COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Monday Evening.

Alfred Harrison reports as follows I held my weekly sale at the Yards on Saturday, July 17th, when draughts and hacks were disposed of from L 5 ss. to L 29 10s. ; pigs sold at fair prices; fowls brought 2s. to 2s. 6d. per pair ; geese, 10s. per pur; carrots, 30s. per ton; potatoes, L2 to L 2105.; apples, 55. ; oranges, 6s. 6c 1 .; barley, Is.; oats, Is., a poor sample ; cheese, 4|d. to 6jd. per lb.; lard, Bd. to lOd. A consignment of rabbits sold at Is. to Is. 9d. per pair. A quantity of furni ture and sundries sold well. The atten dance was good, but bidding for many lines was tardy, yet it was all round a good sale.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows; —

For Christchurch and North at 6 a.m. 9. a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily. For Temuka, Timaru, and South at 6 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a. m. For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, and Seafield, on Tues days and Fridays, at 6 a.m.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office—

From Christchurch at 10.35 a.m., 4.55 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Cheitssy, Rakaia, &c. at 10.35 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.25 p.m. daily.

Fr#m Temuka and Timaru at 9.25 a.m. and 5.25 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a. m. daily.

From Wakanui and Seafield on Tues days and Fridays at 2.30 p.m.

W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER TUSEDAY, JULY 20, 1880.

The Victorian elections are now over, and the Berry party have a majority of nine out of the members of pronounced party leanings. The remaining nine, however, required to make up the number of the House, are written off as “ doubt ful,” but it appears that in any case the Berry side is triumphant.

The scene in the House of Representa tives on Friday evening was an extraordi nary one, but the colony has come to this now, that it is not surprised at any extra ordinary result if Sir George Grey has been an agent in bringing it about. Sir George rose to address the House, and, finding that his rival, the Hon. John Hall, was not giving all the attention to the address that the speaker desired, Sir George suddenly cut the flow of his ora tory, and refused to proceed until the Premier, having finished reading a Man sard proof of his own speech, was prepared to give a whole-souled attention to what the gallant knight was pleased to say. For an hour Sir George remained in this “ huff,” and only proceeded when the Premier had finished reading his proof. Sir George poses as the leader of the Opposition—so does Mr. Macandrew— and the two do not seem to pull exactly in the same direction ; but, whichever of them is the real leader of the Opposition, it is palpable that Sir George considers himself as holding that position, and, full of that belief, he could not bear the idea of speaking in the House when the Premier was able to give such words of wisdom as mightfall from the leader’s Oppo sition lips only a divided attention. “ I am Sir Oracle,” says Sir George ; “ when I ope’ my mouth let no dog bark. ” Dozens of men have spoken in the House to less attentive ears than were the Premier’s on Friday evening, and it is quite probable that Sir George, whose oratory is now familiar, even to contempt, in the House, because of the one string on which he plays, may go too far, and find that he will have to be content with speaking not only to unwilling ears, but to as limited a number of them as safety from a count out will admit. The measure he was discussing at the time he was guilty of the childish ebullition of feeling we refer to was the Maori Prisoners Trial Bill, a measure which seems to us, in view of the native difficulty, to be a very expedient one. It empowers Government to keep the natives who committed the ploughing outrages in the North Island some months longer in prison before bringing them to trial, or to liberate them in small batches from time to time as may seem desirable. The native difficulty has been a difficulty indeed, and while it is not completely settled, there will be a danger of trouble arising. The natives now in prison are men of more or less importance amongst their several tribes, and their conduct in defying Government and going on with their ploughing in face of the knowledge of certain imprisonment, and perhaps worse following, is sufficient index that they are of a character not to be trifled with. It does not require a very vivid imagina tion to picture what might result from suddenly letting these men once more loose amongst their kindred, and the members of Government who have most to do with native affairs, and therefore ought to know most about them, distinctly say that they will refuse the responsibility of the situation if they are not put in such a position as will enable them to control the movements of these prisoners for the next half year or so. This Bill puts such control into the hands of Government. Such “ human race ” arguments as Sir George Grey is in the habit of using are ■ very beautiful, very sentimental, and doubtless would be a credit to the goodness of his heart, could we separate from our minds the belief that they are only diplo matic. But when we come to weigh these beautiful sentiments against the fact that Government in this Bill are dealing with natives more loyal to a hare-brained visionary chief than they are to the con stituted authority of the colony—even with Friend Grey as its representative—it is quite time for the Europeans to consider safety before sentiment, and keep a dangerous article under lock and key. This is what Government desire to do. They have no wish to grind down the Maoris—they have no wish to act cruelly to any one of them. But when they fear that the liberation of the prisoners at this juncture, or the bringing of them to trial, would precipitate another row, it seems to us wisdom that they should pass such a Bill as the one now before the House, and in the discussion of which Sir George Grey wanted to be propped up to his chair to sustain the effort of standing while he held his tongue.

English Arrival. —The barque Helen Denny, from London, has arrived at Lyttelton. Fire Police. —A meeting of the mem bers of this important body will be held in Messrs. Edmiston, Gundry and Co.’s store this evening, at 7.30. “Cash.” —ln our advertising columns will be found a lecture by T. It. Hodder and Company on the'subject of “ Cash in demand and Cash on demand.” Baring Square. —The work of digging the belt of plantation round Baring Square is nearly completed, and the ap pearance of the Square has been greatly im proved, the place having assumed quite a tidy look.

The Oriental Exhibition. The Oriental Exhibition—a collection of pretty things from the Holy Land—will open to-morrow evening, in the Upper Room of the Town Hall. The San Francisco Mails. —The mail steamer City of Sydney, with the London mails of June 17th, left San Fran cisco on the 4th inst., one day before the due date. The Australia, with the J une colonial mails, reached San Francisco on the 14th instant, one day in advance of the contract date.

Presbyterian.—At the morning ser vice of the Presbyterian Church, on Sun day, it was announced that seven members of the church had been elected to the eldership—four of whom would be or dained on the 15th August, viz—Messrs. Wm. Gavin, James Reid, Andrew Orr, and Frederick Pavitt.

Teachers’ Certificates.—A supple mentary Gazette publishes an Order-in- Council fixing the annual examination of candidates for teachers’ certificates to take place during the first week in January in each year. Candidates must give notice not later than November Ist preceding, and pay a fee of LI. The Gazette contains a list, of teachers at present holding licenses.

Disputed Accounts.—A short sitting of the Court was held on Saturday, the ad journed case of Mcßae v. Harris being set down for hearing. Evidence for plain tiff was taken last week, and the case had been postponed so as to allow the parties an opportunity of coming to an amicable settlement. This desirable result had, however, not been attained, and the case was gone on with again this morning. The defendant’s plea was that on the 15th January, a settlement had been come to between himself and the plaintiff, which an account put in by .himself (Mr. Harris) would substantiate. Mr. Harris cited cases to show that where an agreement had been come to between parties to an action, such agreement precluded any further suit at law. His Worship gave judgment for defendant with Court costs, Mr. O’Reilly gave notice of appeal.

Ashburton Infant School. —Tenders are invited'in another column for the erec tion of an infant school at Ashburton. Normal School Scholarships. —The Secretary to the-Board o['■Education makes an announcement in this issue regarding the Normal School scholarships. Postal. —Mails for the United King dom, per City of New York, close at noon this day (Tuesday). Mails for Sydney, per Te Anau, also close at two p.m. to day.

Co-operation.— The farmers in Timaru district are about to form a Farmers’ Co operative Association, with a capital of L 25,000, and a meeting with this view was held on Saturday, at which fifty at tended.

Train Arrangements. —ln conse quence of the Christchurch Industrial Exhibition remaining open till to-morrow night, Mr. Back notifies that single fare tickets issued on July 19, 20, or 21 will be available for return up to and-including July 21. The Carandinis. —Madame Carandini’s Company, composed of the celebrated cantatrice herself, her accomplished daughter, Miss Marie, Miss Josephine Deakin, and Mr. Walter Sherwin gave a farewell concert in the Town Hall last night, when the appreciation of good music by the Ashburton public was well manifested by a very good audience. Some ballads for which Madame is famous were given by her with no abatement of her well-known power. Miss Oarandini was equally effective in the gems with which she favored her audience, who failed not to accord her the meed of praise she so justly merits. Miss Deakin ap peared more frequently on the stage in this concert than she did in those recently given by the company, and we were glad of the closer acquaintance with her mellow voice. Mr. Sherwin appears only in the concerted pieces, where he lends yeomanly aid. The accompaniments were played by the younger ladies exquisitely.

Entertainment at Elgin. The promised entertainment at Elgin School came off last night. A company, mostly recruited from Ashburton, contributed a varied programme of songs, readings, &c., and when we state that such well-known favorites as Mr. Harrison, the Gates family, and Mr. Jacobson were the principal Ashburton performers we have said sufficient to leave the inference that the bill of fare, as far as Ashburton is concerned, was anything but inferior. Mr. Harrison was particularly successful with the two songs he sang—“ A father’s love,” and the “ Bell ringer ” —while Mr. Jacobson’s ever fresh recitation of “ The Little Revenge ” was very telling, as indeed was his song “Nil Desperandum. Miss Gates and Miss Gerty Gates also sang, the former very sweetly “The flower girl,” and latter a little song that made her a favorite with the audience at once. Mr. and Mrs. Proudlock, of the Elgin School-house, proved themselves a most powerful aid to the evening’s enjoy ment both musically as duettists and soloists, and Mr. Proudlock as an elocu tionist. The funny element was sus tained by Mr. Horace Gates, whose comic songs are always well received ; and by Mr. Dunn, who sang a Scotch song or two. We must not forget to mention that the first and second parts of the programme were wound up by a “spring” on the the bagpipes by Mr. Murdoch Elder, the beat piper in the colony, and the ‘ ‘ hurri canes of Highland reels” he played seemed to touch the heels and toes of the Scotch element in the audience most powerfully. At the close, votes of thanks were passed to the strangers who had aided in the programme, to Mr. Moffat for the use- of his piano, to the Chairman, etc. The Elgin people are indebted mainly to Mr. Stanley Bruce for the success of the en tertainment. Mr. Bruce was at much pains to make the arrangements complete, and discharged the duties of chairman most effectively. A dance came on after the entertainment.

Shipping Casualty. —The Anchor Line steamer Kennedy is ashore at the mouth of the Grey, but is not in a dangerous position. Publicans Beware !—The proprietress of the Queen’s Hotel, Christchurch, was fined L 5 and costs yesterday, for keeping her hotel open for traffic after hours.

The Industrial Exhibition. —lt has been decided by the Committe to keep the Exhibition open until Wednesday next. Up to Saturday night, 13,500 persons had visited the show. New Church.— The foundation stone of a new Presbyterian Church, at Syden ham, was laid on Saturday afternoon by Mr. John Anderson. The building when completed will seat 800 people.

Nose Tweaking. —An Auckland tele gram last week said the editor of the Free Lance had had his nose pulled by one of the members of the Froliques Troupe, for saying their “ show” was trash. The editor gives a flat denial to the statement.

Fatal Bush Accident. —At Stratford, near Ha a era, on Friday a fatal accident happened. Two men were felling a tree, when by some mischance one of them slipped and fell to the ground just as his fellow workman’s axe was descending. The axe struck his head, fracturing his skull, and causing instantaneous death. The men are Italians.

The Bradlaugh Libel Case. —By the mail which left on Saturday, a resident of Christchurch forwarded a declaration, taken before a magistrate there, to the effect that when present in a hall in England some years back he heard Mr. Bradlaugh make use of the expressions relative to his disbelief in a God, which were quoted by the newspaper against which he has entered an action for libel. The Unemployed. —Government have found work for 500 of the Christchurch unemployed, and 220 still remain on the books. As showing the state of the labor market in the colony, it may be remarked that Government Vaction in this matter has had the effect of attracting unemployed men to Christchurch, both from north and south, in the hope : of. obtaining employment on railway works.

The Waitangi Treaty.—An obelisk commemorative of the signing of the Wai tangi treaty has been completed by an Auckland firm, to the order of the natives, who have already built a hall in honor of the historical event. The obelisk rises to a height of seventeen feet, on a pedestal eight feet high. On the four sides of the pedestal tablets appear, bearing the graven text of the treaty, with the names of the signatories. A Brute.—At the R.M. Court, Christ church, yesterday, Samuel Dobbinaon was charged with stabbing his wife, Emma Jane Dobbinson. The evidence showed that on the night of July 10th, accused went homo drunk, dragged his wife out of bed by the hair of her head, kicked her twice in the back, struck her across the arm with a poker, and stabbed her twice above the right ear, the thickness of the bone alone preventing fatal results. The bed and clothing were completely saturated with blood. Accused, who displayed great indifference while in Court, was committed for trial.

Comparisons.-—A Sydney paper rather funnily deals with two colonial Governors. It says Sir Hercules likes horses, Lord Augustus likes fowls —Horsey Robinson, Fowley Loftus. Ignorance.—An intending passenger to New Zealand was recently informed by a shipping clerk in London, of whom he was making enquiries, that there was no vessel going just then, but there was one on the berth for Australia, which would do as well, as ferry-boats run across every three hours.

THE BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY.

There has been no end of talk about the Borough water scheme, and quid mines have got it quite pat that it will be many mouths before a drop of the much-coveted water finds its way to the’ 1 floodgate at the corner of the Domain facing West street. We are not sanguine that the coming down of the water to the street channels, is only a matter of a few hours, but to say it will not reach town before many months is just as wide of the mark on the other side. It was never intended that the scheme should be one large enough to drown the township, and all that is wanted of it is as much as will keep up a good flow in the channels. But, before it can supply the channels, the water has first to fill up the many holes in the gully that winds through the Domain, and, having done so, and the stream still kept up, the overflow will be ample for the town. Judging by the rate of progress the stream is now making, and making full allowance for the absorption that must go on, and also for the broad sheets of water that have here and there to accumu late along the route, we shall not be dis appointed if we have no water in the channels for three weeks or a month yet ;' but to say we will have none before Christmas—as has been said—is taking altogether too gloomy a view of matters. It will doubtless be remembered that when the millrace from which the supply is taken-was cut, between three weeks and a month elapsed from the first turning on of the water to the date of its reaching the mill, and some of those whose organs of “hope” were not so fully developed were anything but sanguine that the water would ever reach the mill-wheel. But the millrace was kinder to those people than their own fears, and an abundant stream has never ceased to flow. We are confident that the same thing will happen with our water supply, and, even with the single nine-inch pipe, which at the upper corner of the Domain measures out to us our quantity, all that the con cern requires is simply to be let alone. The water will come down right enough, and it will not be long before we have an ample stream that will supply all the wants that the engineer calculated on catering for. It will do more. In one or two nooks of the gully, well hidden from view, and out of the usual track of pedestrians, from five to eight feet of water will accumulate when the course is full, and these holes may with little trouble and expense bo conver ted into usual and safe swimming baths, a want that is much felt in the summer months. A walk up the gully to the back of the cricket ground will show the traveller how easily very successful efforts at ornament could be made, that, were the scheme to be absolutely permanent, would certainly be worth attempting. We may perhaps be considered a little visionary for saying so, but we believe a fleet of light canoes will yet be seen upon the ornamental waters in the Ashburton Domain.

OPENING OF ST. JAMES’ CHURCH, CHERTSEY.

The new Church of St. James’, Chertsey, was opened by the most Rev. the Primate at 11 a.m. on Sunday last. The church was quite full long before the hour of service, and though constructed to seat fifty persons, quite eighty were within the walls. The prayers were read by the rev. incumbent, and the lessons by a licensed lay reader; the Bishop being celebrant and preacher. Two young persons were confirmed who were unable to attend the confirmation service at Rakaia Parish Church a few Sundays ago. The singing, which was unaccompanied, was led by the incumbent, assisted by several members of the Parish Church and Kylo, and was heartily sustained by the congregation. We have never heard a service without an accompaniment so well sustained by the choir as was the case on the present occasion. There were twenty-five communicants. The collec tion, which was in aid of the building fund, amounted to Ll 3 Is. 2d. The church was built from a plan.by Mr. Mountfort, of Christchurch, and is the fifth of six churches proposed to be built in the parish of Rakaia. It has been arranged to hold divine service in the church every Sunday afternoon at three o’clock—twice in the month by the incumbent, and twice by a lay reader. The Chertsey people have come forward very liberally with subscriptions to meet the grant from the church property trustees, and it is understood that the church has been opened free of debt. The altar, lecturn, prayer desk, handsome Brussels carpet for the sacrarium, set of seals, chair, and matting for the aisle, have all been presented by members of the church and friends. In the evening the Bishop preached at the Parish Church to a very good congregation.

ASHBURTON GAS COMPANY.

The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Ashburton Gas Company was held in the Library Hall yesterday afternoon. There were only about a dozen share holders present, and Mr. T. Bullock occupied the chair. Mr. J. Ward, the Secretary, read the advertisement calling the meeting; also, the minutes of the meeting held in October, 1878, which were adopted. The Secretary then read the report and balance-sheet for the year ending 30th September, 1879. The report was as follows : REPORT. Your directors have much pleasure in meeting the shareholders, after many vexatious delays, at this their first annual meeting after the commencement of the company’s operations in the manufacture of gas. Shortly after the meeting held on the 21at of October 1878, at which your directors were appointed, active steps were taken to commence the erection of works on the site previously selected for the purpose. The works were pushed on with considerable energy, with the view of being ready to supply the town with gas at the commencement of the winter of 1879, but a series of delays and accidents occurred, which prevented gas being sup plied before the 15th August, the winter being then, of course, nearly over. Some of the delays took place in consequence of the large concrete tank made for receiving the gas-holder being found to leak when filled with water. When this leakage had been remedied and the tank again filled the pressure caused it to split from top to bottom. This caused another delay and very considerable extra expense to repair and again fill. Mains have been laid through the principal thoroughfares of the town, about two and a half miles' in length. These works, including retort house, manager’s house, etc., were com pleted at a cost of over L 6,000, and may now be said to be in full operation. Your directors, after due deliberation, decided to charge the net price of 19s. 4d. per 1,000 cubic feet, a price similar to that charged by the several gas companies in this Provincial District at the commence ment of their operations, notwithstanding that building material and coal cost con siderably more than at other places con sequent upon the distance from a seaport. The works commenced with supplying thirteen consumers, and at the end of the financial year, namely, the 30th Septem ber, these had increased to forty-five. As the works have only been in opera tion six weeks, of course no dividend can be declared. Four directors have to be elected to fill the vacancies on the Board, namely, Messrs. B. G. Wright and A. Orr, who retire by lot, but who are eligible for re election, and two in place of Messrs. Ivess and Doherty.

Messrs. E. G. Wright, A. Orr, R. W, Shearman, add F. T. Mayo are the only , candidates nominated for the vacancies) ; It will be necessary to elect auditors in place of Messrs. W. H. Zouch and G. Jameson, who retire, but are eligible for re-election. Thomas Bullock, Chairman. balance-sheet. The balance-sheet returns the gross liabilities as L 7,995 Is. 9d., including L 4,498 10s. of capital called up debts and bills payable, L 1,852 18s. 7d.; and bank overdraft, L 1,642 18s. Id. The corresponding assets are made up by free hold land, L 792 10s.; plant, building, and cost of mains, L 5,836 18s. lOd. ; metres, L 543 11s. 3d.; preliminary ex penses, L 240 16s. 9d.; office furniture, Lll 10s. 6d. ; and debts due to the Com pany, L 569 14s. sd. Total, L 7,995 la. 9d. The profit and loss account shows the gross revenue for the period under notice to have been L 173 7s. 6d. , and the expenditure, L 172 12s. sd. The capital account exhibits the nominal capital as LIO,OOO ; of which 4,498 10s. is paid-up, and Lsollos. is due from unpaid calls._ The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said that nine months of the year had elapsed since the date on which the annual meeting should have been held, the delay having occurred through inability to obtain the necessary nunlbera of shareholders re quired to be present for the election of directors and. auditors under the pro visions of the Joint Stock Company’s Act, under which they had, until a few months since, been working. However, they were now working under articles of association, and by the new arrangement they required only eight shareholders to forma quorum, whereas, under the Act, sixteen were necessary. The present meeting had been called immediately suffi cient time had elapsed required by the articles of association. It would be seen from the report that several miles of mains had been laid through the town. At the commencement of the undertaking they only had thirteen consumers— when the report was compiled this number had in creased to forty-five, and he (the Chair man) was in a position to state that the present number of consumers was seventy five, so there had been a steady increase in the Company’s business since opera tions were commenced. The charge made for gas was the same as the Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Oamaru Companies had charged in their infancy ; and considering the distance which Ashburton Was from any seaport town, and the consequent increase in freight charges, etc., the shareholders would, no doubt, be of opinion that a fail price had been charged. Nevertheless, the directors were about to reduce the price, which would probably result in an increase of consumers. It would be necessary to hold the next annual meeting as soon after the 30th September next as possible, when the directors hoped to be able to declare a dividend. Consider ing the very scattered nature of the town, it would, no doubt, explain the large amount expended in plant, some of the pipes being laid in streets were there wex - e very few consumers. Had it not been for the depression setting in immediately after the company came into existence, Mr. Bullock believed the number of con sumers instead of being seventy-five would have number over 100. However, he be lieved that in a year or two’s time, the concern would be as great a success as was anticipated gwhen it was inagurated. As seen by the report it would be necessary to elect directors and auditors, and would conclude his remarks by moving the adop tion of the report and balance-sheet. Mr. Mayo seconded.

Mr. Power was of opinion that if a re duction in the price of gas were made, it would encourage the increase of con sumers.

Mr. Cookson gave expression to the same opinion.

In reply to Mr. Chapman, the Chair man said there would certainly be no further calls made until after the next meeting. In any case, due notice would be given when the directors thought such a course necessary.

The report and balance-sheet were then adopted. Mr. Power proposed, and Mr. Cookson seconded —“That Messrs. E. G. jWright, Andrew Orr, R. W. Shearman, and F. T. Mayo be elected directors for the ensuing twelve months.” Carried.

Mr. T. Quill proposed, Mr. Causey seconded, and it was unanimously carried —“ThatMessrs. Jameson and Zouch be re-elected auditors of the Company.” Mr. R. Friedlander, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Ward for his services as secretary, referred in highly eulogistic terms to the very satisfactory manner in which the duties pertaining to the office of secretary had been coonducted. Mr. T. Quill seconded the motion, re marking it was not only for the manner in which Mr. Ward had done his work that he' deserved thanks, but also to his courtesy and kindness in placing his office at the service of the directors whenever required for holding a meeting. After the Chairman had spoken in a similar strain, the motion was carried unanimously. Yotes of thanks having been accorded to the directors and to the manager of the Company, Mr. Causey, several share holders bearing testimony to that gentle man’s ability, the meeting terminated.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

MR. JOHN GRIGG’S PAPER ON FARMING.

To THE EpiTOE.

Sir,—l have only recently read the above paper, and it has struck me that one portion of it is rather calculated to mislead those agriculturalists who are not aware of the whole facta of the case. I allude to where Mr. Grigg refers to Mr. J. Cochrane’s style of farming. Now, any one judging solely from Mr. Grigg’s remarks and the short notice in your interesting paper, would conclude that by some superior style of farming, Mr Cochrane has brought his land to such fertility as to grow crops double, and oven treble, the average return. No mention is made of the quality of the soil, and this is where the misapprehension may arise, as, if farmers believed that by a certain system of farming, average land could be made to give such returns, I am quite sure that such a style would be constantly and universally followed. The plain fact is, that, for a certain length of the Wakanui Creek there stretches a remarkably fertile slip of land —as good, all-round, farm land, I don’t think it could be surpassed. The richest part is towards the centre, and it is pre cisely on this spot that Mr. Cochrane had the good sense and discernment to locate himself. And it is right here, as those “guessing” cousins of ours would say, it is right here that the credit and honor comes in. When, some eight or nine years ago, Mr. Cochrane successfully “interviewed” the Band-Office officials he took that tide at the flood -which leads on to fortune.

He bought it against the advice of wise acres, who exist in all places. From the first skimming and cross-ploughing, the land threw crops that suited the owner’s pocket “all to pieces.” Mr. Cochrane has wisely stuck to the Creek, and refrained from ‘ ‘ the big block on the Plains ” which a short time ago was an indispensable adjunct to to every Ashburton farmer. As your paragraph has it, he is making a home of it,jjand with considerable taste.

■ln these lines I think I 'have written ■nothing but what Mr. Cochrane would himself be the' first to acknowledge as strictly true. To conclude, whilst praying for more such farmers as Mr. Cochrane, I would also pray for more land like that on the Wakanui Creek. —I am, &c. A. Koscob. Hinds, July 14, 1880.

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

To the Editor.

Sib, —I see by to-day’s telegrams that Sir W. Fox has presented a petition to the House praying for religious teaching in schools, and further that he has moved —“ That the Education Act be amended to provide permissive powers being granted to Education Boards to introduce Bible reading in schools, subject to time-table and a conscience clause.” This motion has, of course, been condemned, princi pally by Mr. Holiest on, who says that the introduction of the Bible would tend to destroy the national system of education which the colony aimed at. There were other members who spoke to the motion who also condemned it, notably our “ drugo-phobic ” local member, Mr. A. Saunders, who seems to have a terrible antipathy to lawyers, doctors, and parsons, and everything relative to them. Some twelve months ago Otago discussed largely the question of Bible reading in our public schools, but as nothing seemed to be able to be done the interest died out. The subject has once more been opened up, I am glad to see, and I think we may expect some good to accrue this time. Sir W. Fox, in moving his proposi tion, contended that the Bible was the only book expressly excluded from the State school teaching, and I must say that the presence of the Bible in pur State schools is conspicuous only by its absence, and this, if I remember correctly, is to be attributed to tire fact that the clause of the Act which caused its expulsion was hastily carried through the Assembly without the members having appealed to the sense of their constituences in the matter, and so flagrant was this breach, of order that Mr. Macandrew rose up and foretold a reaction, which in due course did take place, more especially in Otago, but exciting considerable comment both favorable and adverse all over the colony. Now, I should like to ask what all this glib tirade against the Bible reading amounts to 1 Simply the question with the statement that as reading the Bible without comment would do no good, therefore the Bible must go. Now, it is just simply this reading without comment that is claimed for by the Bible reading party as at least some acknowledgment of the presence of God in their assemblies. In all the parade there is made of the numerous sects of the colony, the Bible reading question is resolved into a dispute between two parties—Protestants and Catholics, not all Protestants, for there are some of these (nominally so) who would hardly be moved if they saw the Bible burnt by the public hangman; but there is a class of conscientious Protestants, and these I presume are not in a minority in this colony, and are their consciences in this matter of no account at all 1 Is there any logic in giving way to the Catholics, who abate no claim, and in mortifying the Protestants by refusing to acknowledge their claims ? Now, we know that in party disputes it is wise and Christian to endeavor to compose their differences by mutual compromises, but where there is a vital principle involved a compromise would not only be unwise but even dangerous. Such a principle is now, I think, involved in this dispute. The Catholics insist upon the Bible being removed from the schools —a demand that a conscientious Protestant, from two-fold reasons, connot accede to—first, because he considers it dishonoring to his Maker that the Bible should be slighted in such assemblies ; and, second, because he fears the Catholic religion gains ground by that means. Here, then, we see two sects in the State at utter variance with each other—the one (the minority) insisting upon gaining an object from the other (the majority) that the latter cannot yield. What, then, should be the action of a wise Legislature in such a case 1 It certainly looks tyrannical to decide in favor of the majority, but we mnst remember it is a vital principle, and it is only right that those who are members of what is termed the national religion should have their privileges confirmed by acts of their own Legislature. ■ . . : But now I will enquire what hardships this Bible reading proceeding subjects the members of the rival sect to. Are their children compelled to learn tasks in the Bible ? No. Are they compelled to read the Bible ? No. Are they compelled • to hear it read ? To this I must again reply no. It seems to me that the only real hardship in the matter is, that teachers who are old enough to have formed their own opinions happen to be present while the Bible is being read, and the fact of a Catholic being so present and listening to a Protestant reading the Bible (according to Bishop Moran) amounts to an act of perversion on the part of the former. If such is the case, I have known and do : know many men who considered them selves staunch Catholics, become perverts on the same terms. As a bar to the settlement of this gx’eat question, this ob jection seems so flimsy that I marvel how. sensible Catholics forbear to laugh at it. Our worldly politicians would effect to get out of this difficulty by attempting to soar above the matter altogether. I am under the profound belief that there are among our colonial legislators, men so self-elevated with their, ideal wordly en lightenment —who, when the Bible ques tion crops up at all, seem to consider that however well it may be for children, yet really for men of their intelligence it is hardly worthy of their serious consider ation. In banning the Bible from our schools, our rulers in effect ignore the presence of the Deity in their midst, and the inference they give color to, is, there may possibly be a God, but in these halls of legislation we do not recognise him. Why, if an educated Hindoo were to visit our shores, they would by their action give him reason to say on his return “ These English are strange people, with all the fuss they make about their Bible with us in preaching and trying to convert us, yet in their own country they ignore it. As I went through their schools I never once got a sight of it. ” How true this would be, and it is not only quietly ignoring it but it gives a signal contradiction to a statement made by our gracious Queen Victoria, who, in answer to a demand of an African chief as to what was the secret of England’s greatness, sent him a Bible/ It appears as if our rulers were determined to make New Zealand a great country without troubling the Bible in the matter. This great question—Bible reading in our schools—has occupied the attention of some of the greatest thinking men in the world ; and, I think, it would be well if we glanced for a moment at the decision arrived at outside our own colony. Let us take first Victoria, where the bitter fruits of the secular system have already shown themselves. There we see the Bishop of Melbourne, who at . first advo cated secularism, has completely changed his opinion on that subject. But now, let us look at the mother country. Scot land occupies but an insignificant part on the map of Europe, but it has acted a great part in the world of history ; it has pro duced such men as Hugh Miller, Guthrie, George Gilfiillan, men whose reputations have rung through Europe. They were all great men, yet their opinions were different slightly. In Scotland, within the last three years, I believe, the question of the Bible in schools was put to the vote, and the result was, with the exception of two or three dozen parishes,

a unanimous resolution for the retention, of the Bible. But perhaps, Scotland is too rigid for our go-a-head colonies, rand I will move furthur soutln . In _ London, where is focussed all the intelligence of the three kingdoms, is it not strange that the school boards there should also retain the Bible. How America stands affected in the great problem, I am un able to say, but, I should think, that as it is a land where all extremes meet we might find both methods holding in dif ferent parts there. In India I believe the Bible system prevails through all • its schools. Apologising for the length of this letter. —I am, &c., .Eve’s Grandson., 16th July, 1880.

A SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

The Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch Press telegraphs as follows ;

Wellington, July 16,

There was an extraordinary scene in the House this evening. Sir G. Grey com menced to speak on the Maori Prisoners Bill, when seeing that Mr. Hall was correcting proofs he objected to go on till the Premier listened. The Premier still went on reoding, and Sir G. Grey remained silent. Several members attacked the Premier for taking no notice, but as fast as he finished one proof he started on another, Sir G. Grey, after standing half an hour got a messenger to bring a chair into a passage between the seats and propped himself against the back , of., it. Innumerable points of order were raised to get over his difficulty, bub with no good result. Motions, of various kinds, were put but still Sir. G. Grey stood up with folded amis and bowed head, calmly waiting for the Premier, to pay attention. Sir G. Grey said he had a duty to.perform to the House and country, and until the Premier paid attention he would not go on. While Sir G. Grey was still up, Mr. M'Lean pretended to suppose that he had finished, and calmly rose to say a few words on the Bill, but was received 1 with terrific groans from the Opposition, and loud applause from, the Govern ment side. The Speaker ordered him to sit down, but Mr. M'Lean warmly insisted on his right to to .speak, as no one was speaking. Major Harris moved the adjournment of the debate, but was ruled out of order, as Sir. G. Grey had not sat down, and if he did so would lose his right to speak. Mr. Brandon in dignantly asked if members were to . sit there for half-an-hour. If Sir G. Grey liked to stand silent it was not right that he should keep the House. Mr. Reeves said it was not right for the Premier to do so. Mr. Wood pointed out that the O’Donoghue once stood four hours in the House of Commons, and the Speaker had no power to order him t) go on or sit down. At this stage Mr. Andrews got up to ask if two members could stand on the floor at once, but was howled t down by cries of “You make the third,” and “ Order, order.” The Speaker said that Sir G. Grey could now proceed, : but Sir George replied that he would stand silent tUI next day if the Premier was not attentive. Mr. Mac andrew asked if the House could not adjourn to enable the Premier to finish his proofs. . The Speaker said that the question could not be put till Sir George Grey sat down. Mr. Reeves said that the Premier, . instead of correcting his proofs, should correct his conduct. Major Harris created immense laughter by asking if all this silence would appear in Han sard, on which a member suggested that it should be represented by several blank pages. Mr. De Lautour wished to know if he could not by the rules move that Sir George Grey be allowed to sit. The Speaker ruled that the motion could not be put till Sir George Grey gave way, then he would lose his right to speak. Mr. Reeves rose, amid great uproar, to speak and was peremptorily ordered to sit down. Mr. Johnston drew attention to the rule relative to the obstruction of the House, and members being guilty of con temptuous conduct by so doing. The Speaker said that he could not say that Sir George Grey was obstructing the House. Mr. Reeves contended that the Premier was obstructing, not Sir George Grey. Major Atkinson said that the; Premier had been listening all the time,' but one member of the Government represented all, and the others had been listening'too. The Premier had by this time finished his'..proofs, and commenced to read the Bill. Sir George Grey here got a msssenger to bring his overcoat and pad the back of his chair with it, and a footstool was soon after brought in. Mr. McLean asked if he could not draw atten tion to strangers being in the gallery, as it was a pity that the public should see the hon. gentleman standing there making an exhibition of himself. Sir George Grey asked that those words be taken down. At a quarter to nine the Speaker asked the House to let him leave the chair for half an hour, which was done. Sir G. Grey had: then been standing silently for one hour. The scene was one of intense excitement, and at times the position was so ludicrousthat the whole House broke out into roars of laughter. About a hundred points of order were raised, and several motions put but nothing altered the position. Sir G. Grey would not give way, and the Premier remained immovable the whole time. On the House resuming, Sir G. Grey proceeded, expressing the hope that the Premier now would attend, to which Mr. Hall replied that he had been attend ing all the time. This second remarkable scene will probably not be the last one of the present session. Another similar dead-lock may arise at any moment.

PARLIAMENTARY.

(per press association). HOUSE OF_ REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, July 19. The House met at 2.30. THE HW OP LIBEL. Mr. Reid gave notice that he would ask if Government proposed to bring in a Bill amending the law of newspaper libel this session 1 QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it Was stated that Government had under its considera tion the propriety of remitting the duty on chaff. Replying to a question from Sir. George Grey, Mr. Bryce stated that Tawhai, on coming to Wellington to join the West Coast Commission, applied for an advance of money towards his expenses, such as paying for a survey and buying a watch, which had been refused. Before making that application, he was perfectly aware of the names of the two other members appointed on the Commission. MAORI PRISONERS BILL. The debate on the second reading of the Maori Prisoners Bill was resumed by Mr. Montgomery, who spoke against the measure. - : - Mr. Bowen contended that the prisoners had not been merely arrested for trespass, but because the country was in a state of war. All technicalities ought to be dis pensed with, and the question faced as one of detention in consequence of war, or of the threatened outbreak of War, The measure was one which should not be dealt with as a party question, but treated as an exigency arising out of the preserva tion of peace. Mr. Ballance disputed the idea that a disturbance would be created if these men were liberated, considering that war was more likely to result from their unjust detention than otherwise. Te Whiti was mainly responsible for the trespass, and it

was he who should be punished. He (Mr Ballahce) criticised the Native Commis sion report, and showed that the recom men dations contained in the report were not at all proportionate with the promises and professions made re confiscations by successive Governments. He charged the Government of 1869 and 1870 with being responsible for the present position of affairs on the West Coast. He professed no. sympathy with the native prisoners. He desired to know how long they were to be detained in prison. He could not accept the respon- • - sibility of refusing to vote for the measure, still he wanted it to be understood that he did so because Government had assured them it was absolutely necessary for the preservation of the peace. : • ■ Mr. Gisborne said the principle of the Bill was not postponement of the tfial, but an abolition of the trial altogether, , It was not, as had been asserted, a trivial * offence the natives stood charged with ; it was riot, if not treason, and as such, would be smartly dealt with by a Court of law. He objected to the power proposed to be given to the Government of saying whether or not the prisoners, when liberated, had violated the conditions of liberation, and contended that this should rest solely in a Court of law. He main tained that provisions .should be made in the Bill for bringing the prisoners to trial, ; - otherwise it would encourage the belief that Te Whiti had been instrumental towards their liberation. He,, too, would, not oppose the Bill, but relied solely on the representation of the Government. Mr. Hall said Government was anxious to allow the prisoners that freedom as soon as possible, and they would be liberated the moment that could be done with safety. The powers sought for, by the Government would be carefully and con stitutionally exercised. It was absurd to describe the natives as an oppressed, people. All the oppression to which they’ were subject came from their professed but false friends. The condition of affairs was exceptional, so much so that no. law in existence could meet them. That' was the reason they had to ask the House for - exceptional legislation. Mr. Brown spoke in opposition to the Bill, and the debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. ;

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

(From our own Correspondent.)

[By Telegraph.] Wellington, July 19. The Maori Prisoners Bill is still under discussion. Its fate is not doubtful, as those members of the Opposition who feel . the responsibilities of their own actions would take care not to vote it out, what ever they may say against it. The West Coast report is getting some bitter criti cisms, and Mr. Fox evidently- sees that he V spoke too early in * the debate. Mr. Sheehan has given notice to take it into re consideration early next month. He knows the advantage of putting on a bold face to what he must meet.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST EROM EUROPE.

( Reuter*s Telegrams,} London, July 35.

The total reserve in notes and bullion- ! in the Bank of England is L 16,500,000, r New Zealand securities are unchanged, fi New Zealand and Adelaide, breadstufis . are quiet, at last quotations. Australian tallow is firms. ' - - jt -

London, July 16.

The Marquis of Harrington, Secretary of State for India, made a statementin the House of Commons to-day, ! in the course of which he said that. he was of; opinion that England should bear a sub-} stantial portion of the Afghan war, and . that the whole burden should not be'" thrown upon India. "J- A meeting was held to-day at which \ many members of the House of Commons " expressed themselves as being opposed to ■ the' Bill for Granting Compensation to Irish Tenants, which has been introduced by the Government. ■■ The House of Commons has adopted an amendment on the Irish Bill intro duced by Mr. Gladstone for the purpose of not relieving landlords from ‘compensa tion if they refused the terms offered! to the tenants. The House also agreed to a motion against, the proposed statue to Prince Napoleon in Westminster Abbey. Mr. Gladstone opposed.

July 17,

The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 1,850,000 quarters. ; The prospect of the American wheat harvest is favorable. The cricket match which was com menced on Thursday between' the , Aus- .. tralians and Eighteen of the Wernett Club, at Oldham, in Lancashire, was coh ; eluded to-day, and resulted in another • victory for the Australians, in one innings, with twenty-one runs to spare, . The Aus tralians, in their first innings, scored il9 ; runs, McDonnell being the-highest scorer,. > with 63 runs, for which he was howled'' out. The Wernett Club, .in their first!, innings, scored only 38, and, being so far behind their; opponents, they hadr-to > follow on. In their second innings they were all disposed of for sixty, and the Australians thus won the match, as stated, on the first innings. During the innings; of the Wernett team, Spofforth took' eleven wickets. The wicket was* very dead. The attendance of the public at the match each day was very large. The , Australians have played: eighteen matches, thirteen of which they have won, and the balance of five have been drawn, mostly in their favor. i . Athens, July 17; The Greek Government have sent to the Great Powers a reply to their collec tive vote embodying the decision of the Berlin Conference in regard to the Turko* Greek dispute. The reply intimates the acceptance by the Greek Government of the decision of the Conference as to terri tory ceded to Greece for rectification of her frontier. - Constantinople, July 15. The Ambassadors of the Great Powers to-day presented a collective note-to, the Porte embodying the decision of the re cent Berlin Conference in regard to Turkish affairs. , Constantinople, July 17- Several Germans have recently been appointed by the Porte to high posts in the Turkish Foreign Finance and War Departments. Port Said, July 16. ; The Orient has arrived here after k . splendid passage. r Trickett, the oarsman, is in excellent ‘ health. . . , Calcutta, July 16. ; News has been received from Afghan* istari that Abdul Rahraart, who was offered the Ameership, has crossed the Hindoo 1 Boosh, and is now believed to be on his way to Cabul. . , News has come to hand from Afghan istan that the Native Infantry under Shere Ali, ruler of Candahar, recently deserted near Girishk, where they had 1 been despatched to oppose the advance of Ayoub Khan. The force of British troops operating with Shere Ali pursued and routed them, and recovered the guns that they had taken. .It is Understood that the, position of affairs renders it necessary for. British troops to remain in Candahar until ’ Shere All’s position is secure. AUSTRALIAN. ;■ {Per Reuter's Agency.) • - i'.l i 1 ‘ MBLBOVKtns,’.'JviyX6.s,,ilfi -1 It has been decided by the-Ministry to : ' meet Parliament. . . ... ,\

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1880.



NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. All orders for insertion of advertise ments must bo written legibly on the face of tbe advertisement. When no order is given the advertisement will be inserted until countermanded, and charged accord ingly. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The ErixoK, AUCTION SALES. This Day. Alfred Harrison, at the Tinwald Saleyards —Horses, Implements, Harness, &c. Sale at 12 o’clock sharp.



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