COMMERCIAL.

Messrs. Davies and Winter report ;—We held our first weekly general sale, in our new auction room, on Saturday last. There was a good attendance, and we quitted most of our entries, comprising—wheat, oats, barley, furni ture, potatoes, and onions, and the balance of Miss Wood’s drapery, at very fair values, per sons present expressing themselves highly pleased that a weekly sale of this character should be established here—it being our inten tion to hold this sale every Saturday at two o’clock. We quitted about 600 bushels barley at is., 375 bushels oats at is. 3d., 25 bushels wheat at is. qd., sacks 6d. About a ton of potatoes at 4s. per bag. Onions id. per lb. Hand chaff-cutter, 425. 6d., and a quantity of drapery at prices at a considerable advance on former sale.

MEMORANDA.

This Day.

Borough Ccuncil Election. Hours of Polling, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m,

Wakanui Road Board,

Special Meeting, at 2 p.m. High School Board,

Special Meeting, at 11 a.m,

Caledonian Society

General Meeting of Members, at 7 p.m,

Ashburton Library. Quarterly Meeting of Members, at 7.30 p.m.

Thistle Masonic Lodge.

Emergency Meeting, at 7.40 p.m., in the Masonic Hall. Public Meeting.

Public Meeting of Householders at Wakanui, at 7p. m., in the Schoolroom.

Amateur Dramatic Club.

Mrs. Thompson’s Benefit, Town Hall.

Bankruptcy Meexino. Meeting of Creditors in Risely Bros. Estate, at Messrs. Friedlander’s office, at 2 p.m. Friday, September 10. Meeting of Masons. Emergency Meeting, Masonic Hall, at 7.30.

MARRIAGE.

Harrison—Watt. —On the 7th Septem ber, 1880, at All Saints’ Church, by the Rev. A. R. Fitchett, Alfred, second son of the late Allen Harrison, Esq., H.M.C., London, to Mona, second daughter of I. N. WaH, Esq., R.M.; Dunedin. 856c-207g

The Ashburton Guardian. COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1880.

At first sight, looking over the list of measures introduced, abandoned, and passed by Parliament this session, one is inclined to cry out against the barren ness of the time spent by our representa tives. Scarcely a newspaper in the colony has omitted to make the “ barrenness of the session ” the sub ject of a jeremiade, and the refrain has followed a defence and commendation of the Government, and the denuncia tion of those opposed to it; or a lauda tion and justification of the Opposition, with an accompanying tirade against Go vernment ; according to the political color of the journals taking up the cry. At first sight, we say, the session looks barren. Measures expected by the people, promised to them, and looked upon by them as what must be within a short space of time and ought to have been now, are absent from the list of things accomplished. But, notwith tanding, examination shows that the session has not been so barren as it seems. True, much time has been wasted in useless talk that might very well have been done without, but the New Zealand Parliament has not yet reached the standard of the House of Commons, and until it does so we must be content to bear with the over fondness for oratory which so many of our members —from the leaders to the humblest followers —display. The local Board element, with all its “ our district ” notions, is still strong in both Houses, and till the colony grows older and its power and influence expand with its growth, bringing with it to the constituents of the House of Repre centatives a more liberal political educa tion, we must be content, looking upon the colony and its legislators, with the

reflection that both are yet young, and that “ as the man is, so is his strength.” Yet in the midst of much time frittered away there has been work done, and good work, too. Parliament has begun to learn that the colony cannot live always on borrowed money, and that a country’s business must be conducted on the same principles that regulate the business of a-private individual—viz., with a view first to make both ends meet, and after that to work to profit. Gorged with the wealth of the English money-lenders the country has been taught a bad lesson difficult to unlearn, and has contracted bad habits that must be got rid of. The continual feast of fat things of the past ten years has tended to blind its eyes to the nearness of the time when the bill for these should be presented, and to the question of how the bill was to be met. The Treasurer’s account of his chest has given the colony a rude awakening, the report of the Civil Service Commission has brought it face to face with the know ledge of how great an army of officials has to be supported; the Local Industries Commission shows how little is done in the colony in the way of production to find work for busy hands that are now idle, and shows at the same time how much may be done; while the Railway. Commission has brought vividly to our view that railway lines which were ; to be the making of our country and the de veloping of its resources fail To give a return at all equal to paying the rent of the money spent in their construction, and shows how wild and extravagant have been many of the railway projects of the past, and for the folly of which we have now to pay. The rail way report has come in. time, however, to enable Parliament to steer clear of projects not attempted,, but proposed, that would have been as unproductive and as great a waste of money as those already embarked in which are condemned. All these re ports have their lessons, and with pockets touched by fresh taxation, the colonists and their representatives will be quickened to learn. Experience teaches fools, and bought experience is the most valuable. We contend that the costly lesson the colony has learned in the session just closed, and the one that preceded it—a lesson that was being prepared by an austere teacher while the colony tumbled heedlessly on in its youth—will be worth more to it as a country in the future than we can well estimate at this period of its history. It will teach US' to cultivate the much wanted virtue of self-reliance, it will teach us not to accept as progress every work that is done in the colony unless we are fully assured that work is to be beneficial, and before we undertake it to satisfy ourselves that the assurance of its benefits is not simply the ipse dixit of those whose axe is to be ground by the undertaking. Those Commis sions’ reports ought to make us more careful, less visionary and more practi cal, to induce us to look more to ulti mate and actual /results than present promises, and to lead us to exercise a wider grasp of the present so that we may include therein more of the future.

Then, the work of the Native Com mission has not been barren. It has thrown light upon a question that was to a large proportion of the legislators, and to a still larger proportion of the colonists, a political skeleton in the closet; and, if the light so thrown will enable Parliament to approach nearer to this skeleton and ultimately and shortly effect its removal the reproach of the session’s barrenness will un doubtedly be past. The Parliament’s weakness has been from the beginning to the end too great a desire to legis late. An old printer in the Govern ment office used to say that, provincial and colonial, we had had forty square feet of laws in force and effete since the colony first began. This mass has been * considerably reduced, but still enough remains to be cumbersome, and even contradictory. The Revision of Statutes Committee has been at work on the codification of this, and surely it is no small thing gained when we are able to say that on many subjects on which there was a multiplicity of laws there is now only one. In fact, the best legislative work of the session was that done in approval of the Revision Committee’s work. The session has no gaudy measures of popular attractive ness to show; it has no statutes to point to passed in response to a popu lar cry, but after all it has not been altogether barren and unfruitful.

Horse Parade. —The Agricultural and Pastoral Association announce their in tention of holding a horse parade on the 28th of this month. The show will take place on the new grounds of the Associa tion.

The Old Railway Reserves. — The Commissioner of Crown Lands notifies that those reserves which were not sold at the auction held on the 24th of last month can be applied for on Thursday, 7th October next. The Borough Reserves. —At auction on Tuesday by Messrs. Matson, Cox, and Co., of the Borough Council’s reserves, the only business done was the letting to Mr; R. Jeffs of the Hinds farm, of 422 acres, at an annual rental of 7s. per acre for the first seven years, and 14s. per acre for the second seven. The two sections in Park street were let to Mr. James Bradley for L 7 10s. per annum. Practical Appeal. The Timaru School Committee have resolved to re quest the parents of children to pay one shilling per head per month towards in cidental expenses, provided that the total amount paid by any parent dues not ex ceed 2s. Cd. If this is not done, the Com mittee cannot carry on, owing to the re duction of the grant by the Board. The school has over 1,000 pupils. Tenders Accepted. —On Monday a meet in" of the Upper Ashburton Board was held to open tenders for works, when the following were accepted ' —Metalling 100 chains on Remxnington road—John Black, at 9.Vd. per yard ; metalling 100 chains, Ben'Ede’s road into Laghmor road—C. Shepherd, at 9d. per yard, with re-form in" at Is.; culvert on Remmington road —George Lee, Ll 9 155.; 3£ miles forma tion, Westerfield Township—Parr Pater son, at 3s. 3d. per chain ; li miles re forming and metalling near same Chas. Shepherd (re-formation, 2s. 4d. per chain ; metalling, 9d. per yard) ; picking stones, Hinds River road to Rangi tata traffic bridge —J. Leaske, B|d. per chain (not Bid., as stated elsewhere) ; skim ploughing and metalling cross road - opposite Greenstreet —Donald Forbes, ploughing Is. per chain, metal ling, 9 id. per yard. Great South Road 80 chains formation—Parr Paterson, 3s. per chain. The Board had quite a day’s work before them in opening tenders, of which there was an unusually large num ber.

Marriage. —The marriage of Council lor Harrison to Miss Mona Watt, second daughteqof the Dunedin R.M., was cele brated in Dunedin on Tuesday.

Tenders. —ln another column will be found the invitation of the General Post Office, for tenders for the various mail services in the Canterbury district.

Tije Price or Gas. —We.learn that on and after the Ist of October, the price, of gas in Ashburton will be reduced to 18s. lOd. per 1,000 ft., and to consumers of over 10,000 ft., 17s. 6d. per I,oooft.

Soap and Candle Factory for Ra kaia. —Preparations are going on for the erection of soap-boiling works at R.akaia. One of the five-acre blocks has been taken up for the purpose, and already several truck-loads of plant have arrived from Christchurch.

The Rifles.— The Ashburton Rifles paraded on Tuesday evening last and were put through some batallion and company drill by Color-Sergeant Dolman, the Com pany’s drill instructor. The Corps is to be complimented on the state of efficiency to which it has arrived in . the twelve months of its existence. The muster on Tuesday numbered nearly thirty, all told.

And Yet Another. —We have received a copy of the first number of the Wailcato Mail, the latest journalistic offspring of Mr. Ivess, which bears evidence of the characteristic energy put forth by that gentleman in all the numerous progeny of which he proudly claims parentage. The advertising columns of the Mail look exceedingly healthy, while the literary portion of the journal shows that no small amount of trouble has been'taken to provide the settlers of Cambridge with, intelligence both of local and general in terest.

Licensing Bench. —Through some un explained cause, the only Licensing Com missioner on the Bench on Tuesday was Mr. Guinness, and in consequence the sitting of the Bench was adjourned until Tuesday next. As some of the hotelkeepers had come a considerable distance to be present on Tuesday, it was rather provoking to them to find that their errand had been fruitless, and the necessity of attending next week being requisite, through someone having blundered, or perhaps through the re quirements of red tapeism not having been complied with. The Dramatic Club. —Last night the Dramatic Club gave a performance in the Town Hall. The pieces represented were “ Going to the Races” and “ Nan, the Good - for - Nothing,” and, though the various performers wanted now and again a good deal of aid from the prompter, the pieces went with a certain amount of smoothness. To-night, when the pieces are to be repeated, of course the stiffness inseparable from a first production will disappear, and we will hear less of the prompter’s voice. Mrs. Thompson, who played the part of “ Nan” with great dash and spirit, takes her benefit to-night, when we hope to see a full house. Last night’s attendance was very meagre.

The Borough Election. —We are pleased to notice that a considerable amount of interest is being displayed in the election of three members of-the Borough Council, to be held to-day, to fill the seats vacated by the retirement of Messrs. Andrew Orr, G. St. Hill, and Weymouth Roberts. The two latter gentlemen seek re-election, and Mr. John Orr, Dr. Trevor, and Mr. Ivess are also candidates. It is gratifying to observe any manifestation of interest in the Borough’s after so much ap;.thy has been shown, and we trust that every resident in the Borough who possesses a vote will find his way to the Council Chamber and record his rote for the three gentlemen whom he thinks most fitted to represent the ratepayers. TJhe hours for polling are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fire Brigade. —The Fire Brigade held their usual monthly meeting last Tuesday. A goodly number of members were present, and Lieut. Dolman was in the chair. It was decided that the captain and lieut. arrange for the bell to be rung some night during next week, to test the attendance of members, the time to be taken. It was agreed that for the present only twenty members of the Brigade should be supplied with uniforms, the rest to be supplied with badges. Correspondence from England was read, enclosing invoices of goods ordered and shortly to arrive. Messrs. Jowsey, Felton, and Gates were elected members of the Brigade, and the meeting adjourned. Last night the men were practiced by Lieut. Dolman at hook and ladder drill at Quill’s Hotel. Chess—Timaru v. Ashburton. —Last Tuesday four members of the Ashburton Chess Club—Messrs. F. Guinness, E. G. Crisp, F. P. O’Reilly, and H. C. Jacob son—played at Timaru a match with Messrs. Vincent, Byrne, Gordon, and Taylor, members of the Timaru Chess Club. Each player played two games. Mr. Guinness, pitted against Mr. Vincent, won one game and lost one ; Mr. Crisp beat his opponent, Mr. Byrne, on the first game, but on the second, though playing a winning game, carelessly lost the ad vantage and the game ; Mr. O’Reilly succumbed to Mr. Gordon each time, through, as we think, want of practice ; Mr. Jacobson was unsuccessful with Mr. Taylor each game, though both games were fought out to the bitter end, with very little apparent advantage -bn either side. Thus Timaru won the match, winning six games and losing the two won by Messrs. Guinness and Crisp. The Timaru Club will visit Ashburton to play a return match in about a fortnight, when, at the least, Ashburton ought to be able to come out with a better result. We think this as Ashburton’s strongest player, Mr. R. Wilkin, was absent on this occa sion, and that Messrs. Vincent and Byrne, two of the Timaru best men, in full prac tice, were each beaten by Messrs. Guin ness and Crisp, who are, relatively speak ing, not in full play, Cambridge School Committee. —The usual monthly meeting of the Cambridge School Committee was held in the school room last Monday night. Present— Messrs. Megson (in the chair), Lloyd, Grayburn, and Margetts. The Chairman read the correspondence and explained the business done by him since the pre vious meeting, which was approved. The Chairman stated that he had received a reply from the Board to his letter regard ing a smoky chimney in the school, to the effect that the architect, Mr. Lambert, would be down shortly to see to it. The master’s report was read and considered satisfactory, although the at tendance had not been so large as it might, owing partly to the wet weather and partly to the distances the children had to come. Several children having been reported as absentees for several months, it was resolved, after some dis cussion, that the Committee write a letter to the parents warning them that if they still neglect to send their children to school the Committee will bo compelled to bring the compulsory clauses into force. Mr. Williamson handed over the balance of the proceeds of his lecture for the har monium fund, and stated that he intended giving another in a few weeks for the same object. Re the school closets, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Gray burn, seconded by Mr. Lloyd, that ten shillings per annum be paid to a neigh bor for doing the work when required. The Committee agreed to accede to the re quest (by letter) of the proprietors of the Ashburton Mail for a report of each meet ing of the Committee. The Chairman stated that since last meeting the school had received from the Education Board a set (4) of John stop’s natural history dia gram sheets, six pictorial geography charts, and one Bett’s portable globe and stand. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting adjourned, j

The Railway Employees. —Mr. Con yers arrived in Christchurch from Dunedin on Tuesday, and will be interviewed by a deputation from the employees. , The Unemployed. —Twenty: more/ bf • the unemployed applied at the Public Works Office, Christchurch, yesterday, but were informed that Government could not put any more on the railway works at present. I A Busy Day. —lf not an [important period in the history of Ashburton, there is every prospect of to-day being a-most busy time for the public men o!f the dis trict, as a glance at our memoranda will show. The borough election will doubtless keep; a numbfer)cjf citizens; engaged from Yearly, morii.'to, dewy ;eye : \ I’ meetings of the High School Board of Governors’ and the Wakanui Road Board are to be; held during the day; and a whole host of meetings are announced for the evening. Ligurian Bees. —On Tuesday Mi. Farr, in company with Dr. Irvine, 'examined the hive of Ligurian bees recently received by the Acclimatisation Society from San Francisco. The bees were found to be in excellent condition, only a small per centage having ,died. The queens par ticularly were in capital ( health, and Dr. Irvine’pronouned the swarm to be splen- - did specimens of the Ligurian Bee. A special meeting of the council of the Accli matisation Society was held on Tuesday, to decide as ,to the disposl of the bees.— Press. ' South Rakaia School Committee.— This Committee held its usual ''monthly meeting on Tuesday. Present—Messrs. v Tucker (chairman). Sharp,,Gpx, Hartnall,. apef Makei». The' Chanfm|m read the cortespontleiice, dutwarcl "and 1 inward, neither of which was very iniportant.. The master’s report was read.., -The master complained that Mrs. Hogan was not doing the sweeping of the school room satisfactorily ; upon which it was resolved that Mrs. Hogan be informed that if the work be not properly per formed the Committee will employ, some one else to do it. Some discussion took [place 'with referepce to the occupation of the grounds about the school. ; It was ultimately resolved that the schoolmaster be informed that all moneys accruing from letting or grazing on the school re serve must be handed to the Board, and that he.be requested to furnisfy the Com mittee with a’ return of all moneys re ceived from that source during his occu pation. Accounts to the amount of L 3 'Bs. were passed for payment, and. the Committee adjourned.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of . the .Horticultural. Society was held on Tuesday, at which there was blit a' small attendance'.' - Mr. Stephenson occupied the chair. Accounts wete.passed for payment to the amount of L6i6s. 3d. Mr. Sealey, who had promised to read a paper, was late in arriving, and; mean-- while the’members present occupied their time in conversing on the best method of sowing various kinds of seed. Some dis cussion was carried on relative to the best method of sowing onion seed, the prevail ing opinion being that the seed should be first trodden or beaten in, and then lightly raked, and that the same piece of land, should be kept for onions only. Mr. Sealey having arrived, read a paper ap fol lows, on general observations on flower gardening :—The cultivation of flowers being the most popular branch of garden ing, I make these remarks in the hope that they may prove useful hints. to ama teurs. Soil. —Ground intended for an nuals or any class of flowering plants, whatever the nature of the soil, should be well broken up and liberally manured. Where the soil is heavy or very retentive, a free admixture of rough sand or road scrapings will be very beneficial; where too light a portion of loose clay may be added fwith advantage. The most useful soil for the raising of seeds in pots is a compost of two parts rich, well-decayed leafe mould or soil from an old hot bed, one part fibrous loam, and one part coarse sand ; mix well before using. In prepar ing pots it is necessary that ample drain age should be provided. For this purpose they should be filled one-third of their depth with pieces of broken pots, and these slightly covered with moss, or some fibrous substance, filling in with soil. Situation. annuals, &c., it will be well to bear in mind that the more tender kinds should be planted in warmer situations, their brilliancy of color and habit of growth being greatly influenced by the nature of the soil or aspect in which they are placed. Phloxes, zinnias, verbenas, &c., cannot possibly have too much sun, and will not come to perfection in the shade, whilst ariculas, polyanthus, and most of those requiring a stiff loamy soil will thrive best in.shady situations. Arrange ment and Contrast of Color. —ln arranging flower beds or borders, the dwarfer kinds of annuals, &c., should be placed in the front, the taller varieties in sucession in the back ground, so that the whole may present a gradually sloping surface, and their distance apart must be so regulated that they are all fully exposed to : the sun and air—their brilliancy and effect'depend ing much on this and the harmonious arrangement of colors. • Never place two patches of similar color in close proximity, but contrast one color with another of corresponding intensity—as orange with purple, scarlet with blue, and light rose or pale blue with white. As white con trasts well with almost every shade of color, it cannot be too frequently intro duced to relieve and vary the intensity of the more brilliant rarities. Mode of Solo ing.—The simplest and perhaps the best plan is to sow in shallow furrows in circles of from nine to twelve inches in diameter or in rows or drills, their distance apart to be regulated acjord ing to the height of the plants when fully grown. When this is done in dry weather, an excellent plan is to fill the furrow with water and allow it to settle before sowing, carefully r covering the sides with the soil removed by the opera tion and pressing down firmly with the back of a spade. Nasturtiums, lupins, sweet pea, etc., may be..covered to the depth of one inch, while smaller seeds, such as mignonette, require but a very slight covering. Lobelia, and other very small seeds, should be thinly scattered on the surface and gently raked in. Many of the hardy annuals may be sown broad cast in beds or patches in waste places, aud have a very pleasing effect. When sown in autumn for spring flowering, an excellent method is to sow them in drills in any vacant pie.ce of ground, and after wards transplant as vacancies occur in the clumps beets or borders. Transplanting should always be done in the moist cloudy weather ; but should it be hot or sunny, seed beds, pots, etc., should have a liberal watering before being removed, ; taking care not to let the young roots or fibres get dry by too long exposure to the sun and air. Water after planting, and shade from the sun till the plants are established. Thinning out. —Hardy annuals, etc., when sown where intended to flower, ..should be carefully thinned out, to admit (he’air and light necessary for their vigorous growth, as soon as the young plants can be fairly handled. To be successful, amateurs can not be too strongly impressed with the importance of this. Annuals wlpchjgrdw to a foot high, and those of’S'spreading habit, should be thinned out to four or. six inches apart; in taller varieties the distance must be regulated by the'height of the plants where they are full grown. Watering. —All seeds when sown should have a gentle watering with a fine rose watering pot, and on no account should they be allowed to become dry when germination has once commenced, plants in pots should only bo watered as often as jthe soil becomes dry, and not daily or periodically, regardless of the

state of dryness, as is erroneously prac tised by some amateurs, to the permanent injury, and sometimes destruction, of the plant. The value and importance of fre quently stirring the surface of the soil cannot be over-estimated in its results to growing plants, whether in pots or open ground. The slight admission of air to the roots thus obtained is highly beneficial in promoting healthy growth. In most kinds of annuals, &c., the time of flower ing may be considerably lengthened by picking off the seed-pods when the flowers are past their best, or beginning to decay. This prevents the plants ripening seed, and induces a continuance of blooming and vigor. By the means of annuals, our gardens can be kept gay with beautiful flowers for five or six months in the year, and the labor bestowed will be amply re turned by the enjoyment of their pos session.

In reply to a question, Mr. Sealey said that hardy annuals could be sown in autumn. They would then flower early in the spring, and after that a succession should be kept,up. Mr. Poyntz gave notice of motion that when the number of papers read had reached six, they should be printed in pamphlet form, and sold to the public. . It was resolved that the question of con tinuing the monthly meetings during, the summer, be brought up at the next meet ing. A vote of thanks to Mr.' Sealey for his paper was unanimously carried. Mr. Simmonds promised to read a paper at the next meeting, and the meeting ad journed. «

MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was held at the Road’ Board office, Mount. Somers, oh Monday, Sept. 6th, 1880. Present —Messrs. W. C. Walker (Chairman), D. Cameron, L E. Taylor, and A. E. Peache. The following cor respondence was read : ..From Mr. William Reynolds, request ing the Board to re-form and metal the road fronting his section.—Granted. From the Ashburton County Council, re the site of pound. The Surveyor was repeated to make a re-survey, and to in form the Council of the result. ■

From the same, enclosing a copy of resolution passed by the Council re the Mount Somers Railway. From the same, enclosing account for half cost of construction of bridge ever the South Ashburton.—The Clerk to reply that, owing to the bank book not being to hand, the Board must defer the payment of their share until next sitting.

From the County Engineei’, with refer ence to the approaches to Taylor’s stream bridge, and other matters.—The Surveyor stated he had had the necessary work done as requested by the Enginer. Prom the Chief Surveyor, re gravel reserves in the district.—The Surveyor to send a list of sites suitable for the above purpose. A petition was received from Mr. Alex. Howson and seventeen others, asking the Board to complete the contract on Hew son’s road. —To be reported upon. From Mr, Thomas Simpson and seven others, urging upon the Board the neces sity for forming a road from section 5288 to Graham’s road.—To be reported upon.

A circular was received from Mr. A. Simpson, re stationery, etc. An account from Mr. J. Ivess was re ceived. —The Olerk was instructed to apply to Mr. Ivess for an explanation. The Surveyor’s report was read and considered. It was decided to invite ten ders for Fords and repairs on the West Coast road ; metalling 100 chains, more, or less, Reynold’s road : making cutting at Macfarlane’s terrace ; and for a valuer for the district, in accordance with the Rating Act, 1876, Amendment Act, 1879.

The Surveyor was directed to have a plough furrow drawn on the different roads' in No. 1 Ward, to guide travellers where the roads are unformed. The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr. Gerard, and also to the Chief Surveyor, with reference to the survey of a road round the Black Mountain.

Tenders were opened, and one ac cepted, for each of the following works : No. 21, Alford Forest road, Hewson and Cook, L 25 ss. 4d.; No. 22, Sawmill road, Jas. Ross, L4O; No. 23, Tramway road, Donald Forbes, L 9. No tender was accepted for No. 24, Black Mountain track, owing to their being too high. Mr. Walker resigned his seat as Chair man, expressing it as his opinion that the Chairman of the Board should reside in the district. He thanked the Board for their kindness in requesting him to con tinue to act as their Chairman at a pre vious meeting, but thought it advisable that the Chairman should live near the Board’s offices. Mr. Taylor proposed, and Mr. Cameron seconded, that Mr. Peache be Chairman. Mr. Peache thanked the Board for the compliment - paid him and consented to act in that capacity. The paysheet, amounting to L 330 Is., having been passed for payment the Board adjourned.

LONGBEACH ROAD DISTRICT.

The usual monthly meeting of the Long beach Road Board was held on Monday last. Present—-Messrs. Grigg (chairman), Chapman, and Dawson. surveyor’s report.

The Surveyor’s report was read as fol lows :

I have the honor to report that with regard to the works recently authorised by the Board — i, Rangitata Cutting i j satisfactorily com pleted, and notwithstanding the extra cost entailed by the diversion of the road line, and authorised by the Board, at a less sum than my original estimate. If at any future time this cutting is found to be too narrow or steep it can be enlarged or regraded, and the work now done will be so much to the good.

3. Loioer Beach Road. — The timber bridge has been erected on this road over the creek next to Mr. James Moore’s farm. The wood work at the hole washed away by water is in posi tion, an 4 the work of filling up the hole with clay and gravel is in hand, and will be finished in three or four days. The small outfall drain at Williams’ corner is also finished, and will prevent the flooding of the road at that point. j. Islesworth Road. —The shingling of the part of this road from Boundary road towards the railway station is done, only there are still a few of the stones composing the shingle larger than the specified size; these will now be broken by the contractor. The side drains on, and re-formation of the 46 chains next Isles worth station have been completed in a really creditable manner. The effect of tire work done at this place is to change an irregularly formed and swampy piece of road into a well drained, level, and shingled road at the very small cost of per chain. 4. Concrete Culverts. —The culverts, with concrete abutments, on Boundary and Osborne’s roads are erected, and the one on Graham’s road is in hand. This latter culvert would also have been finished now, only for the delay caused in the timber required for bearers not being procurable for some time, g. Boundary Road. —The outfall and side drains for this road will be finished in about a week, but are now in a serviceable state should any flood occur. 6. Ford's Road. —Owingtothe very wet state in which the sides of this road were, and the stiff nature of the' clay, the contractor for the side ditches has applied for an extension ol his con tract time, and I would beg to recommend that he be given another month to finish them in. 7. Gorse Planting . —By your authority I , have had gorse plants carefully planted in the fence round these grounds. 8. Davison's Road.—hit. Huston offers to make the ford decided by the Board to be formed on this road at Mr. White’s farm for L 6 ios., and to deepen the side ditch at is. per chain. This I consider to be a very reasonable offer, but it is as much as enlarging the present culvert would have cost.

9. Crow's road. —Tenders for the side drain on Crow’s road will lie placed before you to day. 10, Road to Ealing. —The road line from the coiner of R. S. 27957 to Ealing railway

station, the formation of which was asked for by Messrs. Jackson and Sweeney Bros, is about three and a-half miles in length, is quite level, dry,; and free from large stones. It is not at all likely that i( will be fenced in on both sides, but the question now arises as to what is the boundary line of this district — whether it is the original line laid out for the railway or the line as formed. If the former, then there is only one mile of this road line in this district; and if the latter, the maps of this district do not show all the road. Mr. Sweeney, who was on the ground, said that all that was really required was a direct road to the station, for at present, owing to the boun dary fence between the Coldstream and Maronan rivers, a detour of a mile has to be made to get round the fence, and if this direct line was opened, and the tussock chipped off it, he would be satisfied. The chipping and burning of the tussocks would cost about is. per chain the full width of the road. 11. Great South road. —Mr. Stalker com menced the work of placing new culvert on this road, for irrigation purposes, on Friday last. 12. Crossings. —l have been applied to for the timber to make a crossing over the side drain of boundary road by Mr. Dalton. I would also beg to recommend that small timber crossings be .placed at the approaches to Messrs. Gardiner and Hawkins’ places, over the side channel on the Longbeach road. 13. Fencing. —l inspected the places and made enquiries with regard to Mr. Robert Anderson’s complaint. What he wants is that this gravel reserve be fenced off from his land, and he says that this was part of the agreement made at the time the Board bought the land from him.

14. Ashton Cottages . —-I have received an offer from a ratepayer to purchase one of the immigration cottages at Ashton, and would advise that both of them be sold, as they are useless for the purposes they were originally in tended. '

13. Waterton Diainage. —Seeing by the report of the Ashburton County Engineer, as published, that that., gentleman , v does not , approve of the 'Waterton drainage scheme which I ’had the lienor to propose for. your consideration at • last meeting, and that he estimates the cost at L 2,000, 1 would beg to state that I cannot agree with him in that amount, and in order to show that I did not wish to lead either this Board or the Ashburton County Council into any unnecessary expense, I submit the following figures as my estimate of the total cost:— Earthwork —Four* miles 36 chains in length by 3 feet deep by an average width of lift. 6in,, gives cubic yards of excavation, at sd per cubic yard—L62s 9s. 4j£d. Of this gross amount, quite one-sixth of the work is done, reducing the above amount to L 521 4=. 5j4d., and even of this latter net amount a landowner has stated his willingness to do 14 chains of the work ior nothing ; but of this I take no notice. Then, so far as I know, there would be three irrigation stank; required at 10s. each, and, say, ten stanks in stream, to decrease amount of fall, at s*. each. Allow for thirteen floodgates, at 20s. each; a new bridge over the Lower Beach road, L 25; shifting a bridge on Waterton road, Lio ; and enlarging one on Daw=on’s road, Lio, and this gives a total of LSB3 4s. sj£d., or Li 123. qd. per chain. The term, “ wholly artificial,” ap plied by me to this work, was meant to dis tinguish it from using or following any crooked beds of creeks or watercourses, for the gorse fence drain at present in existence I certainly •would utilise, but it is also wholly artificial. The land required, I have every reason to be lieve, would all be given by the owners. There would be no severance of small or large pieces of land, as I followed the line of a boundary fence, and for that same reason there would be no field crossings required. As for the in sufficient culvert accommodation at the Water ton Hotel, that is a fact already well known to the Board, and the subject of enlarging the present, or even placing a second culvert across the main Waterton road was discussed by the Board on the 21st of last October, bat action in the matter was postponed, pend ing some permanent scheme for the diversion of the water being carried out. I would lastly wish to point out that the pro posal of Mr. Baxter to spend L4OO over 250 chains, and which I am glad to see the Council has adopted, is at the rate of only ninepence per chain less than my estimate.

W. Cuthcert, Surveyor

Clauses I, 2,3, 4,5, 6,7, and 11 were approved of. Clauses 8 and 9—Mr. Huston’s offer was considered very reason able, but the Board decided that they could not accept any offer for this ford or the drains on Crow’s road from want of funds. Clause 10—A plough furrow is to be run along each side of the road line, and the Surveyor is to take steps to have the next direct road line opened up. Clause 12—The three crossings recom mended were decided to be given. Clause 13—The Surveyor was desired to maintain the front fence, but the Board did not see the necessity of fencing all round the gravel reserve. Clause 14 —The offer received was considered to be too little. Clause 15—The Chairman stated that from a conversation he had had with Mr. Baxter, he could see that that gentleman quite miasunderstood the Surveyor’s drain age project, as Mr. Baxter did not think.the Surveyor meant to follow or utilise the gorse fence drain. WATERTON. Correspondence was then road from Mr. P. O’Shannasy, asking for some better drainage accommodation at fie Waterton Hotel. The Surveyor was desired to remedy the defective drainage, now that permanent relief was about to bo afforded by the County Council. WARD QUESTION. A letter of advice was read from the Board’s solicitors on the subject of the severance of a part of the district, or, its division into wards. The Clerk was de sired to write to the Government, reply ing to the petition for severance, and opposing it. RESIGNATION. From Mr. Joseph Clark, resigning his seat on the Board. The Board expressed its very great regret at losing Mr, Clark’s services. The resignation was accepted. BOUNDARY ROAD. From Mr. D. McLennan, objecting to to floodwater being diverted from Ede’s creek on to his land, and threatening to close up the outfall drain. The Surveyor was directed to explain that no water diversion was being done, nor would his or any other property be injured by the Board’s work. GREAT SOUTH ROAD. From Mr. R. Little, asking ' that the Great South road, near Hindhope, may be metalled, and the crossing at the Hinds river made easier. Clerk to reply that the Board had no funds at present. ASHBURTON BRIDGE. From the Ashburton County Council, referring' the Assistant Railway Engi neer’s memorandum, asking that the ap proaches to the Ashburton bridge may be shingled, to this Board for its informa tion, as far as the southern approach was concerned. The Board had already re solved that no work should be done in in that locality until the question of severance was settled. PAY SHEET.

After some minor matters had been discussed the accounts were examined and .passed for payment, so far as the funds of the Board would permit. The meeting then adjourned.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES’ COURT.

Tuesday, September 7.

(Before Mr. F. Guinness, R. M.) CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Robert Todd was charged with cruelly ill-treating a horse. A. O. Aitken remembered being at the railway station on the 14th August, and seeing the defendant in charge of a team. He lost his temper, and kicked the shins of one of the horses. He caught hold of the tongue of the other horse, and twisted it round, pressing the tongue against the bit. Mr. Dunn, who was present with witness, cautioned the accused. He made no reply. By accused I understand driving horses, and know the amount of punish ment which a horse .should get. Did not see any mark on the horse. You wer§ ill-treating the horse for (wo or three minutes, _ } | SSS

J. MacLeau Dunn remembered the day in question, and was in company with Mr. Aitken, and saw the accused in charge of a wagon and team of five horses. Saw three of the horses bolt/, and be caught by a lad. Accused tried to back the wagon up to the railway shed with the two horses remaining. He did not seem to have full control of the horses, and they did not readily obey him. He kicked both horses furiously on the chest, knees, and shins, and one of the horses he held by the tongue while he made it back.

Accused said one of the horses was young arid a bit stubborn, and he did not ill-use the animals much. Was a perfectly qualified driver. His Worship said the offence had been clearly proven, and accused’s experience only aggravated the offence. Kicking a horse’s shins might seem to accused to be a very effective way of getting a horse to back, but it was a very cruel one. He would be fined LI, with expenses of wit nesses, LI each, and costs of court.

The witnesses intimated their intention of giving the expenses to the tobacco fund of the Old Men’s Home.

BY-LAW OPTEJfCES.

F. P. O’Reilly, who was charged with a breach of the Borough By-Laws, pro tested against the service of summons which had been made last Court day. He had been summoned at eleven o’clock to appear at ten o’clock the same morning. Sergeant Felton said that the fact of Mr. O’Reilly appearing on last Court day was sufficient evidence that the summons had been properly served. Mr. O’Reilly denied having appeared to the summons,’ but consented to go on with the case now.

The alleged offence was for riding across the footpath opposite the Court House. Sergeant Felton said , that on Friday last he had cautioned Mr. O’Reilly not to ride across the footpath near the Court House. Mr. O’Reilly desisted from going across the footpath at the time, but at a later period of the morning, the accused had ridden across the footpath in Moore street in defiance of the warning both of himself and the printed notice posted up. Mr. O’Reilly was summoned for riding across the footpath in West street. By accused—ldo not know that you were not going across the footpath. You were riding across to meet me on purpose to speak about a client of yours. I said “ Don’t ride across the footpath, or I will summon you.” In reply to a question, I told you that you had time to go to the railway station, and in going there you rode across the footpath. William Browm, foreman of the Borough Council, said that the footpath at the cor ner of West and Moore streets was cut up a deal with people riding and driving over it. There -was a printed notice there cautioning people not to cross the foot path. The notice was signed by the Mayor.

Rudolf Friedlander said that com plaints had been made to the Borough Council in consequence of the way the footpath had been cut up at the corner of Moore and West streets.

Mr. O‘Reilly, in defence, made a state ment to the effect that he had no intention of riding across the footpath on the first occasion. The Sergeant had certainly in a joking way given him a caution, but he did not think it was more than a joke.- He had subsequently ridden across the so-called footpath, but there was no foot path formed. In reply to a question from him, the Borough Solicitor had laughed at the idea of any action being taken for riding across such a place. By the police—The making of the foot path is not within my memory. Mr. O'Reilly argued that it was ridiculous to call such a place a footpath ; and, moreover, the by-law provided for cases where offences were committed wil fully, and he did not know that the place was a footpath, in fact, he did not know it was a footpath now. His Worship said the principle involved was whether there was any lawful excuse. It was necessary to prove that the offence was committed wilfully, and without lawful excuse. This the prosecution had failed to do, and he would dismiss the case. Sergeant Felton said it was evidently not necessary to bring forward two other similar cases. Mr. Pearson, who was charged with riding across a footpath had said he was going to see a party. His Worship wanted to know whether crossing a footpath to see a person was not a lawful excuse.

In that case, the Sergeant remarked that everyone would have a lawful excuse.

Alfred Pearson was charged with un lawfully riding across the footpath in Tancred street.

William Brown remembered seeing the accused cross the footpath. Mr. O’Reilly, for the accused, said there had been no evidence that a lawful excuse could not be given. Witness, recalled by the Bench, said that it was not possible for the accused to have got to the house without crossing the foot path. Hia Worship said that when a person crossed a footpath to get to certain pre mises, it would be necessary to show that the owner had neglected to apply to the Borough Council for a crossing. So long as it was not proved that a crossing had been applied for, there was nothing to prevent anyone from crossing the footpath to enter premises. His Worship said that in any information of a similar nature it would be necessary to state in the infor mation that no crossing had been applied for.

George Cates was charged on a similar information, with driving a horse and cart across the footpath in Moore street. William Brown, foreman of the Borough Council, gave evidence to seeing the ac cused cross the footpath in Moore street. The accused is in Messrs. Orr and Co.’s employ, and was taking bags to the store.

By the Bench—There is no crossing put across the footpath, but Mr. Orr has had notice to put in a crossing. By accused—There is a week’s work to repair the footpath. It could not be done in a day. I never told you that you could not pass the footway. You could not get to the store without crossing the footpath. Cannot swear that Orr and Co. have had an official notice served on them to put down a crossing. George Parkin, member of the Works Committee of the Borough Council, stated that Councillor Orr had been told to put down a or he would be prose cuted. Messrs. Orr and Co. had never applied to put down a crossing. By accused—Don’t think that it could be called telling Mr. Orr privately when he was told in the Council Chambers at a meeting of the Council. George Cates, the accused, said he had crossed the footpath and had done so in the execution of his duty, ■'

By the police—Don’t know whether my employers have any legal right to cross the footpath. By the Bench—The footway was cat up before I crossed it, and it would be hard to inflict a fine bn me for what other have done.

His Worship said that the accused had no excuse in this case. .. - , Mr. Cates thought it was a good excuse that he was acting in, the interest 6/his-employers. ' ■ ' 1 His Worship said that in this case ho wbhld inflict the minimum penalty of Is. DAMAGES. In the adjourned case of Cameron v. Boyle, an action for damages, which was heard at last Court day, his Worshi after quoting authorities, said that at the time the alleged injury was inflicted, the defendant was illegally trying to impound sheep, but as there was no damages per ceptible at the ‘ time, only nominal damages for Li would be given, with costs —total Lp gs. Baldwin v. Meynall.—Claim L 6 2s. 6d. Defendant applied for an adjournment for three weeks. Judgment was given for

plaintiff, but he would be granted a re hearing,if applied for. ■ Doherty v. Goffin.—Claim LI 16s, Judgment for amount and costs. To be paid in a month. Baldwin v. Holmes. Claim Ll 7 11s. 6d. Mr. O’Reilly appeared for the defendant, and objected to the claim, on the ground that the parties had not been sufficiently described. He ob jected to the hems described as “ refresh ments” and “ cash lent.” An adjourn ment wonld be asked for, so as to obtain the attendance of a witness. Adjourned, on payment of costs, to September 14. Lyttelton Times v. Eagle. —Claim L 5 18s. Mr. Ireland, for defendant, took objection tot he summons, on the ground that the plaintiffs were insufficiently described, nor their last known place of abode given. Mr. Zouch put in a written document, signed, “ W. Reeves, for the proprietors, Lyttelton Times," but this Mr. Ireland ob jected to, as it was not signed by the proprietors. His Worship nonsuited the plaintiffs, on the ground that their names' were not disclosed, nor their last place of abode given. Leave would be given to appeal.

THE BOROUGH ELECTION.

The correspondence that has been going on in the evening paper during the past few days on the subject of Mr. St. Hill’s and Mr, Ivess’s requisitions has been, to say the least of it, lively—too much so, on.the part of all concerned. We have made enquiries into the subject, and we are now able to lay the whole facts of the matter before our readers. From these' enquiries we find that both Mr. St. Hill and .his opponents are in the right, the one in spirit, the others in letter. The accusations brought against Mr. St. Hill, as will have been seen by those who have perused the corres pondence, were—first, that he was running in the same leash with Mr. Ivess for a seat in the Council, and had, so to speak, acted as Mr. Ivess’s agent in the affair of the requisitions; and secondly, that the line with which the signatures to those requisitions closed, “ and 50 others,” was, to be mild, apocryphal. Mr. St. Hill has already denied any con nection with Mr. Ivess, beyond what the requisition to that gentleman bears wit ness to—viz., that he would like to sea Mr. Ivess in the Council—a very innocent desire. Regarding the second accusation, one of “stuffing,” if we may so call it, it is here that the most severe charge is made against Mr. St. Hill, and is the one perhaps mast easily explained away, notwithstanding that “ Honest’s ” accusation is perfectly true in the letter though not in spirit. Mr. St. Hill explained to us that fifty signa • tures were certainly not attached to those requsitions, but quite that number of ratepayers had promised him, or those who are working for him, their support, though they did not care to have their pledges proclaimed in the newspapers. Mr. St. Hill is impulsive, and knowing that he had those pledges he was not careful to note the difference between a verbal pledge and a written signature. Here he made an error, and this error laid him open to “Honest’s” charges, which, as we have said, may be quite true in the letter, though not so in spirit. Mr. St. Hill is, we have said, impulsive, and when “ Honest ” attacked him so vigor ously, he replied with equal vigor, but with more temper than he need have dis played. Had he shown leas temper he would been able with a few words of calm explanation to have disarmed Honest’s” charge, and saved a considerable amount of ink-spilling, and. strong language. Regarding requisitions, pledges, and all the stock-in-trade of this kind of the electioneer, we fancy that too much weight altogether is attached to them. The requisition is a useful means of bring ing out a modest but quite willing candi date, and the. pledge is too , often given more to please and pacify for the time being a candidate or an agent, than to aid the former in gaining a seat. The ballot enables a mail to sign a dozen requisitions if he wishes, pledge to all and sundry, and yet prevent the deluded and trusting ones from finding out for certain whether the pledge was redeemed or broken. Thera never was an election yet, under the bal lot, in which some unfortunate unsucess ful one sadly but futilely compared his number of actual supporters with the list that lay on the table of his committee room, and purported to represent those whose promises of support to him- were supposed to be sure, and which fulfilled would have won him the election. Requi sitions like thosejpublished, over which so much bitter ink has been spilt, represent little more than the confidence of the can didates in their own return, but it has always to be borne in mind, that the ballot box, and that only, is the sphinx that can' read the future, and until that sphinx’s time comes, all prophecies are vain. The public is a peculiar Person. He is .easily gulled on some sides of his character, but in the main his eyes are open, and his mind clear. • .

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

{Per Reuter's Agency. ) London, Sept. G.

The match between the All England team and the Australians was commenced to-day. The Home team went in first to the wickets, and when the stumps were drawn for the day had lost eight wickets for 410 runs. Mr. W. Gv Grace scored 152 s run. The attendance was very large. The fielding of the Australians was ex cellent, and the weather throughout the day was very fine. A capital wicket .was pitched, and the ground ‘was in good order. Spofforth was absent.' In the House of Lords to-day, Bail Granville, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, took occasion to refev to the de bates which have taken place in the House of Commons on the subject of rejection by the Lords of the Irish Registration of Voters Bill. His lordship, in . the course of his remarks, said he desired to disavow any sympathy with the tenor of the speeches made by his colleague, Mr. W. B. Forster, Chief Secretary for Ireland, who had blamed the Lords for persisting in a course calculated to lead to the neces sity for a change in the English constitu tion.

Calcutta, Sept. 6.

Further intelligence has been received of the engagement between the British troops and Ayoub Khan in Candahar. Details show that General Roberts feigned an attack in full force on Ayoub’s en trenchments at Babawhir and Kabal. He succeeded in turning the enemy’s posi tion, when they found their retreat cut off by an overwhelming force in theii rear, by which they were completely 'routed. ■ Calcutta, Sept. 7. Intelligence has been received r from Candahar that Ayoub Khan is retreating with all possible speed along the road ia Herat, and is accompanied by Hassim Khan, and a large body of Heratee cavalry. AUSTRALIAN. (By cable from Reuter's Agency .) Melbourne. Sept. 7. Mr. Elsden succeeds Mr. Higginbotham % late Engineer-in-Chief. Melbourne, Sept. 8-- In the Legislative Assembly last night, David Gaunson was elected Chairman of Committees. Several Ministerialists pro tested against his election. Sxdnet, Sept. 7. The decision in the case against the Evening, News for contempt of Court- has been deferred.

THE ASHBURTON .''GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1880.



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