epigrammatist to permit him self to be baulked by awkward facts, and the. first duty of apolitical party is to abuse its adversaries and stick to office. One side was shouting to the Canterburyians. “ Hall .and heaven I l ' the other—“ Hall and Mr. Hall and his friends are now in office ; Canterbury influence is supposed to have culminated, but how ? are wo better off! Canterbury reigns, indeed, but, like the Queen, she does not govern. Mr. Hall is Premier, but Ms chiefs, as all the world knows, are Major Atkinson and Mr. Whitaker. They are our rulers. It is not the interests of Canterbury that are unduly looked after, but those of Taranaki and Auckland, or, to speak more precisely as to the latter, of the Auckland specu lators. Canterbury interests seem to be the last thing thought of in any measure which may emanate from the Government workshop. Just take that last and start ling piece of iniquity—the new railway tariff. ’ True to my text I eschew figures, and simply point to the broad facts of the case. The Canterbury rail ways are the only really paying lines in the colony, and her inhabitants are the most loyal of all. communities to the* present Government, while the Ash burton district, of all Canterbury districts, is the most anxious to discern the in discernible merits of Mr. Hall and his friends ; yet the latter forthwith proceed to impose a special tax, under the guise of a railway charge, upon the most im portant industry of the Province, of which industry Ashburton is the core and heart. And for what 1 Simply to keep a number of paltry little railways—like the Waitara- Rew Plymouth—going; to foster the timber industries of Auckland and South land ; and to further subsidise those ex pensive collieries on the West Coast, whore every tori of coal produced costs the colony as much as it - does the producer. Meanwhile, Major Atkinson’s constitu ents are living in clover, the Taranaki storckeepei-s are growing fat,_ and the colonial money is freely circulating in that odd corner of the colony where paralysis supervenes directly the stream of military expenditure ceases to flow irom ’ the Rew Zealand Treasury. Times, how ever, must be hard indeed " when the Treasury supplies are cut off from Tara naki. Even when the Provincial land funds were seized to supply the insatiable wants of the General Government, Taranaki was virtually spared, and equally fortunate was she when the Treasurer, driven to his wits’ end for money, grasped the 20 per cent, allocated to the counties. 25 per cent, of her land sales was some years ago solemnly dedicated to the Rew Plymouth harbor works—the Lord knows why—and while all tho pledges which were given to the Otago arid Canterbury Provincialists have been treated as trifles light as air, this particular compact has been regarded as being located in the “ Holy of Holies hence we find the colony spending hun dreds of thousands of pounds in keeping a i military force watching Te Whiti, and improving his 1 property by the construction of fine roads in its immediate neighbor hood, and then when an opportunity oc curs of recouping a portion of this enor mous outlay by the sale of land on the Waimate Plains, one-fourth of the pro ceeds is coolly handed over to the Rew Plymouth Harbor Board for the purpose of being subsequently cast into the road itead near the Sugar Loaves; It is absurd for Canterbury to expect fair treatment from politicians of the Hall type. Their minds are filled with an antiquated crotchet styled “ the Unity of the Colony,” which is another name for Government by bureaucracy—a system of Government alien to the feelings and traditions of Englishmen. Cleverer men get hold of them, play upon their weak ness, . and the result is that Canterbury interests are sacrificed to a fad. Can any human, being suppose that if provincial institutions had still been in existence, and our local railways under the control of the Provincial Government, such a mis chievous grain tariff would ever have been -imposed on these railways, or, if imposed by'some mischance, would not have been .promptly taken off. again? Under the existing system of centralised government, the just remonstrances of our farmers are met by the reply that the interests of the colony as a whole are the first thing to be considered, and that their interests, if necessary, must be sacrificed to those of other localities ; in short, they are to act the part of martyrs for the benefit of the inhabitants of more favored portions of Rew Zealand. Our farmers ask for bread, and the stone of fine phrases is given to them. It is time the reign of common aense-begau. ' I thipk that ffappy day is at hand, arid the members of the Hall Ministry may as well commence' packing up their port manteaus. The 'official newspapers are getting discontented, and inviting the Premier to heave Mr. Oliver, of Port Chalmers railway fame, overboard, as a sort of Jonah. They glance dubiously at Mr. Dick—a remarkable person, indeed, to be discovered seated on the Treasury benches— Looking as such old Scotchmen dp, Trussed by decorum and stuffed with morals. gre&tU'kfc : a self-constituted censor morum, orthodox in the old style to the backbone, but certainly not a heaven-horn statesman. The editorial tail is twirled furiously in token of inde pendence, leaders admonitory to the Government abound, and threats are uttered to the effect that the public weal is superior to party. These precious journals are evidently-ratting.—Yours, &c., C. W. Purnell. Ashburton, 28th Dec., 1880.

The Wine Crop in France.

The wine crop of 1879 was about twenty-five million hectolitres, or thirty million hectolitres below the average of the last ten years. The annual con sumption in France is from forty to forty-five million hectolitres. Every body expected a rise in the pfice of wine, and some conscientious dealers laid in a stock from abroad. The rise in price, however, never came, and the market remained well supplied. The reason was that the natural deficit was compensated for by artificial means. Wine was manufactured out of dry grapes. All. the raisins to.be found in the Eastern ports were bought up, and wine manufactories sprang up all over the country. Around Paris alone there are seven steam power wine manufac tories. The cost of a cask of raisin wine is about fifty francs, and it was sold at one hundred francs, thus giving a profit of a hundred per centum. But the competition has now become such that the price of raisins his risen from twelve francs to seventy-five francs the one hundred kilogrammes. The consequence is that rasins have been abandoned, and wine is now manu factured out of glucose, a sugary matter obtained from the potatoe, out of the residues of molasses, out of rotten apples, dried prunes, dates, figs, arid all kuids of refuse fruit, and even out of beet root. r '"hese abominable liquids are colored artificially, and coupes more or less with Spanish wine or white wine. The adulteration and manufacture of wine has attained such vast proportions that the principal dealers, who had taken measures to supply the market royally with harvest wine from foreign countries, have taken steps to put a stop to the gigantic fraud. The im posture has reached such a pitch that not one-third of the wine drunk at Paris is real grape wine.

“The Smiler.” —Mr. Thomas Luther Shepherd, ex-M.H.R., who fell a victim to the retrenchment policy, lias been re instated in the clerkship to the Pv.M. Court at Hawkesbury and Palmerston.

Mount Somers Road Board. The candidates for Nos. 2 and 3 Wards of the Mount Somers Road Board District— Messrs. Isaac Taylor and A. E. Peache — were not opposed at the election yester day, and were therefore declared elected. But.no nomination was made for No. 4 Ward, so that the vacancy has still to be filled, and nominations will bo received up to Gth January.

Fire at the Rakaia.—A disastrous fire raged on the Rakaia River reserves all Tuesday afternoon, and owing to the strong wind blowing it was found impos sible to get it under when first discovered. Mr. William Carroll, the foreman of the Rakaia River works, on discovering it, immediately sent all hands to endeavor to stop it. One large plantation belong ing to the Board of Conservators has been almost ruined, and several miles of fences completely consumed. Mr. White’s plantation also had a very close shave, nothing but the untiring exertions of . the men saving it. Mr. W. Moor head, a foreman on the works, had his house, at one time almost surrounded by the fire, but luckily the wind lulled for a time, and it was got under. , It was not till twelve o’clock at night that the hands considered it sufficiently safe to leave it, but it was, however, quite out yesterday morning.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1880.



Special Advertisements. The best value FOB. READY MONEY IS 'J.fIG MEN’S AND BO' r S’ CLOTHING MANOIACXUBE ) BY THE NEW ZEALAND ClotMng Factory, Which can be purchased at their Retail Branches, all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Thousands of the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch ; EAST STREET. WM. SPARROW, 751* Manager. O. Carstens & Co. (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS; Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco Musical Instruments etc., etc. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. 520* ,



The Detroit Free Press says that taciturn men occupy reserved ggats at the theatre



’HollowAy’s Plixs.— Important for the Delicate. —=It is difficult '.to determine which is the metre'tijying'to the human constitution—the damp, cold,days of the autumn and winter, or the keen, dry, easterly winds of springs Throughout the seasbhs good health may be maintained by occasional doses of Holloway’s Pills, which purify the blood and act as whole some stimulants to the skin, stomach, liver, bowels, and kidneys.. This celebrated medicine needs but a fair trial to convince the ailing and desponding that it will restore and cheer them without danger, pain, or inconvenience, as by a timely recourse to them the first erring func tion inaybe reclaimed, suffering may be soared and life saved.—Advt. ’’



Board and Residence. SELECT BOARD and RESIDENCE for a Single Gentleman, in a private family ; three minutes’ walk from Post Office. Apply, Office of this Paper. 835 Impounding Notice. IMPOUNDED at South Rakaia, Dec. 20, from North Rakaia, One Bay MARE, HACK,branded [conjoined] on near shoulder ; a wart on her near side flank. If not released by Jan. 5, 1881, it will be sold. GEO. SHELLOCK, 833 Poundkeeper. Gazette in Bankruptcy. y. r. J^J"OTIOE —Tub Ashburton Guardian is a Gazette for all. notices under the Debtors and Creditors .Vh V. R. In the District Court of Christchurch, Holden at Ashburton. In the matter of'the Debtors and Creditors Act, 1876, the Acts amending the same, and of the bankruptcy of JAMES FLETCHER, carrier, of Ashburton, a Debtor. JVJOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that JX the creditors in the estate of the above-named debtor having failed to elect a creditors’ trustee, I have this day ap pointed Frederick Pavitt, a certificated accountant in bankruptcy, to be creditors’ trustee, and the ■ said Frederick Pavitt has signified to me, in writing, his ac ceptance of said trusteeship. Dated at Ashburton this 24th day of De cember, 1880. . .W. MARTIN, . 841 Clerk to District Court Educational. Miss Steane, . (Late of Ashburton), BEGS to inform the Ladies of South Rakaia, Methven, and neighbor hood, that it is her intention to OPEN SUPERIOR PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR DAY PUPILS, Shortly after the Christmas recess, and she will be happy to treat with any wish ing their daughters or young sons to re ceive thorough instruction. - Application till Christmas. MISS STEANE, Care of Mr. Mossman, 794 Milford, Temukfi. THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. PRICE ONE PENNY. ADVERTISERS a?e reminded ■ that' the ASHBURTON GUARDIAN commands the LARGEST CIRCULA TION in the Borough and Suburbs, and the prices for advertisements are very reasonable. ■ MR. CAYGILL, of Walker street, Christchurch, is AUTHORISED to CANVASS for Advertisements for The Ashburton. Guardian.



Wanted. WANTED— A SITUATION as General Servant, by a young person who can do plain cooking, and laundry work. Apply, Office of this Paper. 838 ANTED—A good general SER VANT. One who can milk pre ferred. Apply, Office of this Paper, at one o’clock, Friday, 31st Dec. 810 WANTED —A respectable GIRD, as General Servant. Office of this Paper. Apply, at the 822 WANTED— BOARD and LODGING in a private family. Apply, £i K. Office of this Paper. 825 ANTE D—Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery of all sorts to REPAIR. Lowest Charges. PARKER, Watch maker. Private House, directly opposite the Public School. 837 WANTED KNOWN, That HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ashburton, are open DAILY, from 9 a. m. till 5 p.m. Portraits taken in any weather. Great Reduction in Price. 606 TIT ANTED KNOWN—That a Church W of England minister’s wife writes that she saves Ten Shillings a Fortnight by using Harper Twelvetrees’ Yilla Washer, Wringer, and Mangier, com bined; and, although , she permits no rubbing, the clothes are beautifully white, and much cleaner than when done by hand, while the saving in mending has .been astonishing. Sold by J. HERN, Range Maker and Importer, . corner of ■Manchester and Tuam streets, Christ church; Price—£9 10s. 700 r WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. JW. M‘RAE begs to inform the , public that he has taken the above Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs. Buggies and saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention, 9080—2860 Meetings- I O.G.T.—Unity DEGREE TEMPLE, . SECOND DEGREE MEETING on TUESDAY EVENING, at 8 o’clock, at the Templar Hall. Thomas Williams, D.T. , 834= SOMERSET LODGE. THE Regular Monthly Meeting of this Lodge will be held TO-MORROW, EVENING a 7'30., in the Hall, Tancred Street. Visiting Brethren invited. By order 83G W.M. JJORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. A MEETING of the COMMITTEE of the above is hereby convened at Messrs. Jacobsen and Eyfcon’s office, on TUES DAY EYE SING, January 4th, at 8 p.m. Business : To make arrangements for the forth coming Flower Show. A full meeting requested. S. E. POYNTZ, 840 Hon. Sec. Ecclesiastical. A GENERAL CHRISTIAN GATHERING ON NEW YEAR’S DAY, AT THE WESLEYAN CHURCH, CAMERON STREET, ASHBURTON. " The following SPECIAL SERVICES will be held in the above Church on SATURDAY, January Ist, 1881. From 10.30 a. m. to 12 o’clock —A public prayer meeting, Bible reading, and an address by Rev. A. J. Smith. From 2.30 to 4 o’clock p.m.—A Christian convention, including singing, prayer, and conversations on several papers bearing on experimental and practical piety which will then be read; Subjects : 1. “ Revivals ” —Mr. H. M. Carson. 2. “The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the Church”—Mr. Hodder. 3. “Personalconsecration”—Mr. Jones. 4. “ Praise ” —Mr. Weeks. Each paper not to exceed 15 minutes. From 7 to 8.30 p.m.—-A meeting for Christian fellowship and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The office bearers and Christian workers of the several churches in the town and neighborhood are most affectionately in vited to take an active part in all the services. . Sankey’s hymns will be used, and such Christian friends as can assist in the sing ing are cordially requested to meet for practice in the church on Friday evening at 7.30 p.m. N.B.—A WATCH NIGHT SERVICE will be held in the Wesleyan Church on FRIDAY EVENING, December 31st, at 10.30 p.m. 828 Tenders. FJI E N D E R S. WANTED TENDERS for PLOUGH ING 80 Acres of Tussock Land. Tenders to be sent in to the undersigned on or be fore FRIDAY, 31st inst. The lowest or - any tender not necessarily accepted. DONALD McLEAN, 826 Lagmhor. Tenders wanted for stocking and FORKING about 330 Acres (more or less), of Wheat and Oats, on Marbnan Station; and for GO Acres (more or less), of Oats, about three miles dis tance off. Tenders to be addressed to John R. Liddie, Tinwald post-office, on or before Ist JANUARY. 812 SOMERS ROAD BOARD. TENDERS are invited for the follow ing WORK No. 35.—Protective Works, Taylqr’a stream. . : A specification for the above work can be seen at the Road Board Office, Mount Somers, where tenders, addressed to the Chairman, will be received until noon oq THURSDAY, January 6th, 1881. The' lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. The Surveyor will meet intending con.; tractors at Alford Station on TUESDAY, January 4th, at 12 o’clock, to point out and explain the nature of the work, C. J. WENTWORTH COOKSON, Jun. Surveyor to the 820 Mount Somers Road Board. METHYBN AGENCY. MORGAN and HIBBS, General Store keepers, Methven, are authorisep agents for the Ashburton Guardian. Subscribers will please, get their papers from the agents in future. Orders en trusted to them will receive prompt attention.