COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Monday evening. Alfred Harrison reports for the past •week as follows On Wednesday, June 9, at Mrs. Dannihy’s homestead, Seafield, stock, implements, &c., were sold on account of Messrs B. Davies and Co., Eakaia, and brought as follows—7 draught horses and 1 hack, at prices ranging from LlO to L3O; 2 cows and 3 yearlings brought fair prices. The implements were in good order, and were sold at a good figure. There was a fair attendance, and a very good sale of all the lots offered. On Saturday, June 12, at the Baring Square yards, there was a large attendance, and though the prices were low the bidding was spirited, all lots being disposed of at good market values. The lots disposed of under bill of sale were Draughts, LlO, Ul6, L2O, L 22 ; dray, L 5, L 5 7s. 6d., Ll 5 ; 4 reapers and binders from L 5 to Ll 3 55.; ploughs from L2 to L 1 0; harness and sundries sold fairly well. On account of other owners, I sold draughts at Ll 3 10s., Ll 6, andL22, and several hacks at fair prices. Ten pigs sold at LI to LI IGs., or say 6d. per lb.; potatoes, L2 to L2 55.; onions, -id. to |d. ; carrots, LI per ton. Furniture and sundries, as usual, went off well. There was also a consignment of fruit trees and shrubs, the first of the season, for these it is almost too early, but they sold pretty well, only there was barely time to get them all through.

MAIL NOTICES,

Mails close at the Chief Post Offices for the following places (subject to the necessary alterations) as under : This Day. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per Tararua. Thursday. June 17. For Australian Colonies, per express train (to connect with the s.s. Tararua at Port Chalmers), at 7.30 a.m. For Northern Ports of New Zealand and Australian Colonies, via Sydney, per Hot or u a. SYDNEY J. DICK, Chief Postmaster.

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1880.

In this advanced age of ours the grea* principle of action seems to be—get as much from Government as possible, but reduce your contributions to the public purse to the veriest minimum. On this principle the various districts in the colony have religiously acted, ever since the Pub lic Works and Immigration scheme was inaugurated,—ever since the money of foreign capitalists was put in the public chest, and began to be dispensed from the Treasury. Government was a milch cow whom everyone looked to for a supply ; but now that her time of dryness has come, no one feels called upon to supply fodder. Loud-voiced suitors sued for railways, for roads, for bridges, for buildings, while the money lasted, and their eyes became green with jeak.u y over every penny that was given to dis tricts not their own ; while, like sulky schoolboys, they eyed their own dole with dissatisfaction, and grumbled heartily because it was not large enough to their liking. Too much of the borrowed money could not be given to them, nor too little to their neighbors. And now, when the time of reckoning comes, the boot is on the other leg altogether. The shares of taxation come to be allotted, and every man is as ready to cry out that he is getting too much as before he was ready to growl that the share he got of public good things was too little. Government finds itself placed in a dif ficult position. It must make both ends meet somehow, and the tax-payers have to supply the extra length of financial rope. Let Government devise as it will, it will never discover a scheme of taxation that will not find opponents. It is to taxation itself more than to the mode of it that most people object, and when a heavy deficit has to be made up, and the shortest and most productive way is adopted, it is not surprising to find that way denounced just because of its short ness and its productiveness. Cuckoo cries about the inquisitorial character of the Property Tax have been raised, and a deep growl against it has echoed from one end of the colony to the other. But we are afraid the growl will have no effect —or at least very little—for the deficit must be made up, come in what form it may. Government have declared their readiness to relievo personal effects from the operation Ox the tax, and to modify the admittedly complicated forms that the present law requires, and also to extend the time for collecting the tax ; but the exemption thus obtained necessitates the imposition of taxation somewhere else, and the Treasurer at once turns to beer. Here, too, he will not have all his sorrows to seek, for the licensed victuallers and the brewers are a powerful body, and do not give in without a severe struggle. But in this instance they can only kick against the pricks, for the colony may stand 6d. on the gallon of its beer, but it will rebel against a reimposition of taxes on its breakfast table. The Government are not wedded to the existing form of the Property Tax Assessment Act, as they have already announced, and their con cession noted above will tend to close the mouths of the loudest opponents of the impost on property, but only a return of prosperity sufficiently abundant to enable the tax to be altogether repealed will entirely silence the grumbling. A land tax and an income tax concurrently work ing are desired by some; but others would oppose both with a vigor equal to the opposition now being given to the Property Tax, so that it is a dire impos sibility to please even a large section of the community, far less all, in the little matter of paying away money to the State. Meanwhile, we believe the concessions proposed by the Treasurer will take out the sting that was believed to lurk in the tail of the terrible Property Tax—but we fear the fact that remains, notwithstand ing, will be just as disagreeable as ever— viz., that we have to pay, and no amount of grumbling and growling will stave off the evil day of cashing up. The Town Hail Stage. —The work men are now busily engaged on the altera tions necessary to make a decent stage in the Town Hall. When they have finished, a complete change will have been wrought on the appearance of the hall, which hitherto has been the reverse of creditable to the township. The old eyesores of paper-hangings that did duty in the way of concealing what was going on behind the curtain have been relegated to the lumber room, and their place will be supplied by a pro per proscenium. In height some eighteen inches have been gained, and the new drop scene upon which Mr. Bourke is at work will hang fully two feet nearer the audience than formerly, so that consider able space will thus be added to that which was previously at the disposal of the per formers. The work is expected to be finished in a short time. The Oddfellows’ Ball. —At a special meeting of the Committee of the Oddfellows’ Lodge appointed to make and carry out he arrangements for the anniversary ball, it was found necessary to engage the Town Hall for the ball in consequence of a de cision come to by the Freemasons at their lodge meeting on Friday not to let their hall for other than Masonic purposes. The Secretary, Mr. Williams, stated that Mr. Hugo Friedlander, one of the trustees of the Masonic Hall, and Mr. Zander, Secretary of the Somerset Lodge, had told him that lie could depend on having the Masonic Hall for the projected assembly, and on the strength of this assurance the Masonic Hall had been advertised as the place of meeting. The Committee were thankful that they found out the state of matters so soon, as about 100 of the tickets have been sent over the district—some to Christchurch, some even to Kaiapoi, and to many farmers in the out of the way places in the County. The change will in volve a very large amount of work upon the Secretary, Mr. Williams, and there is some talk of looking to these whose as surancemisledthe Committeefor corapensa ation. However, the Town Hall lias been secured, and to our thinking the Com mittee made a mistake in not taking that hall to begin with, seeing that it was built for purposes of this kind, and from a public spirit on the part of the company to whom it belongs ; besides it is the best adapted of the two buildings for any meeting of this kind. At the ordinary Lodge meeting of the Oddfellows on Friday last, some of the members ex pressed their fear that the tickets had been fixed at too high a price. Some of these members were added to the Committee, and at the special meeting on Saturday the Committee went thoroughly into the matter of ways and means, and proved to the entire satisfaction of the doubtful ones, that when all refreshments, both eatable and drinkable were found free of any extra charge, they could not give satisfaction to their patrons and make both ends meet at the same time, if they reduced the price, especially as it was in tended to made this in every respect one of the best balls that has ever been given in connection with the Order in Canterbury. On the tenders for supplying the refresh ments being opened, that of Mr. Shear man, of the Somerset Hotel, was found to be the most suitable to their wants, and was consequently accepted. We feel satisfied that with such a well organized Committee to do the work, and with the very excellent and hard working Secre tary, Mr. Williams, at their head, the ball must be a success.

The Concrete Channelling. —Mr, Bradley started work to-day on his con tract for concreting the water-channels of the township, and expects to be finished in about six weeks. The Volunteer Outrage at Ash burton. —A telegram gives to understand the enquiry into the Volunteer’s mis conduct at ■ Ashburton shows that the affair was grossly exaggerated. One Volunteer has been suspended. Dangerous Driving.—Two men, whose skill in driving was evidently not equal to their daring, undertook to give on-lookers a sort of circus performance with a horse and trap about noon on Saturday opposite Baldwin’s Hotel. After tearing round at a furious pace for some time, the driver essayed to negotiate the post and rail in use outside the hotel for the conveni ence of horsemen, but the effort was futile, and the wheel coming in contact with the horse trough the trap overturned, and the occupants were pitched out. The vehicle was somewhat damaged, but the men were very little the worse for the “spill,” as the irrepressible Jehu again took the reins and was about to repeat the performance, but evidently thought better of it, and decided to let wAI a!on r . The sequel to the above story has a very unpleasant feature in it—namely, an ugly cut in the back of the head of one of the performers, which will give the doctor some trouble in patch ing up. Perhaps we may hear more of the matter through the medium of the Pc lice Court. New Seam of Coal. —We learn that a . new seam of coal was discovered a few days ago at Kowai Pass, on the property of Mr. Macrae. The seam is fully sft. thick, and the coal is said to be equal to best Springfield coal. About twelve tons have been tried.— Press. Timaru Races. —The general manager of the railway, Frederick Back, Esq., an nounces that for the convenience of those wishing to attend the Timaru races, or dinary single,fare tickets to Timaru issued at stations between Christchurch and Ash burton on 17th and 18th inst., and at stations south of Ashburton on 18th inst., will he available for return journey up to and including 21st inst. Watekton Library. —Patriotic Water tonians are referred to an advertisement regarding one of their institutions, on behalf of which a tea-meeting and an en tertainment are to be held in the main school on Wednesday, June 23. The Library is an institution claiming the sup port of the whole district, and have we no doubt this effort to help it on will meet a full reward at the hands of those for whose benefit the Library was instituted, —and these are, all who care to improve their minds by sucking the brains of genuis living and dead. A Grim Discovery. —A startling sur prise, after the fashion of the story of Ginevra, w'as experienced some daj s ago by a party of Styrian wood cutters in the forest of Drommling. They began to fell a venerable oak, which they soon dis covered to be quite hollow. Being half decayed it speedily came to the ground with a crash, disclosing a skeleton in ex cellent preservation. Even the boots, which came above the knee, were almost perfect. By its side was a powder-horn, a porcelian pipe-bowl, and a silver watch, on which was engraved “ H. von Kracho witz, 1812.” The teeth were perfect. It is conjectured that, while engaged in hunting, he climbed the tree for some purpose, and slipped incautiously into the hollow trunk, from which thero was no release, and he probably died of starva tion. The Iron Horse. —Telegraphing from Nelson on Saturday, the Press Associa tion agent recounts a railway incident thus —An accident occurred on the railway last night. As a train after leaving Wakefield was nearing the road crossing, the driver saw three horses within the railway fence ; they bolted to get over the cattle stops, and the first jumped over them, the second fell into the stops and rolled over on the rails, and the third went on top of the second. Though the engine was reversed it had still too much speed on, and one of the horses was nearly cut in two and thrown on the road way, and the second had its legs taken off. At R’chmond the train above referred to had to pass another going down to Fox hill, which was filled with volunteers from Richmond. The passengers had alighted when the train proceeded on to the points to admit of shunting, but just as the Richmond train was at the points the up train came along, and the two engines col lided. Fortunately very little damage was done.

FAREWELL BANQUET AND PRE SENTATION TO MR. ENNIS.

On Saturday evening the railway em ployees in this district entertained Mr. W. Ennis, Inspector of Permanent Way, to a banquet in Quill’s Hotel. The occa sion of the gathering was to take farewell of Mr. Ennis, who is leaving for Inver cargill, and to mark the esteem in which his fellow-officials hold him by some tangible token of it. Over fifty railway men of all grades were present, from stations as far south as Timaru and as far north as Selwyn, and the chair was occu pied by Mr. B. Pilkington, Station master, Ashburton, the croupier being Mr. Dines, of the permanent way staff. After full and deserved honor had been done to Mr. Quill’s good things, ami the loyalty and patriotism of the company had been displayed in the toast of Her Majesty, Ac., Mr. Pilkington proposed the toast of the evening. In doing so, he paid a very high compliment to Mr. Ennis, dilating at some length on the many sterling virtues and agreeable quali ties he possessed, and the thoroughly fair and honest way in which he discharged the duties of his position to the Govern ment who employed him, to the men placed under him, and to those belonging to other departments of the service who had to do with him in the every-day run of railway business. It was evident by the expressions of assent given utterance to by those present that the tone of Mr. Pilkington’s remarks was in perfect accord with the feelings of the company, and quite a pitch of enthusiasm was reached when the chairman asked Mr. Dines, as an officer of Mr. Ennis’ department, to make the presentation, to do which had been the chief purpose of their meeting that night. Mr. Dines then presented Mr. Ennis with a handsome black marble timepiece. In doing so, he said that when he heard too much flattery poured out on a man, he always thought there was something wrong. He would give no un due flattery to Mr. Ennis, but would simply tell what he knew of him. The presence of so many men that night, who had been thrown into business relation ship, with Mr. Ennis, proved the esteem in which that gentleman was held, and a farther proof might be given in the fact that the presentation now made represented the spontaneous good-will offering of every man on the part of the line over which Mr, Ennis’ jurisdiction extended. Perhaps there was no one who had better opportunities for noting the good or bad qualities of their guest than he (the speaker) had had. Specially was loyalty to duty a feature of Mr. Ennis’ character, and in this connection it was prominently remarkable that all orders from head quarters had to be fulfilled to the letter, and no swerving from them would be tolerated. This was especially necessary on a railway line where the lives of many people depended on the efficiency and carefulness of the staff. In essentials Mr. Ennis was stern in exacting complete fulfilment, but he was never found to bo factious or oppressive in trifles, and in dealing with his men he had always been

found to be just and fair without regard to nationality or ci'ccd, and where leniency was required and was justifi able, it was always kindly and for bearingly extended. He had said enough to show why Mr. Ennis had commanded their respect and their esteem, and if all the officers in the railway service showed the same bearing and followed the same fine of conduct, the service could not fail to be efficient in the highest degree. He hoped Mr. Ennis would live long to be able to look upon the gift ho now gave him, and every time lie did so, be re minded of the high opinion his friends in this district held of him. Mr. Henry Stephenson, of the locomotive department, in a forcible speech tendered his concur rence in all that had been said by Mr. Dimes. Mr. Ennis then made a suitable reply, expressing his gratification at hav-. ing been able to discharge the not always easy duties that had fallen to him, to the satisfaction of his fellow workmen. He was going now, and he might safely say that but for the fact that the Government possessed in the employees of this district servants of a very superior class, .he would not have been able to succeed so well either with the duties he had to discharge as Inspector, or in gaining their own good opinion. All departments of the servi.e had worked in harmony together, and without this it was useless to hope for efficiency, far less for pleasure in their re lationship. Other toasts were proposed, amongst which were the “ Secretary to the presentation fund, Mr. Henderson,” who briefly replied; “ Success fo Ah?., New Zealand Railways the" “ Press ” replied to. by the local representatives, who each had a good thing to. sayoLMr. Ennis, and of course “ The Ladies.” Several songs wore sung in the evening, and the gathering dispersed when , the solemn summons of respectability told the near approach of Sunday.

STEAM TO NEW ZEALAND.

The arrival at Lyttelton on Saturday of Messrs. Money Wigram's magnificent steamer Norfolk, from the Old country, with self-paying passengers, in the short space of 49 actual steaming days, shows what wonderful strides have been made in ocean navigation within the past few years. It moreover indicates the spirit and enterprise displayed by the New Zea land Shipping Company in undertaking such a venture, especially after they had suffered a serious loss by the only previous similar venture they had speculated in viz., the Stad Haarlem, some 18 months ago. The Norfolk is admitted oil' all hands to be the finest steam merchantman which has ever vis ted the colony, and she is not only a very fast, hut also a very sea worthyship—being built more in thefrigate style than in that of the fashionable steam liner of the present day. Her designers and builders have evidently succeeded>in combining in her stability, carrying capa city, and speed. The Norfolk seems to have had a tolerably rough time of it during the last two or three weeks of her passage ; and the passengers growled pro portionately ; hut if they compare their trifling discoinfoits with those of immi grants of thirty years ago—when five months was the ordinary clipper trip, and the first duty to be performed by the new chum was to clear a section and build a sod hut or a calico tent —the importations of the present day will perhaps find that comparisons between now and then arc odious. The passage of the steamer is pe culiar in one respect: no sickness of any de scription appears to have been experienced on the voyage out, until the vessel’s arrival in harbor, when it was discovered that a child was suffering from something, which was thought might bo small pox, and the authorities had, reluctantly, to order the steamer into quarantine. We hope her stay will be a brief one, as costly vessels of this description are too valuable to lie idle at anchor. She will proceed from here to Wellington with passengers for that port. We sincerely hope that the initiative step taken by the local shipping firm will prove such a financial success as to induce them to repeat the experiment frequently; and this system of interoceanic intercourse is then bound to be profitable and proges sive, both to the ship-owners and the colony. Dunedin, with her bar-bound harbor, will of course be exempted from sharing in the glories of Lyttelton and Wellington, but she can gain them at second-hand by the interposition of the Great South Railway.

PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL AT WINSLOW.

As advertised, a public meeting whs held at the Winslow Hotel on Saturday night to consider what steps should be taken to have a school established in the township. There was a very good attends ance of householders, and Mr. C. Martin was called to the chair. Mr. Martin said he would refrain from making any com ment on the necessity for a school in the township, as they all felt the isolated position they occupied in educational matters from the distance they were from the nearest scholastic establishment. To them all the desirableness of having a school in the township was not only apparent but felt. He then read the following letter he had re ceived from the Secretary to the Board of Education in reply to one he had written asking for information respecting the steps necessary to be taken to obtain a school in the township : Christchurch, March sth, 1880. To C. Martin, Esq., Winslow. Sir, —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd inst., and to request you to forward a tracing of the dis trict which you wish to have formed, with a list of the householders and the number of children in each family of and under school age, i.e., between five and fifteen. Please markon the tracing the residences of the house holders, or at least the sections on which they live them by letters or numbeis coiresponding to letters or numbers marked against the names on the list. Also show whereabouts it is proposed to place the school. The Board will then have the requisite data for considering you application. lam afraid, how ever, that there is little prospect of anything being done this year, as the claims already before the Board are far in excess of the funds at its disposal.—l have, &c., J. V. Colborne Veel, Secretary. Mr. Harris then™"proposed, and Mr. Rainy seconded, the following resolution : —“ That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is very desirable that a school be estab lished in the township, and that stops be taken to procure the same. ” The resolu tion was unanimously carried. Mr. Harris also proposed, and Mr. Wilson seconded —“That a petition be drawn up and signed by the residents in favor of the project and pre sented to the Board of Education, praying that a school be granted. ” This having been carried, Mr. Weir proposed, and Mr. Grace seconded a resolution as follows :—“ That letters be written to Messrs. John Grigg and 0. F. Barker, respecting a site for the proposed school, asking if either of these gentlemen are willing to give or to sell a site, and on what terms.” This having been passed, Messrs. Martin and Harris consented to write to these gentlemen on the subjects suggested, and also to draw up the petition and procure the needful signatures. A resolution of Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. Harris, defined the boundaries— “ That the boundaries of the proposed new school district on the north-east be as far as Frisby’s road, 2h miles north west from the township, miles south west, and a mile south-east.” This reso lution having also been carried unani mously, the meeting was adjourned till further notice, which will be given by ad vertisement,

ROAD BOARDS.

MOUNT SOMERS. The ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was held at the office, Mount Somers, on Monday, June 7th, 1880. Present —Messrs. Cameron (in the chair), Taylor, and. Peach. The following cor respondence was read ; —From the Regis trar-Central and from the Minister for Public Works, enclosing forms of returns and requesting that they may be filled in and forwarded ; the Clerk stated that the request had been complied with. From the Upper Ashburton Road Board, agree ing to form the boundary road from Thomson’s road to the north east corner of rural section 28886, provided the Mount Somers Road Board contributed half the amount of accepted tender. From the Ashburton County Council, with reference to formation of roads leading into Alford Forest, and consenting to subsidise any expenditure of the Board to the amount of L3OO. From the Secretary for Public V orks with reference to the route to be adopted for the continuation of the Mount Somers Railway. A petition was received from Alex. Hewson and nine other ratepayers, offer ing to furnish all the necessary birch tim ber gratis for a foot bridge over Bowyer’s Stream on Hewson’s road, provided the Board find all other timber and labor. The Board considered the proposal a fair one, and decided to call for tcndeis foi the work. A petition was received from Mr. Peter Joli and fourteen others, urging upon the Board the necessity for at once forming Graham’s road from the end of the metal line to a point forty chains north-west to wards the Forest. The surveyor to re port at next meeting, and to ascertain whom the road will benefit. From Messrs. Wm. Montgomery and Co. re contract for drain pipes. The clerk stated that he had replied. Circulars and price lists were received from,Messrs. Austin and Kirk, and also from Messrs. Wm. Montgomery and Co., Ashburton. Mr. Andrew Macfarlane waited upon the Board and requested that a cutting may be made down the big terrace opposite his house, and leading to the bush sections m the North Ashburton gorge. The sur veyor to report. Mr. William Fergus attended re drain age on Fergus road. The Board, after considering the surveyors report upon the above, decided to compel the water to follow its natural course through Mr. William Wilson’s section. The surveyor was instructed to call for tenders for the following works Re metalling township road, 133 chains; footbridge over Bowyer’s stream on Hew son’s road ; formation on Stevenson s road, 90 chains more or less ; also, for fresh tenders for the supply of drain pipes for twelve months, and to send a copy of the specifications to the Lyttelton Limes office, Christchurch. With reference to the surveyor’s report upon the Black Mountain track, it was decided to have it repaired after the winter is over. The surveyor was instructed to report (generally upon Fergus’ road ; to estimate value of work done by Michael McAvey on Shepherd’s hush road ; ar.d also con tract done by Donald Forbes on Anama Downs cutting. It was decided to send a copy of the report upon the road between Alford Forest road and western approach to Taylor’s stream bridge to the County Council, with a request that it may receivi their immediate attention. Mr. Gookson, jun., laid upon the table the valuation list for 1880, as prepared by him. With reference to the letter from the Upper Ashburton Road Board, it was decided to contribute half the cost of the formation of the Boundary road. The Surveyor’s report was read and con sidered. Tenders were opened, and one accepted for each of the following works No. 11, Stevenson’s road ; No. 12, Anama Downs road. Only one tender having been received for the supply of drain pipes, it was decided to call for fresh tenders. The pay sheet, amounting to L524859d, having been passed for payment the Board Adjourned. MOUNT HUTT. The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held at Methven on Thursday, the 10th inst—all the members present. The overseer’s report was read and considered. He was recommended to complete any work he had in hand by day labor ; and after finishing the same to discontiue that kind of expenditure. Any new works likely to incur a small cost, were ordered to be let by contract, one member and the overseer to decide upon accepting the same. Drainage of Mount Hutt and Alford Forest Boad. —The surveyor’s report showed that owing to the storm water from Mount Hutt being of so sudden and destructive a nature,'it would be necessary to cut a fresh channel to divert the flood water through Mi*. MTlraith’s upper pad docks, thence into a natural creek, and then through the same ratepayer’s lower paddocks, when the water would find its way into the permanent drainage scheme. As Mr. M'llraith had not replied to the Clerk’s letter requesting him to contribute towards the cost, the matter was post poned till the next meeting of the Board. The overseer’s recommendation to divert Chapman’s creek into Mount Harding creek was 'objected to by the Board, as it was considered that in the event of any damage being done by floods on Spring field run, Messrs. Gould and Cameron would have a cause of action against the Board, and it was resolved that the original water course should be adhered to, and a flood-gate put in at Mr. D. G. Holmes’ fence, near Methven ; and the storm water would then find its way into the channels now being excavated by the County Council. The clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Holmes of the Board’s ob jection, he having consented to the diver sion. Gravel Pits. —Correspondence was read from Messrs. Alington and Coward, ob jecting to the fencing of a gravel-pit on their property. The letter was ordered to be acknowledged, and Messrs. Alington and Coward to be informed that the Board approved of the overseer’s action in this matter ; also that the action of the Board had been taken under the pro visions of The Public Works Act of 1876. From Mr. Wynn Williams, re the Board’s request for an acre of his land for a gravel pit. The notice served on Mr. Williams stated that the Board would buy one acre ; and as it appeared that the area did not require to be stated in the notice by the Act, it was resolved to take as much of the property as would be necessary for metalling the road. Drainage on the Boundary of the Mount Mutt and South Bdkaia Districts. —An arrangement had been made by the sur veyors of the respective districts to meet on the ground to arrange preliminaries in connection with the work, and the officers of the Boards had agreed upon a scheme ; but as no report had been received from South Rakaia, the matter was necessarily postponed till next meeting. Sundry accounts, including one from the South Rakaia Board, re expenses of division of district, were passed for pay ment and the Board adjourned.

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was hold at the Council’s Chambers last night. Present—His Wor ship the Mayor (presiding), Messrs. Wey mouth Roberts, George M. Robinson,_ D. Williamson, G. H. St. Hill, R. Fried lander, and G. Parkin. mayor’s statement. His Worship, in giving, an analysis of the business which would bo brought be fore the meeting, said he had had an in terview with the County Council with re ference to the amount which was duo from the Longbeach Road Board, and it had been decided that he should make out a return of lands sold within the Borough, but he did not in tend to leave the Longbeach Road Board out of the question, because if no satisfactory arrangement con'd bo come to with the County Council, they should certainly make the claim on the Longbeach Road Board. From a return which he was compiling, he calculated that the amount which would be due to the Council would be about the same as that which they had claimed from the Longbeach Road Board. Referring to the waterworks contract, he thought the work was not going on as satisfactorily as possible,’ but the matter would be brought before them in the Surveyor s report. The balance in the bank u as L 317 17s. 7d., and the amount of rates paid in since last meeting was L 32. His Worship thought the manner in which the rates were being paid up was matter for congratulation. The Longbeach Road Board had paid the subsidy of L 42 9s. lid due by that body to the Council. CORRESPONDENCE. An application was made by Mr. R. W. Shearman to remove a culvert opposite his premises to a more convenient place. Referred to Works Committee. A letter was read from Messrs. Mitchell and Turner, drawing the Council’s atten tion to the very rough and unsatisfactory state of the footpath opposite their premises. Some conversation took place on the matter, one Councillor recommend ing that Mitchell and Turner be asked to contribute half the cost. Referred to Works Committee. THE LAND SOLD WITHIN THE BOROUGH. From E. S. Liverserge, Survey office, Christchurch, forwarding a return of the lands sold within the borough. ' Mr. Parkin proposed that the cost of 1 the return —five guineas—be paid, as it was a most valuable document. Mr. St. Hill, in seconding the motion, ' wished to bear testimony to the very hearty way in which the Mayor was work ; ing for and in the interests of the borough. ■ Hnnself and fellow Councillors could not fail to be impressed with the action which i his Worship took in the County Council. • The Mayor in putting the motion, said i he was very sorry that press of private , business prevented him from doing mere for the Council than he was doing. ; The motion was carried. i WATER-PIPES COMMITTEE. s The Water-Pipes Committee reported as follows : ; The Committee, appointed to consider ; the proposition of the Council as to the r advisability of disposing of the water - pipes at present held by the Council, i- having met, beg to submit the following recommendation to the Council The » Committee recommend the Council to . appo'nt a deputation to wait upon the > County Council to endeavor to obtain r their consent to the sale of the pipes. If > their consent is obtained, a portion of the money derived from the sale should be ; applied towards completing the water ' supply and drainage scheme now in hand. The balance, if any, to be placed in the ! bank, the interest to be added to the ! principal until the whole can be judi ! ciously expended for the purposes originally intended. The Mayor thought it was unnecessary to send a deputation to the County Council, I as the Chairman and himself were all that , were necessary to give effect to the Borough 5 Council’s wishes. i Mr. Williamson said the reference to k the deputation had inadvertently crept into the report, as he did not think that , such was the Committee’s opinion in the I matter. Mr. St. Hill moved the adoption of the report, being thoroughly convinced of the soundness of the recommendations. Mr. Friedlander seconded, and would 5 add to the motion—“ That the members i of the Pipes Committee he a deputation 3 to interview the Chairman of the County I Council on the matter, as recommended I by the report.” ’ An amendment was proposed by, Mr. > Williamson, and seconded by Mr. Robin - r S on—“ That the matter of interviewing , the County Council Chairman be left in s the .hands of the Mayor.” This was l carried, and the report was adopted. engineers’ report. I The Borough Engineers reported as fol k lows ; : Water Supply. —Neither of the con • tracts are actually completed, but there is ’ not much remaining to be done. What - there is principally consists in finishing - off portions of the work. We would re l commend that the north-west side of the ■ outfall drain be fenced from Burnett i street to the terrace, the hank formed of the stuff thrown out not proving to be > sufficient protection. > Shingling East street. —We have been ■ waiting for rain before commencing this work, but have given the contractors ; notice to commence delivering the shingle [ required for Baring square at once. : Concrete Channelling and Kerhing. —The first instalment of fifty sacks of cement has ■ been delivered, and the contractor has commenced operations. The Labor Gang have been engaged in i forming the footpath in Tancrod street, shifting and fixing culverts and gratings, side channellings, &c. The Tailored street footpath is being shingled. We have arranged for the supply of this shingle at Is. 3d. per yard. Immigration Cottages, —One of these cottages on the north-west Belt requires the roof and chimney to be: e paired. The overseer report it untenantable in its present state. Lamps. —The lamp-post at the corner of Tancred and East streets has been broken. There are none remaining in the yard to replace it. As two or more maybe shortly required, it will be for the Council to de termine whether one or more should be obtained. THE WATERWORKS CONTRACT. Mr. Fooks said with reference to the non-completion of this work, that what was principally to do was the finishing off. In the river bed the work was unsatis factorily done. The contractor did not seem to understand how much labor was required to do the job. In reply to Mr. St. Hill, tho Engineer said that the water could be brought in, in three or four days, if the contractor were energetic in the matter. Mr. St. Hill moved that the contractor be allowed a week to finish the work, but if it were not done by that time the Council would finish it at the contractor’s expense and inflict the penalty for non fulflln.ent. Mr. Robinson seconded, and the motion was carried. OUTFALL DRAIN. His Worship said that if something were not done with reference to the outfall drain, the property in the neighborhood would be lessened in value, and in its present state it was dangerous. _ The Council should take into consideration the recommendation of fencing it in, and he would suggest that the Engineer be re quested to supply plans and estimated cost of putting down a concrete culvert, as it was just possible children might crawl under the fence and fall into the drain. It was decided that the Mayor’s suggestion

bo acted upon, the matter of fencing to be s left in the Engineers’ hands. ! SHINGLING EAST STREET. * Tito Engineers’action in this matter wa * confirmed. ■ ‘ CONCRETE CHANNELLING. In speaking to this matter, Mr; St. Hill ! thought the Enginers might be instructed ■ to ask contractors of the Council to con sider the advisableness of giving work to married men in preference to single ones during these hard times. Of course there could be no compulsion in the matter, but he thought it might not be out of place to • place this proposal -under the notice of the contractors. IMMIGRATION COTTAGES. His Worship thought if something were not done with these cottages it would b 3 better to give them away, as the amount which was spent in repairing them was more than what they brought in in rent. They got about LlO a year rent for one of them, and it would take about L3O to re pair it. Moved by Mr. Friedlander and seconded by Mr. St. Hill—“ That no more money be spent on the cottages on the Wert Town Belt.” Carried. Mr. St. Hill moved—“ That the cottages be sold, and the matter be left in the hands of the Works Committee.” Mr. Parkin seconded the motion, and it was carried. LAMPS. Mr. St. Hill thought that notice should be taken of when the lamp was broken, and how long it remained unlit, because he thought they should not be called upon to pay for a lamp which was not used. His Worship said that Messrs. Marsh and Groves Would be called upon to re place the lamp and lamp-post which had been'broken by their horse and trap. Mr. 'Robinson suggested that half-a dozen lamp-posts should be obtained, as there was a chance of them getting a number cheaper in proportion than one. The Clerk was instructed to write to Messrs Scott Bros., asking the price of one up to six lamp-posts, and further action in the matter was left in the hands of the Mayor. ADVERTISING. Mr. St. Hill wished to know whether the advertisement with reference to the By-laws had been published in the Mail ; he "knew that it appeared in the Herald, and thought that it should also appear in the morning paper, as it was so important. ■;-|The Clerk replied that the advertising of the By-laws was inserted by Mr. Crisp, and it was entirely in his hands. His Worship thought that each paper should receive a fair share of the Borough’s advertising, without increasing the ex pense. FOOTPATHS. Mr. Parkin moved and Mr. Robinson seconded, that the footpath from the Triangle to Baldwin’s Hotel be formed. Carried. FINANCES. His Worship stated that it would be necessary to take into consideration at the Council’s next meeting, the state of the Borough’s finances, and the Clerk be in structed to bring up a balance sheet of their assets and liabilities at the next meet ing. Mr. St. Hill thought a lighting rate should be levied, as he objected to the cost of lighting the streets out of the rates. A COMPLAINT. The Mayor said he was very sorry that when he had anything to say against Mr. Bullock, he was always absent. Carters . going to .Mr. Bullock’s store were in the habit of crossing the footpaths near the Templar Hall, and thus cutting them up. Mr, Parkin thought another Councillor was renting the store from Mr. Bullock, and the latter gentleman was hardly to blame in the matter. ACCOUNTS, were passed for payment, and on the PAY-SHEET being brought up, his Worship said that he was not one of those who were in favor of reducing men’s wages, but. considering the times, and the number of men out of employment who were willing to work at a reduced rate, the Council’s workmen should be asked to work at a shilling per day less. The other Councillors expressed themselves in a similar strain. Mr. St. Hill suggested that the En gineers be instructed to employ married men in preference to single men in the Council’s work, as single men could go over the country without much incon venience, if they were out of work, while a married man was tied to the township. It was decided with reference to the Council’s carting, that the present man be asked to take a reduction in his present wages. The pay sheet was passed, and the Council .adjourned.

PARLIAMENTARY.

(per press association). HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, June 11. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. SECOND READINGS. The Hon. John Hall replied on the de bate on the second reading of the Election Petitions Bill. He maintained that in questions of this kind trial by jury would not be as safe as that by a Judgo of the Supreme Court. Before the Bill passed into law he would consult with tlm Judi cial authorities as to the propriety of getting these cases tried by two Judges, instead of one. The motion for the second reading was passed. The Hon. J. Hall moved the second reading of the Corrupt Practices Preven tion Bill. He read and commented upon the provisions of the Bill. Dr. Wallis blamed the Government for introducing important measures similar to the present without affording proper infor mation as to the principles of such measures. This was not a new Bill, it was only to his mind an effort to perfect the law as it stood. Sir W. Fox said the question of con veyances was a very serious item in elec tion costs. If an elector would not travel a mile or so to exercise his vote, then he was .not worthy of the franchise at all. If the want of a conveyance prevented a man attending, he was better away. The closing of public houses on election days was another matter to which he would direct attention. In San Francisco they found no difiiculiy in doing this. He witnessed an election in that city con ducted under these circumstances, and although it contains a population of 350,000, he did not witness a single case of intoxication. It was a sad sight to see men about to exercise one of the most sacred privileges with their brains muddled with intoxicating liquor. The Bill, as it stood, was inconsistent. If one gave a man a sandwich and a glass of water, that was corruption, and would invalidate the election, whereas if they spent LSOO for cab hire, that was = perfectly legitimate. Again, it was wrong in principle to put a candidate to heavy expenses. After a long debate in which several members took part, the motion was carried, and the Bill read a second time. TUB AGENT-GENERAL. Mr. George asked, without notice, if a remor was true that Government had re ceived a cablegram from England announc ing the resignation of the Agent-general. The Hon. J. Hall said that there was no foundation for the rumor whatever. MISCELLANEOUS. The Regulation of Elections Bill was further considered in Committee. Amend ments to substitute “ person ” for “ regis tered elector ” in clause 11, were negatived on a division, as was also a proposal to

strike out the words requiring the written assent* of candidates. Several verbal amendments were made. A prsposal to extend the hours of poling to 7 p.m. was lost on a division by 38 to 21. Progress was reported, and leave ob tained to sit asain. The House rose at 12 4°. '

ORIGINAL POETRY.

THE CELTIC RACE. From where the Euxine, many-voiced, Rolls on its western shore, Sprang forth a gallant warrior race, Far in the days of yore. As ’neath the storm, that gloomy sea Brings terror on its crest, So did the Scythians’ flashing spears Bring terror on the West. From where the Danube rolls along, . To Tagus, and Garonne, Their kings won broad dominions, And many a splendid a throne. Far through the mists of ages, The Celt can proudly trace, The birth-place of War’s chivalry, > The cr idle of his race. Midst fair Iberia’s vine-clad hil's, Their monarchs live in story. And ages saw their chieftains rule The ocean’s emerald glory ; For there, at Wisdom’s shrine, they laid Each lance and htdm and ciest, And sages from green Tnnisfail Gave learning to the West. For in the wilds of Britain, The savage sought his lair ; The ruthless cry of barb’rous hordes Filled Europe’s startled air ; The Sea-kings of the North came forth, Fierce as their North’rn gales ; A world eclipsed knew light alone Midst Erin’s peaceful vales. To bold Caledonia, Fergus led, 1 ts mountains made his own ; There, on the Stone of Destiny, He built the Scottish throne ; And in his plaided warriors throbbed That noble Scythian strain. Which never flowed from craven heart, Nor ebbed in coward’s vein. And in the centuries, many a field That gallant blood hath dyed, From brave King Fergus’ time till now. With no exhausted tide. The glories of dead empires, ’ How small their hist’ries’ space ! The proudest of the living owns. Its stay— the Celtic Race. Still to the language of the Gods The Cambrian tunes his lyre, His harp-strings tremble to Love’s lay, Or ring with martial fire. Amongst the mountains and the vales, Where freedom found a home, When all beyond the Celt’s domain Lay at the feet of Rome. i With fear-built ramparts on the North, The legions met the Gael, And Roman foot dared not to tread The land of Innisfail; . For Cambria, Caledonia, ’ And Erin’s lovely face, ' Were guarded by the Van of War— The matchless Celtic Race. F Of Greece and Rome, grey ruins alone May tell their martial story, And on those ruins full many a race v Hath sprung to Empire’s glory ; j; But, vanquished in their turn—o’erthroan By conquering Decay, . They saw the noon-blaze of their fame. The shadowy evening ray. But, striding o’er the ruins of Time, 5 Behold the laurelled brave ! > On Rome’s proud Capitol, THEIR race j Hath seen its banners wave ; Their Hebrew s'res, in days of old, Beheld Jehovah’s face, And still Jehovah’s hand upholds 1 The ancient Celtic Race. ’ Ashburton. F.P.O’R.

A TERRIBLE TALE OF THE SEA.

THREE DAYS WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER.

An official inquiry into the loss of the loss of the barque Ulster, of St. John’s New Brunswick, was concluded at Liver pool on April 10th, before the Stipendiar Magistrate, assisted by nautical assessors. The inquiry revealed a terrible story-of hardship and privation. The Ulster sailed from St. John’s on the 28th January last with a cargo of timber for Liverpool, and up to the Bth of February had fair weather and favorable winds. At mid - night on the Bth, however, the wind backed, and a heavy: gale commenced to blow. At daybreak the storm continued unabated, and the heavy seas shipped from time to time caused the deck to break adrift. Captain Bxans, the master of the vessel, thereupon got his crew to work at throwing the deck load over board, which was done until dark, the pumps meantime being kept going at every opportunity. The night having come on again, and the gale being un abated, the boat skids were broken by the seas, and two of the boats —the pinnace and the gig—as well as all the loose things about the deck were washed away. On the 10th the weather moderated, but the folk wing day another gale came on, and about 2 p.m. the binnacle and the wheel were carried away by a tremendous sea, which threatened to engulph the ship entirely. At 4 p.m., during a lull in the storm, the crew were able to go below and get some dinner ; but while they were so engaged, the ship was struck by a hurri cane frcm the north-west, which caused the main yard to break away, and threw the vessel on her beam ends, the port rail. being under water. At 6 p.m. the cabin door was burst in, and some of the men took to the rig ging. At daylight on the 12th _it was discovered that the steward was.miss-, ing, having probably been swept away from the rigging by the waves. Later on the swelling of the timber in the hold caused the hatches to burst open from below, and the vessel became waterlogged, 1 upon which the crew took refuge in the upper lazarette, where they remained helpless for six days, subsisting on pre served provisions, which they obtained by breaking through the bulk-head into the cabin. All that could be found to drink was a jar of fresh water. On the 18th the crew left the lazarette and took to the rigging ; but the raging sea swept away one man, an A.B. belonging to the Lon don, named Lindsay, and the intense cold and exposure caused another man named Anderson, a Norwegian, to die .in the rigging. The cook became delirious from the terrible priva tions to which he and all the others were subjected, and jumped into the sea in a fit of frenzy. For three days the un happy men remained clinging to the rigging of the waterlogged ship, having neither food nor water to sustain them, and their sufferings, being increased by the fact that two steamers were sighted, which, in spite of the signals made by. the despairing men, ; passed on without noticing them. On the 22ud February they were seen by the steamer Hipparcus, which took them off in her lifeboat and brought them to London. The above facts having been shown by the evidence, the Board of Trade Court, ■ in giving judgment on the 10th, exoner ated the master from all blame, attributing the loss of the ship to the terrific weather which prevailed in the Atlantic at the time. . ■

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1880.



MEMORANDA. — - AUCTION SALES. This Day. Matson, Cox, and Co., at the Timvald Yards Horses, Cattle, Implements, Harness, Ac. Sale at 12 o’clock sharp. Saturday, June 19. Jameson and Roberts, at Messrs. Robert Wilkin and Co.’, New Zealand Wool Stores, Hereford street, Christchurch— Farm at Dromore, containing 1,050 Acres. Sale at 12 o’clock sharp. Tuesday, July 6. EL F. Gray, at his salerooms, Temuka — Freehold Town Sections. Sale at 1 o’clock sharp. NOTICE OF PARTNERSHIP. MATSON, COX, & CO. Messrs, h. matson & co. having taken Mr. C. PERCY COX, who has lately been acting as their agent at Ashburton, into partnership, their business at Ashburton will for the future be conducted under the management of Mr. Cox, under the style of MATSON, COX, & CO., And they hope by erecting large business premises, and thus giving increased facili ties to their clients, to merit and obtain a fair share of the business hitherto so liberally accorded to them by the public. MATSON, COX, & CO., Ashburton. June Ist, 1880. 936 g MATSON, COX, & CO. will hold Fortnightly Sales of Stock at Ashburton and Tinwald alternately. Next Sale at TINWALD, TUESDAY, JUNE 22nd. 910 g MATSON, COX, & CO. NOTICE TO FARMERS. fjpiHE undersigned will be prepared to treat with farmers and others in Ashbur ton, every Wednesday and Saturday, for the PURCHASE of GRAIN, or SHIP MENT on ACCOUNT of GROWERS. JOSEPH CLARK. February 28, 1880. 550g* W. WHITE, CONFECTIONER AND BAKER, SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, ASHBURTON, BEGS to announce that he has taken the business lately carried on by Edward Taylor, Baker, Ac., Saunders’ Buildings, and trusts by supplying a first class article at a moderate price, to merit a continuance of public support. Best Bread, 41b. Loaf, sd. Cash, Delivered. 928g-550c NEW BILLS. ffIHS following NEW BILLS now be | fore Parliament are ON SALE at the office of this paper : —Bills of Ex change Procedure, S. ; Marriage, 9d. ; Juries, Is. 3d. ; Deaths by Accident Com pensation, Gd. ; Cruelty to Animals, (id. ; Building Societies, 9d. ; Animal’s Protection, 6d. ; Adulteration Prevention, 6d. ; Aliens, 6d.; Mercantile Law, Is. ; Banks and Bankers, 9d. ; Married Women’s Property Protection, Gd. ; Chat tels Securities, 6d. ilso the first No. of Hansard, price Gd., and the following Parliamentary Papers . —Despatches from the Secretary of State to the Governor of New Zealand, 2s. Gd. : papers relative to the Prospectus of the German Maritime Trading Company, 3d.; Annual Report of the Otago University, 3d. ; Despatches from the Governor of New Zealand to the Secretary of State, 2s. Gd. ; Treaties of Commerce, Is. Gd ; Papers referring to the French Convicts from New Caledonia, 9d., &c., &c. TO HOTELKEEPERS AND OTHERS. WE have been supplied by the Go vernment Printer with a Stock of BILLS now before Parliament, with a view to supplying those who desire intelligently to follow the debates in the House. The first instalment com prises the batch submitted by the Statutes Revision Commissioners and THE HEW LICENSING BILL. Price —2s. Each. WEEKS AND DIXON ADVERTISEMENTS received for the GUARDIAN up to 9 p.m, at the scale charges, afterwards at double rates for insertion over the leader



“ Have you any objects of interest in the vicinity % ” the tourist asked the Bur lington man. “ I have ! I have ! ” eagerly replied the other ; “ but I can’t get at it to show it to you. It’s a ninety day’s note, and it’s down in the bank now, drawing interest like a horse-race or a mustard



A Farmer in Fifesliire had occasion one day to send his man on some business to a neighbouring farm. On his arrival there the goodwife, with her usual hospi tality, had him supplied with a substantial repast of cold bacon and oatmeal cakes. The bacon being more of a rarity than the oatmeal in any form, he confined his operations exclusively to it. The good woman, on observing this, again recom mended the bread to his notice, when he replied with great energy, “ Ka, faith, no, mistress, this is strong eneuch without bread,”