COMMERCIAL.

[by TELEGRAPH.] Dunedin, May 7.

Prime beef, 225. Gd. per 1001 b ; mut ton, 2d. to 2|-d. ; good sample wheat, 3s. lOd. to 4s. ; fowl s wheat, 3s. to 3s. 3d. ; oats, Is. 3d. to Is. 4d. ; malt barley, 3s. lOd. to 4s. 3d. ; feed, 2s. 6d. to 3s. ; potatoes, L2 10s. ; old hay, L 4 ; new hay, L 3 os ; chaff, L 3 ; straw, L2 ; bran, T. 3 ; pollard, L 4 ; flour, LlO 10s. to LlO 15s. large sacks; oatmeal, LlO ; pearl barley, LlB ; onions, 7s. ; new cheese, sd. ; bacon rolled, lOd. ; hams, Is. ; sides bacon, lid.

Messrs. Edmiston, Gundry, and Co. report as follows : —At the Horse Bazaar on Saturday we had about 20 entries, most of which were sold at fair prices. We quote good heavy draughts at £35 to £4O ; slight draughts, £2O to £2B ; light harness horses, £l2 to £lO ; hacks, from £6 to £ll. At the Tinwald yards, on the 27th April, there were yarded 880 sheep, 93 pigs, 55 head of cattle. We sold sheep as follows :—Butchers’ mutton, 7s. lid. to 9s. 2d.; stores, ss. 3s. to Gs. lOd.; lambs, 4s. Gd. to 55.; pigs, from los. to 575.; cattle, springing heifers, £5 10s. to £7 2s. Gd.; good milch cows, as high as £9 ; stores, £2 ss. to £4 10s.; coach horse, £l7 10s.; draught mare, £24 10s.; one do., £l6. On Tuesday, the 4th May, we had a large clearing sale in the estates of James Gardiner, D. Evans, E. Watkins, and Risely Bros. There was a very large attendance of buyers, and the bidding was keen and spirited throughout. The fol lowing are some of the prices realised : Draught horses, £3l, £27, four at £lB, three at £l6 10s., and fifteen at prices from £5 to £ls ; young colts, £9 10s. to £l3 10s.; sheep, a good line of cross-bred mutton, at 10s.; eighty-seven lambs, ss. 5d.; drays, £7 to - £l2 55.; one waggon, £14.; Cambridge rollers, £l2 and £l6 each ; double-furrow plough, by Reid and Gray £l4 155.; other makers’ ploughs, from £5 to £11. ; harrows, £3 10s. to £3 155.; other's from £1 to £2 10s.; reapers and binders £26, £lB, £l7, £l6, £ll, £7 10s., and £7 ; binding wire, 21d. to 3id. per lb.; seed-sower, £lO 10s.; tarpaulins, £ll7s. Gd. to £4105.; harness, tools, etc., sold satisfactorily, the sale realising £1137. The properties were withdrawn, owing to the lateness of the hour, to be offered at onr rooms on Thursday next. On Satur day we held our usual sale of grain, pro duce, and miscellaneous goods, at which there was a fair attendance.

CHRISTCHURCH CORN EXCHANGE

The following is the report of the Corn Exchange for the week ending Friday, the 7th instant : The tone of the market has in no way altered since last week’s report. Advices from Home continue to report the wheat market languid. Buyers are not pur chasing so freely ; prices, however, can not be said to have receded. Produce of all descriptions is being offered in large quantities, but buyers are reticent. Wheat—Largo lines in good quality and in good condition, fit for shipment, will find buyers at 3s. 6d. f.o.b. Seed parcels of particular kinds are being inquired for, and will realise 3s. lOd. to 4s. in Christ church. Chick wheat is in large supply, with rather a sluggish demand. For really good quality of this description sales have been effected at 2s. 10i. ; the market, however, is weaker, and may be quoted at 2s. Bd. to 2s. 9d. per bushel; medium and inferior quality, 2s. to 2s. 4d. Oats—The market this week is hardly so good as it was for buyers, the utmost obtainable for good milling quality being Is. 3d. to Is.-Id. per bushel. Feed parcels in large lines are going at Is. 2d. to Is. 2id., according to sample. Barley—Sales are difficult to effect, only prime samples are moving off, at prices ranging from 3s. 6d. to 3s 9d. per bushel ; fair medium samples are offered from 3s. sd. to 3s. 9d. per bushel, with hardly any inquiry.

Grass seed is very slow of sale, only the best samples meeting with any attention, at prices varying from 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d. Cocksfoot, 2Jd. to per lb. Potatoes are still slow of sale, with very low prices offering, 275. Gd. per ton at country stations being about the money to be obtained, sacks extra. Cheese and Butter—4d. to 4id. for the former ; BAd to 9d for the latter.

AUCTION SALES.

Saturday, May 8. J. E. Buchanan and Co., at their rooms, Havelock street.—l 6 Splendid Suburban Sections. Sale at 2 o’clock. Matson & Co.—At their rooms, Hereford and Cashel Streets, at two o’clock—l 32 sections in Methvcn township. Messrs. J. T. Eord and Go., at their Land Sale Rooms, Cashel street, Christchurch. A number of valuable Properties. Sale at 1.30 sharp. Wednesday, May 12. Alfred Harrison, on the premises of the late Mr. James Cairns, Waterton.— Compact little Farm of 100 Acres. Sale at 12 sharp. Thursday, May 13. Edmiston, Gundry, and Co., at their rooms, East street.—3s Sections in the Township of Tinwald. Four-roomed cottage and one acre of land, fenced, at corner of North-east Town Belt. Also Risely Brothers .farm of 197 acres at Wakanui. Sale at 2 o’clock. 338E58C83

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows : For Christchurch and North at 6 a.rn. 9. a. in., 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, Timavu, and South at 6 a.rn. 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 Longheach, 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 Chertsey, Rakaia, &c. at 10.35 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.25 p.m. daily. From Temuka and Tiraaru 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. in. daily. From "Wakanui and Seafield on Tues days and Fridays at 2.30 p. m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster. Tuesday, May 11. For Otago and Australian Colonies, j>er Ringorooma. The next mail for the United Kingdom -yiajSan Francisco, will be closed at Christ church on May 22, and j will be due in London on July 6. SYDNEY J. DICK, Chief Postmaster.

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1880.

• The time for Parliament to rc-assemble is rapidly approaching, and political quid nuncs are already mapping out for us what is Tkely to be done by the legislators. As yet, however, only very bare indications of the programme for the ensuing session have been given, but from these indica tions, and from what has been going on during the recess, it is not very difficult to judge pretty accurately what measures will form the j piece de resistance of the ses sion about to be opened. During the re cess every public body has been asked to supply information and make suggestions on the subject of the Adminstration of Charitable Aid, and as this is a question that very closely affects every con stituency, it follows naturally, from the interest of the subject itself, that the Go vernment’s circular has been pretty freely responded to. We will not be surprised, therefore, when we hear that the Bill of last session is proposed to be considerably amended, if the whole question indeed is not re-opened, and the present system of administering charitable aid remodelled. In fact, from the tone assumed by some leading journals in the colony, who may be assumed to know something of what is going on behind the scenes, we shall not feel that we have been very much taken by surprise, if some completely new 7 machinery—new at least in the colonies —-be introduced for providing a means of support for the poor by the public. In any case, though the particular direction in which legislation on this subject may go is not pointed out by anyone very clearly, and by none with authority is the course Government may take hinted at, w r e may rest assumed that, while the ex chequer remains in its present attenuated condition, without much hope of becoming more plethoric, efforts will be made to relieve the general fund of the calls made upon it for charitable aid, and to provide for the relief of the poor and the support of charitable institutions by direct local taxation. Of course, this is only specula tion after all, but it is justified, we think, by present appearances, and there fore, we say it w'ill cause us no surprise if a most radical change in the -whole exist ing system does not take place. Then Government stands committed to a new Representation Bill, and this is a subject of peculiar interest in this district, for if any part of the colony requires to have its Parliamentary representation recon sidered this district does. The district extends over many miles of country, popu lated by people whose interests are not identical, and it is absurd to suppose that it has a fair share of representation in one representative. Most people will doubt less be curious to learn on what basis Ministers will propose to re-acljust the representation in Parliament of the Row Zealand, but beyond the fact that voluminous tables have been prepared showing'the population, boundaries, repre sentation, etc., of the present ] aiiiamen tary districts, there is as yet no indication as to w'hat basis will Ie adopted. It ap pears, however, to be popular opinion that population should he the principal found ation on which to redistiibute the seats, and we may fairly anticipate that this basis will be chosen. In that case not a few constituencies that now have repre sentatives all to themselves, and some have two, will be grouped with other over represented districts, and the surplus members given to districts like our own that have too few. Among other measures, we may expect to hear again of several Bills that were dropped last session, and on which the party now in power enter tained strong feelings. The Regulations of Elections Bill will be one of these ; and perhaps a Licensing Bill may afford room for the airing of much oratory. It is rumored that the Property Tax wil] be assailed from the Opposition benches, and

that an attempt will bo made to at least modify its operation. If we may believe the gossip that is being retailed there is quite a stack of Bills prepared, and ready to be submitted to Parliament, so that an active session may be expected.

The Borough Rates. The Town Clerk, Mr. Braddell, following out the instructions of the Council, has issued a batch of summonses against those rate payers who have neglected to pay up.

Wakanui Rates. — The Board on Thurs day decided to prosecute all defaulters without exception, and without further notice, so that arrears had better be paid up forthwith, to avoid unpleasant conse quences. Drunkenness. —A first offender pleaded guilty before Mr. F. Guinness yesterday morning to being drunk while in charge of a dray. Sergeant Felton being able to bear testimony to the delinquent’s usual good behaviour and respectability, his Worship leniently let him off with a fine of ss. Sporting. —The running match for L 5 a-side, between Messrs. Montgomery and Groves, previously alluded to in these columns, takes place this afternoon in Mr. Hay T. Smith’s paddock, near the mill, commencing at 3 o’clock. The dis tance is one mile, and an interesting con test may be anticipated. Bar-framed Hives. Beekeepers— and the interesting employment of bee keeping is becoming very popular—can now be supplied with bar-framed hives after the Christchurch Society’s pattern, by Mr. T. A. Gates, Ashburton. Mr. Gates has become quite enthusiastic on the bar-frame, and is as well posted up in bee keeping as ho can be. In making bis hives he has most slavishly followed Er. Irving’s ideal, and his “ houses ” are quite compact little bee cottages—comfortable dwellings for the busy honey-gatherers, and ornaments as well to any garden. The Borough Council Makes a Rise. —At the Wakanui Road Board’s meeting on Thursday, it was decided to pay over to the Borough the sum of £289 25., being the share ot accrued laud fund coming to the Borough from that Board. From the Longheach Board a sum of £290 or there by is also due to the Borough, being the proportion of land fund dife, so that between the two Boards a contribution of something like £OOO will be added to the Borough’s funds, a most timely acquisi tion. This will enable the Council to pay off their overdraft, and have a good nest egg loft over. Civil Cases. —At the Resident Magis trate’s Court yesterday, T. R. Hodder and Company obtained judgment for L 7 Bs. and costs against a man named Bararei for goods supplied, and obtained an order for immediate execution. In the case of Quill v. Herbert Honor, Mr. Purnell appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Crisp for the defendant, 'ibis was a claim for L2 IGs. for goods supplied, but tha evi dence went to show that the summons should have been served on defendant’s brother, who was now living in Oamaru, the defendant stating that at the time the goods were supplied he was not in the dis trict of Canterbury. Plaintiff was there fore nonsuited, with 10s. Gd. costs. A Needless Delay. —Before the civil ca-es were brought on yestci-day morning, Mr. O’Reilly drew his Worship’s attention to the case of Weeks and Dixon v. Harris, which had been adjourned a month since, to allow of Mr. Harris’ evidence being taken in Dunedin, and the case had been put down for heaving for that day. He had been informed by the Clerk of the Court that the evidence had not arrived from Dunedin, and hence the case could not be heard. This was a delay which, he thought, required soma explanation. His Worship replied that he was helpless in the matter ; the clerk had sent the affi davit, and until the evidence was taken in Dunedin and returned to Ashburton, he could not hear the case. Mr. O’Reilly ex pressed his astonishment at the evidence not being returned, as a month seemed to be .abundance of time for that to be done. Between the Court at Dunedin and Ash burton, there seems to us, to be some gross carelessness or inefficiency. Me have since learned that Mr. lieland re ceived a telegram Mr. Harris which ran as'follows:—‘ £ Harrell omtifced io send affi davit of service of notices. Adjourned for one month to allow fresh notices to be served.” This telegram at once points out where the fault lies.

Drunk. —l Tis Worship the R. M. bad a good many drunk cases to dispose of on Thursday, no less chan five inebriates having been brought up for trial. Robert Hunter was the first, and he was fined LI, with the alternative of 48 hours in limbo. A charge of vagrancy and begging was also preferred against him. On this he was also convicted, but his Worship used lua discretion, and dismissed Hunter on this charge, but laid down a caution that if, within 24 hours after the expiry of his sentence for drunkenness, prisoner did not honor some other part of the colony 7 with his presence, he would be bad up again by the police, and twelve mouths’ enforced servitude of Her Majesty awaited him in that event. Archibald Macdonald was the next “shocking example” who walked up io the Magistrate’s table. Archie had been drunk at the railway station, and for this he was asked to con tribute LI to the public purse, or take it out in the public hotel, of which Sergeant Felton is the landlord, for 48 hours. Three others—first offenders, and wo suppress their names, hoping they will not again appear—paid a tax of ss. each for the heavy skinfuls they had taken in. The Year’s Inquests. During the year ending April 30 the coroner has held fifteen inquests in Ashburton and three in Rakaia. Of these, 13 in Ashburton wore on dead bodies, as were also the three in Rakaia, while the remaining two were on fires. In all the cases concerning the cir cumstances of death, satisfactory 7 verdicts were given, the cause of death having been ascertained in every instance except two—that of Alexander Gordon, who lost his way in the snow storm while going home to Scafield ; and that of the twins Fenny, who were found dead in their bed in Novemoer last, the medical men being unable to assign the cause of death, iu both these cases the jury returned a ver dict of “Found dead.” Of the 13 in quests held in Ashburton, nine of the bodies were of children under two years of age. In four of these cases the medi cal men were able to give the disease which caused death—three being from congestion of the lungs, and one from diphtheria ; the only cause for an inquest in these cases seemed to have been that the children died somewhat suddenly, and that they were not attended by a medical man. In the other cases, one of the chil dren was scalded by a pot of boiling water; another drank something from a bottle given her by a brother of live years; a third was accidentally drowned in a tub of water; and the cause of death of the twins Penny was not ascertained definitely. Except in the case of a farmer who met his death in a well by the breaking of the rope by which he was drawn up, all the other deaths of males were in connection with horses and vehicles oneway or other. There was only one female whose death necessitated an inquest, and that, too, was held because of the absence of a medical man. The three inquests at Rakaia were on adults—one was a death from a horse throw, another was from excessive drink ing, and a tim’d was from being run over by the express. The two fire inquiries that were held were—one on a fire that occurred at Tinwald, and the jury brought in a verdict of arson against the owner of the stacks that were burned, but the Grand Jury at the Supreme Court threw out the bill; tho second was on the fire in Tancred street, in which the jury found incendiarism, but could not name the incendiary.

Tenders. —The Borough Engineers invite tenders for the supply of 1,000 .yards of shingle, to bo delivered in East and

Tailored streets. Important to Farmers.—Notwith standing the number of vessels which were put on for the shipment of grain from Lyttelton, it appears that the supply is not equal to to the demand. In consequence of this a large quantity of produce is being stored in port at the cost of shippers. An advertisement in another column from the Railway Department advises farmers to make arrangements for shipment before sending their grain on to Lyttelton. Not a Thousand, Though. Mr. Leadley, of Prebbloton, wants LI,OOO as compensation for alleged damage done to his land by the tailing through it of Leadloy and Butterick’s drain. He noti fied the Wakanui Road Board of his want, but the Board, to use a common phrase, were “ not on,” seeing that they con sidered the drain a great benefit to Mr. Lead ey’s land, and an enhancement to its value. They would give him LlB if he liked—but not a thousand ! oh dear, no. Village Settlements.— I The portions of land to he thrown open for village settlements in Dromore, Hinds, Orari, Horndon, Aylesbury, and South Rakaia, will be open for application on Monday, the 17th instant, on deferred payments, in allotments varying from I to 5 acres, at the rates advertised. The purchase money is payable in ten half-yearly instalments without interest, and application has to be made at the Christchurch, or Timaru sur vey offices.

The Mount Somers Railway Exten sion.—An advertisement in another column calls a meeting of those interested in the Mount Somers Railway Extension, to protest against the alteration of the line, as the promoters of the meeting appear to think it is not the intention of Govern ment to proceed with the lino to Mount Somers at all. Another advertisement, by the Engineer-in-charge of the Middle Island announces the withdrawal of the contract frem tender. The Gas Regulator. —Some weeks ago wc announced to ouv readers that Mr. J. 0. Dolman had received a gas regulator from Messrs. A. and T. Burt, of Dunedin, which he connected with Mr. T. Quill’s meter at the Commercial Hotel. At that time we promised our readers that we would give the result of a crucial tost of the machine, after a few weeks’ trial. The regulator lias had a thorough and decisive test —viz., the gas company’s bill to Mr. Quill, who states that the sav ing is something over 10 per cent. This ought to open up a demand for those gas economisers, as those who have a number of lights will find it to their advantage to to negotiate with the local agent.

South Rah at a School Commxttsje.— The usual monthly meeting of the School Committee was held on Tuesday evening. Present Messrs. Cox, Makcig, and Sharp. In the absence of the chairman (Mr. 0. Tucker), Mr. Makcig was voted to the chair. The minutes of the former meeting having been read and confirmed, Mr. Makcig explained why ho Lad not attended the meetings of the Committee on three occasions. The explanation of Mr. Makcig was considered satisfactory. Correspondence from the Board of Educa tion on several matters was read ; also, the master's report. It was resolved to defer the consideration of several matters for a fuller meeting. The meeting then adjourned. The Cabmen I . —The police have given the cabmen notice that henceforth they will not be allowed to occupy the stand they have chosen for themselves opposite the Somerset Hotel, and the carriers have also been warned to remove. Complaints have been made of the crowd of loafers that obstruct the footpath at the hotel, and the cause of the crowd has been attributed to the cabs. So long as the cabs were standing opposite the hotel door, respect able females were debarred from making use of the footpath ; because of the rude stares that were directed towards them, and the not always choice remarks that were made at if not about them, and in their hearing. The police mean to pro ceed, under the Canterbury Ordinance, to put a stop to tin’s by the removal of the cabs ; and if the nuisance abates, then the experiment will at once show with whom the cause of it lay. If it does not, .then some other cause must be sought for Gift Auction. On Thursday a gift auc tion was held in the Town Hall for behoof of the Ashburton Presbyterian Church, when a large quantity of produce, &c., was dis posed of by Mr. Bullock, who kindly acted as auctioneer. The gifts comprised orffs, barley, wheat, peas, potatoes, grass seed, onions, carrots, flowers, young trees and shrubs, butter, honey, cheese, roosters, and other farm produce. There were also sold, biscuits (the gift of Mr. Thiele, baker), a clock, jewellery, a work box (which brought 305.), some Ladies’ bags, drapery and clothing. Good prices were obtained for everything sold, and not a little amusement was caused by the sale of a calf, which changed hands three times, and each time its price went into the church funds. It was first sold for 155., the buyer sold it again for half-a crown, the second buyer handed the money over to the Treasurer, and gave the calf in, when it was sold a third time by the auctioneer, fetching 255. A con signment of produce arrived too late, for some reason or other, bub it will be sold on Saturday in one of the auction rooms.

Tub Administration of Justice. —• —We have refrained hitherto from ex pressing opinions, either favorable or ad verse on the administration of justice in our little township, allowing the public, however, ample space in our columns to discuss the subject pro and eon. It has struck us, notwithstanding, that there must bo a screw loose somewhere ; and from the numerous complaints which are made from time to time it is very evi dent that something more than a mere newspaper war in the correspon dence columns is required. We had hoped, and still continue to hope that the Civil Service Commission have looked into the matter ; but from what we can gather, the evidence taken before that body in Ashburton, was merely from the officers of the Court themselves. In any case, whether the matters of which complaints are so rife were brought to light before the searching investigations of the Commis sioners, it must be some time before their report can go before Government and be acted upon. Meanwhile, to have a fair and impartial view of the ease laid before the Cabinet, we would suggest that a public meeting bo called by the Mayor, when those whoso business brings them into close connection with the Court officials, and who are acquainted with the faults and virtues, and the ability and in capacity of those by whom the law is ad ministered, might be fully discussed, and resolutions, expressing the mind of the public, sent to head-quarters at Welling ton.' —Ashburton Herald.

The Christchurch Tramway. Another portion of the branch lino tram way to Manchester street, Christchurch, was opened yesterday morning. A Shoal of Fish.—Recently such a huge swarm of barracouta, kawhai, and other fish was in Wellington harbor, that they could be killed from boats with the oar.

Worn Money. —Riches will not last fo ever, and our silver money is getting worn out by its passage from hand to hand, and over the business counters. At a Cabinet mooting in Wellington on Tuesday the degradation of silver coinage of the colony was considered, and it was decided to take advantage of the facilities offered by the Imperial Government for withdrawing worn coins from circulation.

WAKANUI ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Wakanui Roail Board was held on Thurs day, at the Board’s office, Moore street. Present—Messrs. H. T. Winter (chair man), Joseph Hunt, Hugo Friedlander, James Brown, and G. Earle. The Surveyor’s report on works com pleted and in progress was read and con sidered. CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs. Wilson and McCleary, Waka nui, wrote, accepting the Board’s offer of LlB per acre for land taken from them for drainage purposes, but demanding a further sum of Ll 5 as compensation for conveying the water .from the end of their drain to the big gully. The Clerk was instructed to reply that for the latter claim the Board was not liable. Mr. Thomas Walsh, Wakanui, wrote, asking the Board to place a culvert or drain pipes at the junction of Corbett’s and Leadlcy’s road, and to widen tire lower ditch on the north side of Corbett’s road ; also, to hasten tire completion of Leadloy and Butterick’s drain, in view of possible danger to land and fences should wet weather set in.

Mr. Christopher Robert Leadley, Preb bleton, who owns land in Wakanui, wrote asking LI,OOO compensation for alleged injury done to his land by the construc tion of Leadley and Butterick’s drain. The Board passed a resolution to the effect that they considered the chum ridiculous, inasmuch as the land referred to had been improved and its value enhanced by the drain. They were pre pared to offer LIB as compensation, and referred Mr. Leadley to the petition by settlors, in response to which the drain had been made.

The County Council communicated the information that L2OH Gs. had been placed to the Board’s credit, as their share, with interest, of the impounded land fund. The Borough of Ashburton claimed the sum of L 289 2a. as its share of the por tion of land fund accruing to the Board. After a lengthy discussion, the Board de cided to pay the money, on the under standing that, should it bo found that the Board is not liable for the amount, the money be refunded. The Comity Council wrote in reply to the Board’s letter, re protective works below the bridge, that, if a petition on the subject were presented, and the settlors interested were prepared to pay a separate rate, the work would he undertaken. The matter was referred to Mr. Brown to arrange. Messrs. Harper, Harper, and Scott wrote, giving their legal opinion that the valuation roll for the district was not valid, notwithstanding that the Judge had passed it. Theysaid tha to wing to the absence of the declaration to bo made by the valuer, it could not be validated by the Governor under Section GS of the Rating Act, and as the roll now stood, any ratepayer could go behind the rate-book and refuse to pay, on the plea that Section 5 of the Act had not been complied with. The solicitors advised requesting the Governor to vali date the omission. It was resolved that the Chairman see the Chairman of the County Council about what course is best to he taken.

Mr. F. G. Stedman, College Estates Department, wrote asking 3d. per yard for shingle taken from the College reserve 739, unless it could be shown that shingle had been obtained in the locality for a lower figure. The Clerk was in structed to reply that the Board do not pay more than lid. for metal. The Secretary to the Treasurer wrote forwarding the usual form for information required under Section 32 of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1870, and stating that the Government subsidies would be dis continued from the end of the financial period. The manager of the Bank of New Zea land notified receipt of tha Board’s share of the land fund from the County Council —making the credit balance L 2712 IGs. Id. The manager wished to know whether any portion of the money 7 would be placed upon fixed deposit, as interest was allowed on current accounts. It was resolved to place L 1250 ou fixed deposit account for six months at 5 per cent, and L 759 for throe months at 4 per cent.

The Longbeach Road Board forwarded a statement of accounts between that body and the Wakanui Board. The matter was referred to Mr. Friodlander and the Sur veyor to adjust. TENDERS. Mr. St. Hill’s tender for repairs, addi tions, etc., to cottages, was accepted at L 175 4s. Ho. IS. Forming Beach road full width—Mr. H. Anderson, at 2s. lid. a chain. No. 29, metalling do. —Mr. Charles Hill, at Is. 4d. per yard. No. 20, metalling suburban roads—-Mr. John Black, Is. 3d. per j’ard. No. 22, concrete falls on Leadley and Butterick’s drain— Mr. Crum, L 74. The Surveyor was in structed to inform Vfr. Black that his con. tracts must be completed at once. RATES. It was resolved that the rate collector use every endeavor to collect the out istanding rates, and that he still continue issuing summonses. FOOTPATHS AT BEACH ROAD. The Surveyor was instructed to have the footpaths from the Town Belt to Tre vor’s road formed, and also to call for ten ders for draining and altering Seafield road by the Fairfield estate. RETIRING MEMBERS. Messi’s. Brown, Earle, and Hunt, cast lots as to who should retire—and the lot fell on Mr. Hunt. AN OBSTRUCTION. The Surveyor was instructed to have the penalty of LlO per day enforced against Mr. IT. Beckett, he having re fused to remove a house belonging to him, which is standing upon a public road. The Surveyor was further instructed to place the matter in the hands of Messrs. Bran son and Purnell, solicitors.

Poaching.— A Napier man shot a hen pheasant a day before the legal season commence:!, and the Magistrate fined him L2 for his “ pot.” A Cat-astrophe. —Some Sunday even ings ago, a Scotch church up North was put in darkness suddenly, the gas going out in a most extraordinary manner. There was some confusion, as may be imagined, but on candles being procured, it was found that an old tom cat, in mak ing a jump, had alighted on the top of the meter, and effectually stopped the light. Men and Fish.— Every time that a steamer anchors at Aden, numbers of little boys swim round the vessel, and dive for the coin pitched over to them in the water by the passengers. Their skill is undoubtedly great, but the fisherman of the Nicobars, and a few amongst the Sea Dyaks of Borneo, arc reputedly the most skilful swimmers in the world. The men of the Nicobars capture fish by the hand. They glide about in their light skiffs, in tently watching the translucent water ; when they obtain a favorable opportunity, they take a sudden dive straight down upon their finny prey. The fish are gene rally so startled that they dart hither and thither, now up and now down, without continuing their swift movements in any one given direction. The diver has, therefore, little difficulty in coining with in arm’s length of them. It is, however, esteemed to be but a poor feat to seize and bring up one lish. A man should be able to catch, simultaneously, two fish, one in each hand. This is frequently done, and the best swimmers think nothing of it. If a man wishes to show his prowess in the water, he chases and kills a shark— often twice as long as himself. To many of the fishermen of the coast of Nether India, shark hunting in water is some thing like what fox-hunting on land is to us in England. —Once a Week.

THE VALUATION ROLL FOR WAKANUI ROAD DISTRICT.

On the subject of the validity of the Wakanai Rate Roll for 1880, the follow ing letter has been received by the Sur vey ox's to the Road Hoard ; “ Christchurch, May 3, 1880.

“ Dear Sirs, —In reply to your letter of the 27th ult., we have to state that we are of opinion that the valuation list for 1880 is not valid. It does not appear to have been made in accordance with the pro visions of the Rating Act, 1876, Section V. not having been complied with. The declaration to be made by valuer does not seem to us to be a ‘ matter of form,’ and therefore the absence of such a declara tion could not be' validated by the Go vernor under Section 68. The Road Board run the risk of having the validity of any rate to be hex-eafter made tested upon the ground that the same has not been made in accordance with the provisions of the Act (see Section 44). Section 31 and Section 44 would not prevent any person from going behind the rate book or valua tion roll, and showing that Section 5 had not been complied with. It is somewhat difficult to advise the Board what course to pursue under the circumstances, with a view to the preparation of a new valuation roll. The judge has signed the roll, and it is, as it were, discharged from his office, and we do not see how lie can re-open the matter, or how it can be brought before him for that purpose. We do not see how Section 68 will help the Board, as we do not think that such an important matter as the declaration prescribed by Section 5 would be considered matter of form. The Board, therefore, are, we think, in the position of being unable to make and levy rates, unless they choose to risk doing so. This risk, we however suggest to the Board, might bo lessened, although not taken away, by requesting tlie Governor (should he bo so advised to do) to validate the omission, and if vali dated, we doubt whether ratepayers could oppose a rate. —We are &0., “ Harper, Harper, & Soott.”

ASSAULTING A BAILIFF.

At the R.M. Court on Thursday, His Worship heard a charge against Henry Rcdforn, woolscourer, Tinwald, of assault ing A. W. Pearson, bailiff of the Court, while said bailiff was in the execution of his duty. Kedfern was also accused of assaulting James Leonard, assistant bailiff, but this charge was departed from. Ser geant Felton conducted the prosecution, and Mr Crisp appeared for the accused. A. W. Pearson, bailiff of Court, sworn, said he went the previous evening to execute a warrant at the house of prisoner. Mr. Crisp objected to this warrant, in asmuch as it did not sufficiently describe the party against whom it was issued. The party was only described as “ Redfern,” and that description might apply to any one who happened to be cal ed “Red fern.” It was necessary to individualise the party, and he submitted that the full Christian and surnames were required, as also his occupation, which latter did not appear on the warrant either. He further objected that the warrant did not follow the summons, and that the cer tificate to the R.M. prior to issue of sum mons was not such as was required by the R.M. Ach

After considerable argument, his Wor ship over-ruled these objections, and the case proceeded. A. W. Pearson said that on the sth May he went to Redfern’s house at Tinwald, to execute a warrant. Prisoner was at home, and witness read the warrant to him very loudly, having been informed by prisoner’s wife that he was very hard of hearing. Redfern fully understood what was read to him, and that it was a warrant to seise his goods for a debt due to Samuel Hard ley. When the warrant was read prisoner called witness, and his assistant Leonard who was with him, two imposters, and “ brigands.” He then became violent, and tried to eject witness and his assis tant. Ho kicked Leonard on the behind twice, and also assaulted witness and struggled with him. Prisoner was drunk. Took him in custody, .and brought him to Ashburton. He struggled violently, but was ultimately brought to the lock-up, and handed over to Sergeant Felton’s custody. By Mr. Crisp—Have been at Redfern’s three times ; went the first time with a distress warrant, and left a man there. He remained in possession till II p.m. on Tuesday night, when he left. “ The prisoner was mad, you know, and the man couldn’t stop.” Put another man in pos session yesterday. Read the warrant out quite loud. Was told to go out before any struggle took place. Arrested prisoner in his own house on the authority which I possess as a constable sworn in at this Court. The man was wot when he came to the lock-up. You (to Mr. Crisp), would have been wet, too, had you been out in such a night. Sergeant Felton here gave wdtness to understand he was answer and not to argue.

James Leonard, assistant bailiff, mainly corroborated the bailiff’s evidence. Red fern might not have been drunk, but he seemed to have a mad fit. Pearson wont for a cab, leaving prisoner in witness’s charge. IP it had not been for the wife keeping prisoner hack, ho would have devoured ” Pearson. Sergeant Felton said ho had made in quiries as to Redfern’s character. He was drunk when brought to the station, but his neighbors spoke well of him, and one who had no interest in him whatever had bailed him out, and would have advanced money to pay the debt had he known of the case. Should say prisoner was a respectable man. When brought to the look-up the police changed prisoner’s wet clothes, and gave him plenty of blankets. Henry Kedforn, sworn, said the claim out of which this prosecution arose had been left in Mr. Crisp’s hands to arrange. Understood Mr. Hardley, tinsmith, had accepted an arrangement to bo paid L2 clown and L2 a month until the debt was cleared. Thought the case was settled, until the bailiffs came and wanted to seize his chattels. The first bailiff was not in terfered with, and he left of his own accord. Pearson apprehended prisoner, and took the following plan to take him to the lock-up :—He threw prisoner down, tied a rope round his body, his hands behind his hack, and attaching the rope to a horse, dragged him along. Mr. Crisp explained that he himself had made the arrangements with Hardley re garding the settlement of the claim, and Rsclfern was perfectly justified in believ ing that the matter was all settled, seeing that he had been told so by his solicitor, and in that belief his resistance to the bailiff had been made. The bailiff had taken out the warrant after the case had been settled by the solicitor. His Worship, in addressing prisoner, .aid he had no right to take the law into his own hands, but the officers of the Court must be protected in the execution of their duty. All the circumstances con sidered, he would only inflict a nominal fine of ss. upon prisoner, with no costs of court, beyond 7s. lid. for the hire of the cab in which he had been taken to the station.

A MYSTERIOUS SHIPWRECK AND A BRAVE CAPTAIN.

(From the Wellington Evening Post. }

The wreck of the Bombay-India Steam Navigation Company's s.s. Vingorla, briefly reported in our cable news, appears to have been one of the most mysterious on record, and certainly not one - of the least exciting. As already reported, it resulted in the drowning of the com mander (Captain Stuart), Mr. J. Byrne (chief engineer), Mr. 0. Knight (third engineer), Mr. G. Mowbray (clerk), and 59 native passengers. Among those on board, but who fortunately e-caped, was Mr. H. Cloefce, civil engineer, husband of a lady living at the Hutt, and an interest ing narrative of the occurrence furnished by that gentleman appears in the Times of India,. From the account in this journal, it appears that the vessel was only built in 1875, and had been overhauled only two months previous to the wreck. She started from Bombay for Kurrachee on Saturday, 29th February, with eight first class, eight second-class, and 9u deck passengers on board. The weather was exceptionally fine, and all went well until about half-past 10 o’clock, when the officer on watch noticed that she did not obey her rudder. It was then discovered, on opening the main hatch that the water was within five feet of the main deck. There had been no shock and no collision, and how this happened will probably always remain a mystery, the nautical court of inquiry being unable to throw any light, on the matter. Boats were lowered as soon as possible. The ladies and some of the male passengers, including Mr. Cloete, wei’O placed in the mail boat. Although the captain’s wife was among the lady passengers, with her child, the brave officer never left his post, but bidding her a hurried farewell placed her in charge of a junior officer. One of the other boats was “ rushed ” by a number of native passengers, as it hung in the davits, and broke in two, all the passengers except one dropping into the sea. A number of other natives, helpless with terror, lay on the deck and could not he persuaded to move. Captain Stuart ordered a quantity of loose timber to be thrown overboard so as to give them a chance of safety, and then seeing the peril in which the ship was placed, and determined not to quit her so long as there was a soul on board, shouted to the boat in which his wife and child were to stand off, the others being already free of the vessel. They last saw him on the gangway burning a blue light. The last thing I saw,” says Mrs. Stuart, in her affecting narrative of the occurrence, “ was his hand holding out the rocket. I only saw the hand, and could not see the face. I don’t think the vessel was one minute going down. The bow dipped, with the screw out of the water; there was a loud hissing sound, and it seemed that in less than a minute she was gone, and I Saw nothing more.” Other spectators say that in addition there was a “ low moan” from the native passengers as the vessel plunged head-first into the water. As' the Times of India justly observes, the picture of the heroic captain .standing at his post to the last is as grand as any thing in the history of the merchant navy. With the capt iin, as we ha ,r e said, perished the clerk and the three engineers, who remained working below in the engine room till the last. Four only of those on the vessel when she went down were savoi, though of these the men in the boats knew nothing. The chief officer and two native passengers, after drifting about on spars till twilight on Sunday, were rescued by a passing steamer, and returned to their sorrowing friends like men from the grave. A third native actually floated till Sunday midnight, and startled another passing steamer by his cries through the gloom, and was rescued. The passengers in the boats suffered great hardships from the broiling sun, but were rescued after about 16 hours at sea by a passing steamer. Altogether, the narra tive which the survivors had to tell was one of the most thrilling in the annals of shipwrecks, and there is not an English man in any part of the world but will feel his pulse stirred as he reads of the heroism of Captain Stuart, of the steamer ‘Vin gorla.

LADY MARY HAMILTON.

Lady Mary Hamilton—l cannot, the Pope having decided she was never married, call her Princess of Monaco—is engaged to a Hungarian noble. When the Church next gives her its nuptial benediction she will become Countess Tasselo-Pesselitch-Tolrna. Should she quarrel with him I do not suppose she will be able to repudiate him on the plea she urged in liberating herself from Albert, of Monaco. “ Compulsion” was the ground on which she petitioned Leo XIII. to free her from marital fetters. Those who “ compelled” her were the Emperor and Empress of the French. They made up the match. A Jesuit father, devoted to the house of Grimaldi, also used undue influence, both with the Empress, the Duchess of Hamilton, and the Lady Mary. Lady Mary was supposed in her girlhood to be the spoiled pet of father and mother. Nevertheless her will was so little consulted on the occasion of her wedding, that at the altar, in the Palace of St Cloud, she said to herself — “ I don’t take this man ; I abhor him ; I shall never count him as a husband.” Her unexpressed abhorence and mental reservation were the sole pleas urged by doctors of canon law charged with her suit. No whimsical passions of the Prince of Monaco were alleged, no prior fiancailles, no effeminacy of constitution. Not having a navy of his own, the divorced Prince, who likes a seafaring life, is an officer on board a frigate of Don Alphonso, and is cruising on the West Coast of Africa. A cousin of his is preparing to dispute the final clause in the Papal judgment. You may remem ber that in declaring Lady Mary had “ never been married ” the Pope also de clared the child born to her when she was supposed to be Princess of Monaco, the “ legitimate heir of the Prince. ” The fi; s’; clause involves the contradiction of the second, unless his Holiness can make black white.— Truth,

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

(By Telegraph.) Auckland, May 6. An attempted murder took place last , night, at Wangarei. Between eight and nine o’clock, Mr. Washer came into township and reported to Constable mond that James Smith had attempted murder him and his wife by firing two rounds of ball cartridge at them from a six - barrelled revolver. On Constable Hammond visiting the scene of the out rage, he found a revolver on the floor with two chambers empty and four loaded. One of the balls was found lodged in the leather of Washer’s braces, at the back. After the shots were fired, the two men closed, and a sheath knife dropped from the would-be assassin’s coat. Mean time, Mrs. Washer,, who was present at the time, had succeded in making her escape to a neighbour’s house, where she gave the alarm. No reason can as yet be assigned for the outrage. Before the constable had arrived, Smith had suc ceeded in making his escape. Constable Hammond was in search of him the whole night, but without success. In the mean time, the search still continues. Smith is supposed to be concealed somewhere in the bush.

Auckland, May 7.

Smith, the Frenchman, who attempted to shoot the woman Washer, and her hus band, at Wangharei, has been arrested. A further telegram shows that Smith made an improper proposal, to Washer’s wife, which she rejected. James Smith, for attempted murder of Mr. and Mrs. Washer, at Wangarei, was committed for trial.

GREAT BRITAIN AND HER COLONIES.

The correspondent of the Auckland Star telegraphs the following, which shows that the interest of leading politicians in England with respect to the colonies is in no way on the decline The election speeches of the great political leaders con tain many allusions to the Colonies, Mr. Gladstone and Lord Hartington declaring that the best way of maintaing the loyalty of the Colonies was by giving them the freest Constitution, and making them feel bound by a voluntary tie which Eng land was proud to preserve, to do all it can to help them in time of danger, and te defend them with all the force of-the British army in time of war. Earl Gran ville declared that the bond between England and her colonies was one based on common interests and common feel ings, which they would never attempt to hold by force if the Colonies themselves wished to relax that bond. The pursu ance of that policy had strengthened the good feeling existing with the colonies. He added, with regard to New Zealand— “ It was my duty to carry into effect, con trary to violent opposition on the part of the Colonial Government, a policy which had been announced by the Duke of Buckingham when my predecessor, but which he had failed to carry into effect. It was not a pleasant matter to be attacked in and out of Parliament by competent persons telling one that what he was doing would have the effect of ruining New Zealand, and separating it from the mother country, but I persisted and my colleagues persisted because we knew we were right. What has been the result ? Since the creation of the Colony of New Zealand there has never been such a period of order, peace, good-will towards the mother coul^^P”

NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS,

There is one more chance for the Knowsley Hall. H.M.S. Comus visited , the Crozets and St. Paul’s Island, and found no traces, but Captain Shaddish of the Vancouver, reports that while passing Amsterdam Island on Dec. 16 he saw lights there. The Admiralty have sent H.M.S. Raleigh to examine the Island. It is frequented by seal, and fish are plentiful; but fresh water is scarce. The Emperor of Germany, addressing his Generals on the anniversary of his birthday, said he believed he was able to assure them that they would have no more opportunity of putting in practice' their military knowledge, all fear of war having apparently passed away for the present. J ules Strasser, a cashier of the Roths childs, has been arrssted for embezzlement. Ho lost 400,000 florins in speculations on the Bourse. His brothers have also been arrested.

The Italian bandits captured the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, but liberated him on payment of a heavy ransom. The amount paid to the Greek bandits for the ransom of Colonel Synge was L 120,000 (?). Col. Synge is unmarried, and therefore the statement that his wife shared his cap tivity is untrue. A dispatch from St. Petersburg, dated April 10th, says Prince Gortschakoff, is dying. There was great excitement and delight in Constantinople at the result of the English elections. Greeks, Armenians, Bulgarians and Christians rejoice at the result.

Pour thousand Kurds, pressed by famine, descended recently from the mountains on the town of Mardum, in Asiatic Turkey, and plundered and mur dered a number of priests and nuns. The American Horae Committee of the United States Congress has decided to place on the free-list “all manufactured paper, wool, flax, and all other fibrous plants fit for manufacturing paper.” Edison and C. Adams have invented a method by which they can extract a greater amount of gold from the rejected residue of auriferous quartz, or sand, than is obtained by the present process from (he virgin rock, delivered fresh from the powerful triturition of the crushing mill. Mr. Dion Boucicault has been arrested in New York, in a divorce suit brought by his wife. She charges him with adultery continued through many years with an actress named Catherine Rogers, other wise Mrs. Davies.

The San Fiancisco Board o£ Supervision, the clergy, and the author Salem Morse, (formerly of Melbourne) are wrangling over a Passion Play which the latter wishes to produce, similar to that at Obergammau. The clergy fight against vehemently. Morse is a Jew.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1880.



NOTICE TO FARMERS, f g THE undersigned will be prepared to treat with farmers and others in Ashbur ton, every Wednesday and Saturday, for the PURCHASE of GRAIN, or SHIP MENT on ACCOUNT of GROWERS. JOSEPH CLARK. February 28, 1880. 550g* rjJHE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY’S GARMENTS FOR MEN’S AND BOYS’ WEAR. Fit Better Look Better Wear Better Are Better Out Are Better Made Are Better Shrunk, And therefore give more satisfaction than any other goods offered to the public. Testified to by their Thousands of Cus tomers who purchase constantly at the NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FAC TORY’S BRANCHES, Now Established in Dunedin Invercargill Oamaru Timaru Ashburton Lyttelton Christchurch Wellington Nelson Wanganui New Plymouth Napier Thames Auckland A SINGLE GARMENT AT WHOLESALE PRICE. N.B.— Our New Winter Manufactures are now ready. “TRY THE N.Z. OVERCOAT.” SHIRTS, HATS, and HOSIERY, of every description at WHOLESALE Prices. ASHBURTON BRANCH— East Street. Wm. SPARROW, Manager. MESSRS. H. MATSON AND CO., AUCTIONEERS, &c., Hold fortnightly stock SALES at Ashburton and Tinwald. Next sale at the HNWALD YARDS, on TUESDAY, April 27, 1880. 0. PERCY COX, 27 a * Agent, Ashburton.



MOUNT SOMERS -RAILWAY. NOTICE. A PUBLIC MEETING will be hold at the Mount Somers School-room, at G p.m., on SATURDAY, May 15th, to protest against the alteration of the above line, as it appears to be the inten tion of the Government not to bring the lino to Mount Somers at all. All persons interested in the above line are par ticularly requested to attend. 830a*



The Christchurch Water Loan. —A poll of the citizens, testing their wishes regarding the raising of a loan for the Christchuch water scheme, has been taken, and the result is the rejection of all the propositions. A “ Pool ” Check. — A Wellington bil liard marker named Philips, has invented a “ marker,” whereby cheating in the game of pool cannot take place. The con trivance is as ingenious as simple, and will be appreciated by lovers of fair play.



The Education Question. —The Bos ton Sunday Herald thus forciby expresses thoj principle which ought to settle the scl 00l question for ever :—“ What the State needs is good citizens, and not good Congregationalists, Methodists, Catho lics, Unitarians, Baptists, Presbyterians, Spiritualists, Jews, Mahoramedans. But there is one error which many worthy people fall into ; namely, that this is a Protestant Government. It is nothing of the S'irt. It is purely secular and one re ligion is as free as the other. In this re spect, we would have the public schools like the Government. A Child’s Face Gnawed by a Rax. —A {singular accident happened to the child of a respectable resident in Grey street last week. The child was about two years of age, and had been punished before being put to bed. Shortly after it had been put to bed the mother heard it crying, but paid no attention, believing it to be the result of the slapping. It cried further on in the night, but the mother did not notice anything wrong till morn ing, when she saw that the child’s face had been bitten by a rat, also three of its fingers gnawed at, and the child is likely to lose one of them. The little child, it appears, had a piece of bread and butter in its hand when it was put to bed, and probably that attracted the rat. There have been several instances in Auckland of rats having thus bitten infants, and in one case in Hobson street, the chiid lost so much blood that its life was for some time despaired of, — Auckland Herald, %



An Irishman’s Suit.— A regular Handy Andy type of Irishman came into the clerk’s office at the Resident Magistrate’s Court the other day and asked for a sum mons. “ Against whom 1 ” asked the assistant clerk. “ Share, I don’t know,” was the queer reply. “ But how can we grant you a summons if you don’t tell us who it is you want summoned 1 ” fl Be dad, now I remember ; it’s the man that does the railway work.” “ That won’t do,” said the clerk, “ you must make out two copies of your account and bring them here, and then we can issue the sum mons ; not until.” ' The man scratched his head and then went away. In an hour he returned, and handed j __ clerk a new slate, on which was scrav —“ I, Pat , claim the sum of L 6 19s. for work done on the railway near Carter ton. Signed, Pat .” In the left hand lower corner of the slate a shilling -postage stamp was stuck. The clerk smiled, and told the simple-minded fellow that he had better come in later in the day when Mr. Mansford would be disengaged, and could have a talk with him. The man left his original account and promised to come back and see the Magistrate.-—jPo?f,