COMMERCIAL.

[by telegraph.] Dunedin, June 11. Prime beef, 255. per lOOlbs.; mutton, 2id.; good samples milling wheat, 3s. Bd. to 3s. lid.; fowls’ wheat, 2s. 6d. to 35.; oats, is. 3d. to Is. 4d.; malting barley, 3s. Gd. to 3a. 10d.; feed, 2s. 6d. to 35.; potatoes, L2 7s. Cd.; old hay, L 4; new eaten hay, L 3 ; chaff, L 3 ; straw, L2 ; bran, L 3 ; pollard, L 4 ; flour, LlO ; large sacks oatmeal, L 9 10s.; pearl barley, L2O; onions, 75.; cheese, sd. per lb.; bacon, rolled, lOd.; hams, Is.; sides bacon, lOd.

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST.

s. d. s. d. Butter, inferior to best J? lb 010 to I o

Eggs, dozen - - 110 to 2 0 Cheese, prime quality, 1? lb o 6)4 to o 6 Bacon, prime smoked, l?lb o o to o o Hams in cloth, t? lb - o o to o O Flour in bags, t? loolb 14 o to 00 Oatmeal, 25ft - 5 o to Q o Lard, lb - - - o 9 to o o

Messrs. H. Matson and Co. report on the live stock market, etc., for the week ending Thursday, June 10, as follows; At Addington, yesterday, 358 cattle, 6725 sheep and 138 pigs comprised the entry for the week’s supply. There was an average attendance with brisk competition throughout the sale, and in the sheep every line was disposed of at a slight ad vance on last week’s values. The cattle sale of yesterday was remarkably good as compared with late markets,, nearly every line being disposed of. Beef, of which there was a fair supply on offer, found ready buyers at about late rates, and in stores the bulk of our entry was disposed of at values, which though not high, were sufficient to establish the fact that the late severe depression existing in this particular class of stock is about to he removed. Our entries for the day comprised 209 head of cattle, 2899 sheep, and 95 pigs. On Tuesday, at the Ashburton Yards, we held our usual fortnightly sale, when a large number of sheep, cattle, and horses were submitted to public competition. 'We disposed of 1100 at from ss. Gd to lls. per head ; also several head of cattle and horses at full market values. In fact, taken as a whole, the sale mast be con sidered as the most satisfactory that has been held in the district for a considerable time past. On Saturday last we held our usual weekly sale of town and country proper ties. The audience was large, hut buyers scarce. The first property that had to fall to the ring of the hammer was a 99-acre farm, with large dwelling-house and improvements, in the occupation of Mr. W. Fleming, at Longbeach. After some competition it was bought in at Ll 3 per acre. A large number of Christchurch pro perties were also sold.

CHRISTCHURCH CORN EXCHANGE

The following is the report of the Christchurch Corn exchange for week ending Friday evening, the 11th inst. The market for all classes of grain still continues inactive. There is no material change to report in the value of cereals. The information as to the feasibleness of shipping oats to England is no chimera, as it is now confirmed from two different sources. Threshing operations are now being steadily proceeded with, and large quantities of grain are being shipped to Great Britain.

Wheat.—First class milling samples ■will command 3s. 6d. to 3s. 7d. per bushel f.o.b. in Lyttelton ; second quality, 3s. 4d. to 3s. 5d.; seed quality. 4s. to 4s. 6d. per bushel. Chick-wheat is still in large supply, with a sluggish demand, at Is. 9d. to 2s. 4d. per bushel. Oats.—Heavy milling oats are being enquired for, but prices are not altered for this quality. Barley. —There is no change to report in the value of this cereal. The market continues to be glutted with discolored and second-class malting, for which there is little or no demand. First-class malting will find buyers, but at a low figure. For the first-mentioned, Is. Gd. to 2s. 4d. is the quotation ; for the latter, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 4d. per bushel, according to quality. Potatoes —Business in this tuber is not of a very lively nature. They aro not, however, moving off slowly. The bulk of the transactions taking place are for forward delivery, 85s. to 375. 6d. per ton being the prices at which business is done. For immediate delivery, 255. to per ton is obtainable at railway stations within a radius of eight miles from Christchurch. In all cases sacks are extra. Grass Seed. —There is no business doing ; prices nominal. Cheese and Butter. —4d. to 4id. for the former ; 9d. to lOd. for the latter.

MEMORANDA. AUCTION SALES. This Day. Messrs. A eland, Campbell, and Co., at Westerfield Station —Horses, Cattle, Implements, &c. Sale at 11 o’clock. Alfred Harrison, at bis yards—Horses, Implements, Harness, &c. Sale at 12 o’clock. Tuesday, June 15. Matson, Cox, and Co., at the Timvald Yards Horses, Cattle, Implements, Harness, Ac. Side at 12 o’clock sharp. Saturday, Juye 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.

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1880.

The Licensing Bill now before Parlia ment, in whatever shape it may ultimately become law, has met as yet with but little opposition either in or out of the House. The hotel-keepers throughout the colony, noting the absence from the Bill of Local Option, eo far as that principle is likely to affect vested interests, seem to be content to let the measure take its course, and beyond one or two half-hearted remon strances against the family hotel licenses and the conditions of club licenses they appear to be comparatively apathetic on the subject. In their opposition to the family hotel license most right-thinking men will be with them ; and we are at a loss to fathom what object Government had in view in introducing into their Bill such a palpably dangerous element. There are too many boarding-houses in the colony now with a not over pleasant reputation for propriety amongst police circles, and we have no doubt, were a good many of these to obtain power to dispense intoxicating liquor to their boarders, there would be brought about a state of things not at all to be desired. The only good thing that could possibly be said for this license would be, that it may perhaps prevent men living in these establishments, who who drank for drinking’s sake, from going elsewhere to get drunk ; and having got drunk at home they would be saved the danger of going to bed in the gutter, as many of them do, after their skinful at a properly licensed bar. In a “ family hotel,” licensed under this new Act, a sot of the kind we have referred to would probably be bundled off to bed by his landlord, and the police cell would be deprived of a tenant. But there are great evils indeed impending the adoption of the family license, and we are glad to see that its adoption is being stoutly opposed in Parliament. Take, for instance, the of Ashburton. No one will for a moment assert that the resi dents within these town belts have not plenty of facilities for quenching their alcoholic thirst in the numerous hotels that already exist, or that there is any necessity whatever for increasing these facilities by empowering every hoarding house in the town that chooses to apply for a “ fomily hotel” license to sell liquor to bona fide residents within them. We do not for a moment mean to insinuate that such licenses would be abused by these boarding-houses. We would hope that our boarding-house keepersareabetter class of men, and would be perfectly trustworthy ; but still the facilities for drinking would be increased by such licenses, and that is not at all desirable. Then, again, there are boarding-house keepers in the colony,—many of them, too—who are not trustworthy; who would eagerly clutch at the opportunity for “shebeening” that the family hotel license would afford, and the result in all proba bility would be that a crop of midnight hells might spring up, and become as fruitful a source of blackguardism and crime as has ever yet been discovered. The fact of their being under police super vision is no guarantee against the mischief they would do. Regarding the club license, we cordially agree with the op position raised by the publicans against the exemption of these establishments from police supervision. We fail to see on what principle of fairness a club ought to be allowed exemption from police supervi sion while family hotels are not. The new Bill proposes to limit the sale of liquor in these “family” hotels to only bona fide members of the household, for such, we presume, permanent lodgers in a family hotel may fairly claim to be. The sale of liquor in a club is also re stricted to the members of it, but there is nothing to prevent a very large business being done among those who are only visitors to the family hotel and to the Club, and surely if police supervision is necessary in the one case, it is also neces sary in the other. We are glad to observe that the Dunedin publicans contend for the extension to the Club of this super vision, and also that the principle of local option should apply to it. They go further, and demand that wholesale licenses should only be granted after they have run the gauntlet of public opinion under the principle of local option. Taking the Bill as a whole, and without referring further to what we may consider its faults —and it is not free from faults—we look upon it as a measure of the most liberal and progressive tone on the subject of the Licensing Laws that has yet been at tempted by any Government. Parliament too, seem to be in earnest for licensing re form, and both-sides of the house seem to agree with the main principles of the Bill, more especially' with that of local option, which, with existing licenses exempt from its operation, seems to have thoroughly won popular favor, and on that head at least our teetotal friends may be credited with having scored a point.

New School District. —The bound aries of the proposed new school district of Hinds are published elsewhere. School Wanted. — The Winslow people are to hold a meeting to-night to see about getting a school established in the town ship. Remanded. —The case against Ben jamin Corrie for alleged sheep-stealing was called upon yesterday at the R.M. Court, and the accused further remanded till Tuesday. The Unemployed. —The unemployed in Christchurch have issued an appeal to the public for work, and urging that the soup kitchen only reaches one section of the people. The Committee invite sub scriptions. Tenders. —ln another column are given officially the prices of the various tenderers £jr the building of additions to the stabling at the Upper Ashburton Road Board office—Messrs Baker and Brown’s tender having been accepted, at L 55 ss. Road Closed. —Mr. W. B. Compton, Clerk to the Mount Hutt Road Board, notifies the closing from the 10th of June, of the road leading through sections 15380, 7325, 26683, 1324, and 7245, in the Mount Hutt Road District. The Ashburton County Waterworks Bill. —The Bill amending the County Waterworks Act of 1879 has been intro duced in the House by Mr. E. G. Wright, M. H. R., as also the Malvern Water-race Transfer Act, 1878, Amendment Bill. Vagrancy. Joseph Beirara was brought before his Worship yesterday charged with having no visible means of support, but on the application of Con stable Warring, the case was adjourned until Tuesday next. A Dust Storm. —Pedestrians whose duties or engagements led them forth into the streets" of Ashburton about nine o’clock last evening, were unpleasantly reminded of the fierce nor’-westers which passed over the township some eighteen months since, by the clouds of dust and strong wind which prevailed about that hour, and with more or less force all the night through. Accidents. —Yesterday Mr. Donald McLean, manager of the Lagmohr station, had the misfortune to sustain a very nasty accident on the bridge. Riding over, his horse slijiped on the damp timber of the bridge floor, and both horse and rider came heavily to the ground. Mr, McLean had his left shoulder dislocated by the fall, but he was able to ride to Dr. Stew art’s house, where the joint was sot.— While a young lad named Hepburn, be longing to the township, was driving the horse at a chaff-cutting machine at Leam ington, a few miles up the river, he got his footcaught in the cogs of a horse-power. The small toe was severed, and the others seriously damaged. Dr. Stewart thinks the whole fore part of the foot will require to be amputated. Railway Bicycle. —The Yankees are always ahead in matters mechanical. On Thursday we had an opportunity of witness ing one more step forward they have made. It was a bicycle intended for the use of railway inspectors of the way, and it is astonishing how easily a man astride this new kind of bicycle can get up “ steam” to a speed of from sixteen to twenty miles an hour. The legs of the rider having nothing to do in the act of propulsion, as is the case with the ordinary road bicycle, the whole work being done by the hands and arms, and the motion of the body is exactly the same as that in rowing. The machines will be found exceedingly useful to inspectors, who can now mount a bicycle and reach a distant working ground or weak spot in the line without having to wait the most suitable train. Drunk. —A man named Joseph Brown, charged with being drunk and disorderly, was brought before Mr. Guinness at the R.M. Court yesterday, and had nothing to say in defence of bad conduct. Constable Farmer gave evidence to arrest ing Brown outside the Eoj'al Hotel. There were several previous convictions against Brown, who on giving his Worship a pledge that he would immediately go to some work which he had in view outside the township, was let oft’ with a fine of 10s. or forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. The Assault Case. —Mr. Ireland, who appeared j-for the accused Mahoney in the assault case which was adjourned last Court day to allow of Constable Smart being present to give evidence, asked per mission from his Worship yesterday to put the complainant, Lucas, in the box for the purpose of asking him one question. Lucas having been sworn, in reply to Mr. Ireland, stated that he had never made any offer to Mahoney to com promise the case instead of bringing it into Court. The only thing which he had done was to render his account to Mahoney, and request a settlement. Constable Smart being absent at the Supreme Court sittings at Timaru, Mr. Guinness further ad journed the case until Tuesday next. Con. Croft. —Any of our readers who may have resided in Wellington, or have even passed through that city, will doubt less remember the irrepressible Cornelius Croft, whose untimely death has been announced in our telegrams. “ Con.” was one of the characters of the Empire City, and for many years past has been the premier bellman and billsticker of the place. Although addicted to an undue use of ardent spirits, Con. was of a good natured disposition, and had no worse enemy than himself. His abilities were of no mean order, and it is a sad pity that his educational attainments were not used in a way more conducive to his own inter ests, as well as to those of his fellow citizens. Some of the Wellington school boys, who found out that Con.’s know ledge of Latin was beyond their own, and perhaps equal to that of their tutors, were wont to engage the old man in a matter which was perhaps less honorable than ’cute. On special occasions, when a hard Latin translation had to be given into the schoolmaster next morning, and the evening was required by the lads for some recreation of a particular kind, Con. was interviewed by the boys, and for a half-crown would with ease reduce the difficult task to in telligible English, and the relieved urchin would only have to transcribe it into his own handwriting. Some very amusing stories are told of this ecentric individual. He had a keen eye to the ridiculous, and on one occasion, seeing an unfortunate fellow-citizen lying on his face in one of the by-streets, overcome by the heat' f the sun, or perhaps more likely with a too indulgent use of alcohol, Con quietly went up and posted a large bill, which he had with him, on the unconscious form of the inebriate, announcing that he would be put up that day for public auction. Pluck Rewarded. —Two Dunedin con stables, Townsend and Colhorne, have re ceived Ll.O each for their plucky conduct in capturing Butler. Sunday Trading. —The Christchurch R.M. yesterday again fined “ Wicked Marks” ss. for selling fruit on Sunday, and this time ordered him to pay expenses amounting to 255. Up.—The Auckland publicans have raised the price of beer to Gd. per pint. What will bo the rise on liquor in places like Ashburton, where the drinks all round are sixpence a drench. Infanticide. —The woman Matthews, who recently gave birth to a child on the banks of the Avon, the body of which infant was afterwards found in the river, has been committed for trial on a charge of infanticide. Mr. Joyce made an eloquent appeal on behalf of prisoner, rousing the Court to such a pitch of enthusiasm that . they applauded him. Great sympathy is felt for the accused.

Grass Specimens for Auckland.— Mr. James Farmer has forwarded to Auckland Museum from London a case containing fifty different species of grasses suitable for arable land. Railway Changes. —The Dunedin Star of June 9 states that the General Manager of Railways in future will he known as Traffic Manager ; Mr. Conyers is to be designated as Railway Manager ; Mr. Armstrong, Locomotive Engineer here, takes charge of a small station in the North Island. A New Zealand Suicide. —A recent telegram from Melbourne says that John Muller, a native of Switzerland, recently arrived from New Zealand, committed suicide a day or two ago in Melbourne cemetery. The body was discovered to-day, and was found to have been horribly gnawed by rats. Samoa. Sydney telegram of the Bth says :—Schooner Tamar has arrived from Samoa, and brings the following news. Her Majesty’s corvette Danae, twelve guns, has shelled two of the principal vil lagesj which has incensed the Samoans, who threaten to swarm into Samoa city and massacre the whites. The Danae re mains to protect the white population. The New Ireland Expedition.—A telegram from Cooktown, of 7th, : — Advices from the Duke of York Island to May 30, confirm news recently received of the great distress among the Chander nagore immigrants, who have now re turned to Likilika bay. Nine more of the party have died of fever and ulcers, from which they were suffering when latest advices left New Ireland. There were HO signs of the Genie vessel, which lately sailed from Aden with another batch of immigrants. The Bible in Schools. —Napier, June 8. —A meeting was held last night for the purpose of securing the reading of the Bible in public schools. The Bishop of Waipu presided, and the Revs. St. Hill, Spear, Hovel, and Penny were present. It was resolved to present a petition to Parliament, praying that the Bible may be read without note or comment in schools. A committee was appointed to get the petition signed, which will be for warded for presentation to the local members. A counter petition is to be got up. A Wages Case. —At the Timaru R.M. Court ou Thursday Patrick Egan, Thomas Osborne, Neil M‘Neil, John Henderson, Peter Rooney, John M'Carthy, Alex. Godsell, Hugh Boyd, and John Coffey, were charged with seizing a number of horses valued at L 750, in the possession of the National Mortgage and Agency Company, who had seized the horses for wages due by their employer, Walter Allan, whese property had been mort gaged to the Coinpan}'. The charges were dismissed. Accused, who are a very decent lot of men, were kept in gaol all night, bail being refused. They thought that they had a right to take the horses for the payment of their wages. Liberal Invercargill. —At a meeting on Tuesday'last the Invercargill Reform Association resolved io send the following address to Mr. Gladstone, Premier of England : “From this remote de pendency of the British Empire, the mem bers of the Invercargill Liberal Reform Association desire to convey their con gratulations on the success of the Liberal cause in the Parent Country. They re gard it as the opening of a new era of wise and beneficent legislation, of peaceful foreign policy, of prosperity to commerce, and, at the same time, as an augury of the success in the land of their adoption of kindred principles of Liberalism, whose chief exponent in New Zealand is Sir George Grey.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

IRISH RELIEF FUND.

To the Editor.

Sir,—l was somewhat amused while reading Mr. James Brown’s attempt at self-defence—or, as you head it, “A Lively Reply”—to correspondents in con nection with the above fund. The reply is self-condemnatory, but, at the same time, I believe every word to be true that Mr. Brown says in reference to his sym pathy with deserving objects, and his willingness at all times to show the same in a practical manner. I cannot but think, however, that in his zeal and over-earnestness to defend him self in the present case, he has somewhat overshot the mark, as if the cap did not fit he need not have put it on. My re marks had no reference to such members of the Committee as Mr. Brown, who thinks he has done his duty; but to those who, having “ subscription lists, were either unwilling or too indolent to hand them in,” although he acknowledges having had a list, yet did not hand it in when he had done with it—a duty which he certainly should have performed, although he might not have had any money to hand in with it, as the list would stand against his name on the books until it was returned. He also acknowledges himself to be a member of the Committee, and yet in the same breath confesses he did not know but that his subscription—along with many others, I presume—was helping to clothe and feed some poor family, instead of being stowed away in the Bank. Now, I do not know what were the duties assigned to the various members of the Committee, nor do I know who the various members are—and, indeed, I question very much if anyone else does, seeing that members themselves did not know where the money collected was until the present correspondence commenced. But I ask Mr. Brown whether, as a member of the Committee, it was not a part of his duty to have seen that the money was sent in proper time, and to its proper destination. Mr. Friedlander says in his letter on the subject that the Com mittee meetings invariably lapsed for want of a quorum, so that nothing could be done. Did Mr. Brown attend any of these meetings 1 or did he even write showing his interest therein and acknow ledging his assent or otherwise to their proceedings. He also says he paid his subscription to Messrs. Friedlander Bros., but was very much surprised some time after by receiving a letter from the Borough Clerk asking for the money he had collected. Now, Sir, if there was any matter for surprise in connection with his own payments and arrangements with the above firm, that is a double reason why he, as a member of the Committee, should have applied himself with double interest in the matter ; and, so far as he was concerned, seen to it, thatmatter for sur prise was altogether removed. He also re fers very sympathically to Mr. Ivess’s love for his countrymen, and his enthusiasm evinced in this cause, which we all admit, and admire greatly, and in comparison with which his own meagre actions, together with the indolence of some of his fellow-committeemen, and a total want of interest of others, I say, may well be designated “disgraceful,” “inhuman,” and totally unworthy of the name of any one professing to have a desire for the alleviation of human woe. With respect to the “value of dogs,” which was altogether foreign to the subject of his reply, I may say, it is very question able indeed whether even the very best looking of the black ones, or those of any other color, notwithstanding Mr. Branson to the contrary, are of more value than any human being, but the ugliest and the blackest of them often perform their master’s duties far more faithfully than the best looking and most confident of 1

men. But while there a great many dogs that are valueless, there are also a great many individuals who, to all intents and purposes, are useless, and not only so, but are content to hold positions in a hypocriti cal manner—to wit, some of the members of the “Irish Relief Committee,” who not only have no sympathy, but who do not even believe that the fund ought to have any existence.—l am, &c., Subscriber.

THE WESTERFIELD SALE.

Old residents in the Ashburton district will have a vivid remembrance of the very large attendance and excited bidding which are associated with the auction sales in the county about two or three years since; but the oldest resident and the most regular attendant at the auctioneer’s side would fail to carry his memory back to a more satisfactory sale than that which took place at Westerfield station yesterday, when Mr. Campbell, the bluff and jovial “Knight of the hammer,” of the firm of Acland, Campbell, and Co., submitted to sale the valuable stock and farm implements belonging to C. W. Hawdon, Esq. A special train had been put on for the benefit of those who had come from Chris: church to attend,, and it left Ashburton, with a goodly crowd of both strangers and townspeople, while the fine sunny weather, a sine qua non of a successful sale anywhere, attracted a large number of horsemen and others to the locality , and, while perhaps drawn there by curiosity, the splended stock which was brought under their notice, together with the peculiar infatuation which people seem to be under while listening to Mr. Campbell’s descriptive powers resulted in those that came to see and hear remaining to bid. The fame of the late Mr. Charles Reed as a breeder of sheep has spread far and wide. His name appeared in every prize list in the South Island that \vas worth trying for a place on, and his wool took a high stand at Syd ney Exhibition amongst the best growers in the Southern Hemisphere. His known carefulness in everything that appertained to the conduct of his station was pro verbial, and it is no matter for surprise that, when his property passed to other hands and came to the hammer, we found his spirit still living in it, and his reputa tion as a wool raiser bringing intending stock buyers to his homestead from far and near. Some estimate may be formed of the numerous attendance and the spirited bidding, in that, although only one-half of the stock and implements were disposed of, what did come to the hammer, realised Ll,loo. The prices as a whole were considered highly satisfactory, the following being an analysis of the business done :—Store cattle, L 3 2s. Gd. to L 5 ; calves, LI 10s. ; milch cows, from L 5 to L 7 12s. Gd. A lot of heifers in calf, from LG 2s. Gd to L 8 2s. Gd. ; prime Lincoln ewes, L 3 10s. each ; Lincoln rams from L2 10s. to L 4 15s. each; draught horses from L2O to L 35 10s. Donald McLean, Esq., was a large pur chaser of sheep, and John Grigg, Esq., secured some fine cattle, a number of other local gentlemen being also among the purchasers. In consequence of there being such a large quantity of stock and implements still to be disposed of, the sale is announced to be continued to-day, at 11 a. m.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON. —Friday, June 11, 1880. (Before Mr. F. Guinness, R.M.) the interpleader case. Saunders Bros. v. lowe. —In giving judgment in this case, his Worship stated his decision would be on the weight of evidence taken. Mr. Samuel Saunders had said in his evidence that the drill was the properly of Saunders Bros., and there had been no evidence to contradict that statement. Judgment would be given for the amount which the drill had fetched at the sale. Mr. O’Reilly applied for costs, but Mr. Purnell objected, on the ground that had the bailiff who was in possession of the drill been more explicit when asked by the bailiff of the Court to whom the drill belonged, perhaps, the case might never have been before his Worship. Mr. O’Reilly replied that there was 110 necessity for the man in possession to state to whom the drill belonged ; the fact of him being in possession was quite sufficient to pro hibit any one else from seizing. His Wor ship disallowed costs. CIVIL CV'SES. Passmore v. Johnson.—Claim L4O Is. 7s. Mr. Purnell for plaintiff; no appear-, ance of defendant. Judgment for amount and costs L 4 3s. Hewitt v. Bates and Baldwin.—Claim, L 37 10s. Mr. O’Reilly for defendant. Baldwin. Hewitt stated that he had ex pected Mr. Branson to appear for him, but he understood he was out of town. On this account he would apply for an adjournment. Mr. O’Reilly said if the adjournment was granted, he should apply for costs. Hewitt then stated that in case costs were granted, he should elect to go on with the case himself. On his Worship calling the case, Mr. O’Reilly said he would consent to an adjournment, as his client (Baldwin) was not present, but while addressing the Bench, Baldwin came into Court and the case was gone on with. After Hewitt had sworn to the account being correct, the amount being made up of money due for wages and cash lent, Mr. O’Reilly called on Baldwin, who stated that he had been a partner with Bates about a month before Hewitt was employed by them. During the month of June, Bates, who was drinking with others on the farm, had ordered him off the premises. During three months that ho had been in partnership with Bates he had received nothing whatever from the concern. Bates and Lacy, the latter being also a partner, took the pro ceeds of last year’s crop. Baldwin said his wife had washed and cooked for the whole of the persons on the farm, and had received no recompense whatever, and he had lost his property, the crop, and everything else. He had never engaged Hewitt, but believed Lacy had done so. Cross-examined by Hewitt, Baldwin ad mitted having taken some firewood and oats off the farm. Judgment was given for the defendant, Baldwin, with costs L 3 155., and against Bates, with imme diate execution. Orr and Co. v. D. Maroney.—Claim, L2 15s. Judgment by default for amount claimed and costs, ss. Marlborough v. Passmore.—Claim, L 6. Mr. Ireland for plaintiff; Mr. Purnell for defendant. No appearance of plain tiff, and case struck out. Cookson v. Stewart.—Claim, LlO 10s. Mr. O’Reilly for plaintiff; Mr. Ireland for defendant. In reply to Mr. Ireland, it was stated that a summons had been made out for 11. Stewart, and it was served on the 19fch March. It had been,- however, discovered that it should have been made out to W. Stewart, and his Worship stated that by his order the al teration had been made. Mr. Ireland made an objection that, the case was out of the jurisdiction of the Court, as the alterations and interlineations in the summons were not initialed by the person who took the affidavit. His Worship overruled the objection. Mr, Ireland said that to save time, all the items in the bill of particulars would be admitted, with the exception of those for shoeing and for a horsecloth. Edward Cookson, the plaintiff, stated that it was a rule when horses were left with him for a time, and during that period, they re quired shoeing, that he was authorized to get the animals shod, and in this case Mr. Stewart had told him to get it done. Witness stated that after the horse had been in his stables for some time, he was told to hand it over to Mr. Ireland (not j

the lawyer), as it was going to be put out to grass, and required a horse-cloth i o protect it irom the weather. He had not an old one by him, ahd he had obtained a - , new one . for it. He had rendered his account to Mr. Stewart, with the horse cloth charged for in it, and had since then seen Mr. Stewart, who made no objection, to the item, and it was not until the, defendant went to Dunedin that he wrote objecting to pay for the cloth. The horse-cloth was now in the possession of Stewart. By Mr. Ireland —I have not paid for the shoeing which was done while the horse was in my charge. I understand the blacksmith has rendered Stewart an account for shoeing done since Mr. Ire land took the horse away. I should be very much surprised indeed to hear that defendant had paid for the horse cover and the shoeing. . James Tait de poned to supplying the horsecloth to Mr. Cookson. He was a partner with Mr. Cookson in the saddlery business. ••• Sold the horse-cloth to plaintiff for LI 7s. Stewart has never paid me for it, nor have I charged it to him. By. Mr. O’Reilly— I am not a partner with Cookson in the livery stable business. Mr. Ireland argued that if judgment were given for the plaintiff, it was just possible that the blacksmith and saddler might sue ■ hts client for the amounts, as there was' nothing to show that Cookson was the proper person to receive the amount. His Worship stated that the-judgment in the present case might be brought up by Mr. Stewart in any subsequent action such as referred to by Mr. Ireland, in fact, that judgment would be a bar to any sub sequent proceedings .against Stewart. Judgment would be given for plaintiff, with costs LI 19s. Mr. Ireland applied for permission to appeal, but his Worship refused. RAKAlA— Thursday, June 10. (Before Mr. F. Guinness, R.M.) THE BIRCH IN SCHOOL. William Hale, schoolmaster-at South Rakaia, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting and beating Mary McCoy. Mary M‘Ooy, sworn, said—l am the daughter of Joseph tVlcGoy. On the 11th of May I was at school at Rakaia. -De fendant is master of that school. I was talking to one of the girls near me, when defendant came and beat me with a stick. He went away again. I smiled to one of the girls. Defendant came again and beat me' till the stick broke. Defendant made me go and stand in the middle of the floor. I asked to be allowed to go home, as I was not well. Defendant told me to go and sit in my place. By defendant—Did not turn up my nose at you. Did not laugh—only smiled. Know the difference between laughing and smiling. Did not hear you call to me to be quiet. Mursula McCoy, sworn, said —I am mother of the previous witness. On the 11th of May my daughter came home from school, complaining of illness. She did not complain to me that she had been beaten at school. Next morning a neighbor called to, en quire how -my child was ; I told her she was not able to go to school. The woman said she did not wonder at that after the beating she had received there the day before. I then examined my child and found her very much bruised all over the back and shoulders and further down the body. She was not better of her beating for three days. By defendant—l have punished chil dren myself. I have never left marks on them. Defendant, sworn—l am a schoolmaster at Rakaia. Mary M‘ooy attended my school. She was at school on the 11th of May last. She "was talking in her place. I called to her three times" to leave off' talking, but she continued. I went to her and gave her two or three slight taps with a stick I had in my hand. I sat down again, and she recommenced talking. I then gave her four or five cuts a little harder than the first. I saw her mutter ing and laughing to the girl next her. I beat her again, but harder. She turned up her nose at me, as if in defiance of me. I then gave her three or four sharp cuts and told her to stand out. The girl is in the habit of talking in school. She does not attend very regularly. I punished her for turning up her nose at me. By Mrs. M‘Coy—Never had occasion to beat the child before. Did not break the stick over the child, it was cracked before. The stick wap a bluegum sappling ..out of the plantations. It was not so big as my little finger. This was all the evidence. In giving judgment his Worship said that he did not wish to interfere with the, schoolmasters in maintaining the discipline. of their schools. If children were disobedient they must be • punished. Ho had. been shown the child’s back, and certainly he must say that it was very much bruised. It had, however, not been shown that the girl had been cruelly punished. He would dismiss the case, at the same time caution ing the defendant against losing his tem per when in the act of punishing. UNREGISTERED. A. Orr, for being the owner of an un registered dog, was fined 20s. and costs. CATTLE ON THE LOOSE. P. Mailey was fined 5s and costs for one cow wandering at large. 1 W. Doherty was fined 10s. and costs for two head of cattle found wandering at large. J. Mann and Chas. Lake, for one horse each, wander ing about the township, were fined ss. and costs. CIVIL CASES. W. H. Partridge v. G. Freeman. —Claim L 7. Judgment by default, and costs. W. Hartnell v. T. E. Fagan.—Claim L 22. Judgment by default, and costs. T. Mutter v. F. Simmonds. —Judgment for Ll 3 Bs., and costs. W. Hartnell v. H. Smithers.—Case adjourned to Ashburton, on the 18th inst. DRUNK. T. Wright, for being drunk and in capable, was fined ss.

PARLIAMENTARY.

(per press association). LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, June flO. The Courcil sat for half an hour, The business was chiefly routine and unimpor tant. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, June 9. EVENING SITTING. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACT AMENDMENT

Mr. Hutchison moved the first reading of the Bill, which was intended to pro vide for special funds being paid into a special bank account, which could be operated upon only for the specific pur pose it was created to serve ; also to em power additional borrowing when a loan already raised was not sufficient to cover the purpose for which it was obtained ; to enable the proclamation of private steets public streets, and the abolition of plural voting at elections. Mr. Brandon would not oppose the Bill, but would endeavor to amend objection able clauses in Committee. Mr. Andrews counselled postponement for suggestions from Christchurch. Mr. Shrimski objected. to further borrowing powers being given to local bodies. • • ; ■ . Mr. Pitt favored the Bill. It got ab sentee owners. Mr. Speight had seen fit to change his highly radical views, and would oppose the abolition of plural voting. Hon, Mr. Dick said Government would’ allow the second reading, but the corpora

tions ought to have an opportunity to con eider the Bill’s provisions before it passed. Mr. Barron thought this was wise, and suggested three weeks as a fair time. Mr. Hutchison did not object to delay, and the Bill was read a first' time, and ordered to be committed that day three weeks. . DRAINAGE. Mr. Murray moved the second reading of his Drainage Bill, which would em power persons to enter into, schemes for the drainage of their own properties, and find work for men at a slack time of the year. The measure would help the agri cultural interest. Mr. Shepherd moved the Bill be read that day six months. Every shilling was wanted for present engagements, and it was no time to. add fresh burdens of borrowed money. Mr. Bain favored the practical purposes of the Bill, but questioned the machinery. The Bill ought to be committed with a view of impoving the machinery proposed. This was accepted by Mr. Murray, and on a division the Bill was referred to the Committee on Agriculture. THE LICENSING BILL. Mr. Speight resumed the adjourned de bate. He objected to the Native licenses, as the Natives were keen-witted, and saw the evils of drink. He knew Maori dis tricts that ivould poll to a man against having drink amongst them. He objected to the quorum, of two on the Bench, which was not enough, and to the pro posed billiard-room license, and to the proposal to let clubs go free of police supervision, and strongly condemned these places, which were just where police supervision was.wanted. Police super-, vision should go with all licenses. The family hotel’license would only be useful if it were honestly used-—there was the., difficulty. He suggested that to prevent sale of liquor to children, a clause should be.added prohibiting their carrying liquor off the premises. He suggested that wives and children would be more easily induced to give evidence dn cases where their husbands and fathers were con-, cerned if the proceedings were made less public. Mr. Bowen agreed with the general provisions of the Bill and felt sure local, option was acquiesced in by the House. He objected to native licenses and’ to those to family hotels; The latter were a fraud, and would become a refuge for men bunted out of respectable houses. He was glad to see the bottle license abolished ; but he thought the Bill should have defined what a club was, and not left the word ifi the ambiguous sense it was now.' The “ honajide traveller ” was a fraud and an absurdity, and ought to be abolished, as also the selling of drink at railway stations. Mr. Fulton agreed generally with the Bill. Sir William Fox moved the adjourn ment of the debate till to-morrow night, which was carried. AUCTIONEERS LICENSING BILL. The committal of this Bill was post poned for a fortnight to receive suggestions from the Wellington auctioneers. The House adjourned at 12.30. Thursday, June 10. AFTERNOON SITTING. AN IMPORT DUTY. Mr, Reeves gave notice that he would move for an import duty to be levied on all imports into the colony. . THE SPEAKER’S KNIGHTHOOD. . . It was intimated that a sum would be placed on the Estimates to cover the costs of conferring the honor of Knighthood on the Speaker. ; PRESS MESSAGES. ; The Premier said the hours had been curtailed during which special press corres pondents could send special messages simply to avoid a cost to the country of L7OO per annum. The privilege would be restored if the press were ready to meet that outlay. NEW BILLS. The following Bills, amongst others, were introduced and read a first time : Malvern Water Race Transfer Act, TB7B‘, Amendment Act, Ashburton County Council Water Works Act, 1879, Amend ment (Mr. Wright). NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. Mr. Lundon moved—“ That the Select Committee on Native Affairs do consist of 19 members, and that Mr. DeLautour, Mr, .Thomson., Mr. M ‘Donald, Mr. Whyte, aiicl the mover be atided to the Commit tee.” The Hon. J. Bryce opposed the motion, and cautioned the House that the adop tion of this motion would practically be a ■-ra-opening of the whole question, and a probable return to the objectionable state of matters connected with the constitution of Committees which Government had been at great trouble to rectify. Mr. Moss said that many of the Auck land members had come down determined to do their duty independent altogether of party consideration. The first thing they were met with was a disposition on the part of Government to carry their purpose by ; every possible device within their power. He cautioned the Native Minister against a proceeding of this kind in regard to this Committee. He was much pained at the course adopted by the Native Minister in this respect. Mr. Speight spoke in support of the motion. Mr. Turnbull also supported the motion. ... . Mr. Seddon did not think the circum stances of the Committee were so very exceptional as to. warrant a departure from the rule laid down regarding the number of members to be placed on Com mittees. i Major Te Wheoro supported the motion. Mr. Thomson suggested that the motion should be withdrawn, seeing that there were 14 members on the Committee already. i Mr. DeLatour said the Committee, as constituted, was not likely to work effi cintly Major Atkinson said that as things were constituted, Government supporters must of necessity predominate on the Com mittee. He denied that there was any disparity between the members of this Committee in respect of political parties. The Hon. W. Gisborne said that it was deeply to be deplored that these Com mittees should be regulated in their con stitution by party spirit. Mr. Tole spoke in favor of the motion. He felt that the natives might just as well at once send their petitions to the Native Minister, as send them to the Committee constituted as it was. Sir William- Fox said that he was on that Committee some years ago when the Government was in other hands, and he could remember that there was a majority of : Government supporters on it then. He was afraid all this kick-up was an illustra tion of the old doctrine of— The Devil being sick, the Devil a monk would be, When the Devil got well, the devil a monk was he. ; Mr. Lundon replied, and a division re sulted in—Ayes 29 ; Noes 40. The motion was accordingly negatived. Sir G. Grey then gave notice that he would move that his name be expunged from the Native Affairs Committee. Mr. Hamlin gave notice he would move (hat his name be expunged from the same Committee. PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. Mr. Hursthouse moved—“ That in the opinion of this House all transportation of cattle from the North to the South Island should be suspended until Govern ment are satisfied that pleuro-pnemonia, now known to exist in the Provincial District of Auckland, is eradicated; an 4 that all cattle arriving from

Australia be quarantined for at least three months, and that Govern ment should at once issue an Order-in- Coxincil in accordance with the provision of ‘Diseased Cattle Act, 1871/ to give effect to the foregoing resolution. ” Mr. J. B. Fisher seconded and spoke in support of the motion. The Hon'. J. Hall could not agree with the motion. The fact was that the disease was confined to a very small district of Auckland —a district from which cattle were never taken South. It was on the decrease, and there was no danger of the disease spreading. If it should increase. Government would exercise its powers to avert danger, but at present there was no danger of its spreading. They , were watching carefully over the matter, and he hoped the motion-would not be pressed. Mr. Ballance said that he had been assured on good authority that many of the cattle slaughtered had not pleuro pneumonia at all, and that the alarm was to a large extent groundless. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 1 adjournment. EVENING SITTING;. - ( The House resumed at 7.30. The Licensing Bill. Sir W. Fox resumed the debate on the Licensing Bill. He was glad to find Go vernment direct its attention to the moral and social improvement of the masses. This Bill was a movement in that direc tion. A cry had been raised throughout the world of the great evils attendant oh • the drink traffic. It have been said truly - that if all the evils of war, famine &c., had been put together they would be no thing compared with the evils entailed by drunkenness. This Bill gave the power of protection against the sale of in toxica- - ting drink. A movement in that direction.; had his entire sympathy and of those with whom he was leagued. It would there fore have his and their best efforts in get ting it. passed into law. They had the evil existing now, and they wanted to cure it. This Bill was not complete, and he trusted Government would see its way . to remodel the Bill in that respect. In 1870 he brought in a Bill having this ob ject, and at first he could not get it beyond a second reading. The principle of allow ing the people to quash a license without paying compensation was then asserted. What temperance re formers desired, was power of -this kind. Without such power they wpuld never be able to put down drinking habits. As sure as drink shops were established, so surely would gaols, lunatic asylums, and other kindred evils exist. Until that right was conceded, they would continue year after year to demand it, and not rest content until it was obtained. They hai petitions demanding, that .right. . These, petitions were first .signed by 5,000, then 9.000, and last of all 17,000, so that there was evidence of the desire on the part of the people to obtain such a right. Subse quently the Bill referred, to above was passed into law, and now stands on the Statute Books, so that this Bill, practi cally speaking, aimed at withdrawing that power. What they wanted was the local option principle embodied in the Licensing Bill, in the form in which it now.stood on the Statute Books. He denounced the clubs as virtually sly . grog dens, and although it was proposed to charge them a , license fee, they were not to besubjected to : police supervision. A more monstrous pro posal could not be imagined. What he proposed in reference to these establish ments was that they should be subjected to the same police supervision as the ordinary public house. .They were cal culated to do more harm than the regular shebeen. The latter had to carry on their practices under certain restraints. He next alluded to .the proposed native licensing system. Some of these districts were the scenes of the utmost degradation, . When New Zealand was first taken posses ion of by Europeans the natives numbered 114.000, now they had dwindled down -to 40.000, +his diminution being attributable in a great measure to the introduction of-, strong drink. Not only had they given the natives drink, but they had given them what wa? called native rum, that was a specially [vile fdeebetion, calcullated to drive the consumer to madness and the grave. He was sorry to see by this Bill an attempt was being made to lessen the power „ of the Native Assessor in questions of granting licenses. , He counselled them not to attempt to weaken the Act .passed two years ago in connection with native licenses. If they did the native race would be stamped out. It was matter for ..congratulation that licenses could only be issued once a year. The system of quarterly licensing days had done a great, deal to defeat the efforts of the temperance party to stem the evil It a man did not get his license on one day it was sure to be granted at the next quarterly sitting. He considered the bottle license system as one of the most demoralising features’of the trade. They had been told that under proper regulations this system was ■■ good, but there was no good regulation in a matter of this kind. The profits of the trade consisted of excessive drinking,,and , so long as that was the case there could be no good regulation. These were a few of the defects of the Bill, and when it got into Committee he would use his endeavors for their removal. V . Dr’ Wallis agreed with the previous speaker in thinking that total prohibition was the right cure for this evil. Govern ment, however, could not afford to, dis pense with the revenue arising out of the traffic, and the vested-interests which had grown out of it were very considerable. He would support a measure for the total prohibition of the traffic in spirits. Turn ing to the Bill before the House, he noticed that it proposed a modified course; but ho contended that the fiill measure qf local option should be given. He knew why' it had not been given j it was the question of compensation that frightened them. Ho agreed with the general principles of the Bill, and would give it his support, reserv. irig to himself the privilege of making a few suggestions when it got into Com. mittee. Mr. Sauhcleps regifetted that the subject was not felt to be one,of more importance to the House. He disputed a theory put forward by . the previous speaker that alcohol was beneficial under certain con ditions. The Hon. T. Dick replied he was not surprised that exception was taken to parts - of the Bill. His only surprise, in a Bill so large, would be if these exceptions were not taken. Some of the suggestions made were good, and he hoped to see them given effect to : others he believed would not be an improvement. The two parties, the publicans and temperance party, had each their representatives in the House, and no doubt ample justice would be done to both causes. He only hoped that when it came out of Committee it would be found a Bill calculated to promote the best interests-of the community-as a whole. - - The Bill was then read a second: time, and ordered-to be committed on Tuesday. LODGERS’ PROTECTION BILL. ....... Mr. Stewart moved the second, reading - of the Lodgers’ Protection Bill. The Hon. J. Hall thought the Bill a : desirable one. The motion was put and carried. . FEMALE REDRESS RILL. .. Mr. Stewart moved the second reading . of the Female Redress Bill. It was a measure which had the sanction of the ■ Judges at Home. In 1867 a case Was . tried in the, Courts in England. A ; member of a church had a charge pre- ■ ferred of unchastity. She appealed to the Law Courts, and it was found that the law could not give her redress.. He quoted from the law books to show that • such imputations were not actionable unless it could be shown that she had;. sustained special damages. At-present a* -■

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1880.



NOTICE OF PARTNERSHIP. MATSON, COX, & 00. 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. 93Gg MATSON, COX, & CO. will hold Fortnightly Sales of Stock at Ashburton and Tinwald alternately. Next Sale at TINWALD, TUESDAY, JUNE 22nd. 933 g MATSON, COX, & CO. 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 NEW LICENSING BILL. Pkice —2s, Each. WEEKS AND DIXON.



W. WHITE, CONFECTIONER AND BAKER, SAUNDERS* BUILDINGS, ASHBURTON, BEGS to announce that he has taken • the business lately carried on by Edward Taylor, Baker, &c., 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, 6d. Delivered. 9280-550 c



NOTICE TO FARMERS. 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. 5500* NEW BILES. THE following NEW BILLS now be fore Parliament are ON SALE at the office of this paper ; —Bills of Ex change Procedure, 6. ; Marriage, 9d. ; Juries, Is. 3d. ; Deaths by Accident Com pensation, Gd. ; Cruelty to Animals, Gd. ; Building Societies, 9d. ; Animal’s Protection, 6d. ; Adulteration Prevention, 6d. ; Aliens, Gd.; Mercantile Law, Is. ; Banks and Bankers, 9d. ; Married Women’s Property Protection, Gd. ; Chat tels Securities, Gd. Aso the first No. of Hansard, price Cd., 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., Ac., Ac.



Masonic. —On Tuesday next, St. John’s Lodge will hold an emergency lodge in the Masonic Hall for the installation of officers. Visiting masons are invited.