SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. To-day. Ringarooma, s. s., from Sydney via Northern ports. s. s., from Port Chalmers. * Sailed. Yesterday. Tui, s.s., for Kaikoura and other ports. To-day. Beautiful Star, s.s., for the West Coast porta. ■ Ringarooma, s. s., for Melbourne, via the South. Wanaka, s.s., for Northern ports. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Wellington, Yesterday. Sailed —Penguin, for Pic ton. Sydney, Yesterday. Arrived —Zealandia, P.M.s.s., and Arawata, s.s., from Auckland. London, Feb. 12. Arrived —Gomma, ship, from Oamaru ; Durham, s.s., from Lyttelton.

The Ashburton Guardian. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1881.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 5 p.m.]

To Our Readers. —To make room for the lengthy report of the School Commit tee’s meeting last night, we are compelled to hold over our leading article, a letter to the editor, “The Chimney Corner,” and several other items of local and general interest. The Weather. — A sudden change has happened in the weather, and to-day the air is quite chilly, in marked contrast to the stifling heat of yesterday and Sunday. Fruit Stealing. — At the Auckland Police Court, yesterday, a boy was sen tenced to one month’s imprisonment for stealing grapes from a vinery. Assessment Courts. —The first of the Assessment Courts will be held at Rakaia on Thursday, the 17th —the rest, as per advertisement. Property Tax Reviewers. —The Board of Reviewers under the Property Tax will sit to hear objections on Friday next, in the Ashburton Court-house, at noon. Auckland’s Big Dock.— The Auckland Harbor Board election, yesterday, seems to have turned on the question of the construction of the proposed big dock, and Mr. D. H. McKenzie, chairman of the Board, who refused to pledge himself to carry out the dock, was left out in the cold, while Messrs. Stone, Compton, and Isaacs, all in. favor of the deck, were elected.

Tab Female Evangelist. Mrs. Hampton, the evangelist, seems to create, great excitement wherever she delivers addresses. At the Thames goldfield, on Sunday evening, her open-air meeting was attended by 3,000 persons, and many of those present, especially wonen, at the close of the service, called out excitedly, and threw themselves at the feet of the speaker. Mrs. Hampton is said to have a wonderful command of language, and on the occasion we have mentioned she spoke for an hour and a-half, never hesitating for a word. Another' Desteuctive Fibb.—Yester day our columns contained accounts of no less than three disastrous fires, and to-day we have to record another. This time the locale of the damage was Onga bnga, near Napier. A threshing-machine was at work on five stacks of oats, when a fire commenced in one of the furthest stacks, and quickly spreading, the whole five stacks,' threshing-machine, and eleva tor were totally destroyed. The oats were valued at MOO, but'were only insured for 1,70, in the-National, and the threshing machine was 'covered by the North British Office for L2OO.

A Change of Plans. —A Wellington correspondent of a Christchui'ch contem porary writes to his journal as follows : “ I hear, on good authority, that Sir A. Gordon has practically given up all idea of visiting the South Island for some time to come, and it is most likely his official tour of the Southern provinces will be post poned until after the next Parliamentary session. The contemplated visit to Milford and other West Coast Sounds is, I believe, definitely abandoned for this year. No authoritative explanation of this reported change of plan has been given, but it is understood that his Excellency has re ceived information that Lady Gordon, instead of. arriving at the Bluff next month, will not come out till a consider ably later period, and this is supposed to have influenced the alterations in the gubernatorial programme.” “ Adi Er. ” —This is the heading of Mr. Ivess’ farewell article to the Waikato people, in his Cambridge paper, the Mail. His rest in that subhme district has not been an n idistir. oed one, as the following extract from h;« “ ad't .i ” will show : “ Every misre; 'esentaLon possible was cir ulatecl in reference to this paper by de 'gning peop; and no pains were spared to injui it. The object was to suppress paper that dated to be indepen dent, and would not Is a party to all ‘tdeway:- that are dav’ and tricks that art vain,’now f mrishin g so exceedingly in the Waikato. Thoal li npt was afadure. The Ma i was not destroyed, and the obect of ts ene lies was frustrated, for it co. tinner, and i Hi coni mue its publica tion for u,any a ear to come. It must be very d’&ippoin ing to those shallow minded folks who did not kill it. The feeling di-played has bee i such, however, that the proprie or saw ;t was not worth hi;- while to st; v anion 'st such a com munity, and therefore r: solved to dispose of the paper, afi i, as lv s been stated be fore, disc larginy every s.via fairly owing by him. His pr„sence rod control of the paper would disturb the secret cliques, rings, and an institution that pertains to this district, and he recognises the fact that, unless he is prepared to pull an oar in one of their boats, his chances of suc cess are hopeless. He declines that honor, and prefers to retire. ”

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) Reinforcements for the Transvaal. London, Feb. 14. In accordance with the announce ment made on Saturday by the Secre tary of State for War in the House of Commons, two regiments of cavalry and one thousand infantry have been ordered to proceed to Natal to further reinforce Sir George Colley in the Transvaal. Burning the Bill. A meeting took place in Hyde Park in opposition to the measure proposed by the Government for the settlement of the agitation in Ireland. A consider able number of people were present. Severn 1 violent speeches were made, and copies of the Irish Coercion Bill were burned on the platform. The Ladies’ Land League- The Ladies League, which has recently been formed in Dublin, has for its object the furtherance of the agita tion for the settlement of the question of the ownership of land in Ireland. Don’t Like Greece. Constantinople, Feb. 13. News to hand from the Island of Crete reports that the inhabitants are at present much disturbed over the possibility of the Island being ceded to Greece in partial settlement of the Turco-Greck difficulty. A Week’s Armistice. Capetown, Feb. 13. Negotiations for a cessation of hos tilities between the Cape forces and the Basutos have recently been proceeding, and a week’s armistice has been pro claimed throughout Basutoland and Transkei.

AUSTRALIAN .

{Pet Renter's Agency.) Obituary. Melbourne, Feb. 14. News has been received of the death of Colonial Charles Why brow Ligan, formerly commandant of the New Zea land Militia, aged 72. A “Call.” Melbourne, To-day. Government has decided to make a “ call” of the House for Ist of March, when a division on the second reading of the Reform Bill will be taken. Wool- Messrs. Goldsborough and Co.’s review of the past wool season shows that 165,000 bales have been cata logued, and 12 2,000 bales sold in Victoria during the season. The total ship ments amounted to 285,000 bales, being an increase of 25,000 on last year. Railway Construction. Brisbane, Feb. 14. Tenders has been opened for the construction of a railway between Emerald and Capilla, in the north of this colony. The lowest is at the rate of Li,090 per mile.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association.) Patetere Block Again. Auckland, To-day. James Mackay and Brissenden have arrived in Auckland to press separate claims on the Pacetere, resting on an alleged promise on the part of Govern ment that if Government did not com plete the purchase the first offer would bo made to them. Mackay says he offered Dr. Pollen a refund of Government ad vances and 50,000 acres for special settle ment if Government would retire from Patetere in his favor. The Auckland Dock. M‘Kenzie, chairman of Harbor Board, who was rejected by the city electors yesterday on the big dock question, was nominated to represent Parnell Borough Council on giving an assurance that he would supppit the cons truction of the dock if it was practicable without further wharf age taxation. Truant School Children- The default officers under the compul sory education clause report only nine children in the city of school ages not attending school. Property Tax and Building Societies. The property tax reviewers dec’ded that the Building Society must pay a tax on the cash value of shares, less LSOO ex emption. A Scandal. Grahamstown, To-day. This morning, at the R.M. Court, before Mr. Ken wick, RiM., Henry Elms Campbell, solicitor, and a married man, was ordered to pay 10s. per week for the maintenance of his illegitimate child by Ellen Thomas, a servant recently in his employ. Adjourned* Wellington, To-day.- . The charges against the female atten

dants at the Asylum, for ill-crcating a patient, have been adjourned until after the enquiry has been made into the con duct of the whole staff by the Commission recently appointed by the Government. Gold Prospecting. An attempt is to be made to fl at a company for the purpose of thoroughly prospecting the districts where the rich quartz was found. The Steamer Charles Edward. Westport, To-day. The inquiry into the mishap to the Charles Edward was held to-day. Captain Whitwell gave evidence as to the vessel striking, and that the watertight oom partments alone saved the vessel rom total loss. A crack 6ft. long and 2 in width waa found in the plates unci' the fore hold and engine room. The com partments have been repaired, am the steamer sails for Nelson to-mght. Drowned While Bathing. Dunedin Tom j r . Roderick M‘Kenz'o, the son of a ach trimmer, employed by Bobi: an. Co., went with some others to bn he h the Water of Leith, near the Union rect bridge. The boy had not 1 -an tlu water long before he got out o Ixis pth. and sank. A big boy being ear the time, went to his assistance am iter some difficulty, got him out, out 1 was then apparently lifeless. Dr. 31air. whe happened to bo passing, at one 3 atl- .de' the boy, and used the ordinary meai . foe his resuscitation, but he reaia red u .con scious, and died this morning

THE BOAT RACE.

(By Cable.) London, Feb. A, Hanlon won the boat race, wit • the greatest ease.

OUT OF SESSION.

_— ♦ [by telegraph. ] MoTUEKA, To-(i :V. Mr. Hursthouse addressed the el m otors here last night. He looked upon the idea of repudiation with utter scorn, and, com menting on the way loans have ben . ex pended, said that all must contribute alike to meet liabilities, notwithstaudidg they had not had a fair amount of expend ;ure. He was against borrowing in future ; i the same way as in the past. He spoke str ngly against the way in which Ministers were chosen. They should be selcctc on account of their ability, not solely because they came from Otago, Auck land, or Canterbury ; and ho -qioke somewhat strongly against the large expenditure in favored Taranaki. fie regretted the resignation of Mr. Bryce, which ho attributed to that gentleman being unable to carry his views in the Ministry that Hiroki should be arrested. He spoke against the payment of members of the Upper House, and said it might bo advantageous to abolish payment of mem bers altogether, and for electorates desiring to return poor men to provide their ex penses themselves. He received a unani mous vote of confidence.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON. -To-day. (Before Mr. Nugent Wood, R. M.) Drunk. —Michael Toppiu, charged with being drunk and disorderly, was dis charged. Malicious Injury to Property.— Cornelius Fanning was charged with the malicious destruction of property to the value of L2 10s.; and also with using threatening language. P. Tisch, .Spread Eagle, said prisoner came to his phoe on Wednesday last. He behaved very civilly, and when he went away he got a bottle of whisky and a bottle of wine. He came back again next day, and als- be haved civilly. Next day, howevi -, ho came back, and, having no money, sked for a bottle to set him up. Ho was told to go to his work, but wouldn’t, and after that he kept loafing about, asking p:ople to shout. When remonstrated wit , he threw a bottle at witness’ head, and broke the bottle in a thousand pieces ac dust the wall. After that he threw stones, and acted in a vary threatening manner to witness. Some time after tiiis he got sober again, and expressed contrition for the conduct he had been guilty of. and made an apology, and promised to pa v for the damage he had done about the place. Gave him some more drink, but instead of going away be went round the house and sucked the bottle. Later on he; was coaxed away about a chain, but came back and was troublesome, and witness threw him down. When he got up he wen- and deliberately smashed seventeen panes of glass in the windows, and broke the latch of the door. He had spent L6O at Meth ven. Accused said Tisch had threatened to shoot him, and had hit him on the chest with a loaded whip. He wanted the case postponed for a week to bring witnesses to prove this. He had worked eleven years in this district, and was a respectable man, and to be called a loafer by a manlike Tisch was enough to put any man’s temper up. His Worship sen tenced the man to one month’s imprison ment in Addington Gaol. His conduct had been very disgraceful, and the option of a fine would not be given. On the second charge, of using threatening language, prisoner was fined LI, or three days’ hard labor, in addition to the former sentence.

CIVIL CASES. Hughes v. Roberts. —Claim Lll 13s. 4d., for rent of a house. Defendant pled that he was charged for a month longer than he occupied the building. Plaintiff sa : d the terms of letting had been L2O a year, payable monthly. The house had been vacated without a month’s notice, and this was the month disputed. Defendant said he had given notice on the 28th of December to Messrs. Mont gomery, in Christchurch, that he would leave at the end of January. Confessed to owing LlO but no more. Verdict for LlO. Grice v. Saunders.—Mr. Branson, for defendant, applied for a rehearing in this case on the ground that the number of sheep stated was incorrect, and that there was contributing negligence on the part of the plaintiff. The magistrate decided not to grant the rehearing ex parte, but would hear the application on Friday week, the other side to have notice, and no further proceedings to be taken in the meantime. Hoey v. M‘Hardy.—Claim LI. Plaintiff was a laboring man in defen dant’s employ. Was engaged at LI a week with overtime. Worked three days, three hours and three-quarters overtime. Was hired by the week, and was dis charged with a threat that if ho did not leave the ground a bobby would bo sent for. . , , Defendant said the plaintiff was engaged at the rate of LI a week, same as the other men. He did not suit—was no goou, in fact, and he was discharged. Was oh red the money ho had earned, but he would not have it, and said he wanted a week’s wages. Was not on the spree at thot-ne, but had been on the drunk, bui that was not the reason why I turned the ; oor devil away. His Worship said when a man vas engaged by the week he must be pair by the week. Verdict for 20s. and. costa. Meharry v. Baxter. Claim damages for trespass of sheep on plaint iffs land, inasmuch as bn the'24th of June l 1880, defendant had driven a mob of 500 sheep on to plaintifl s land at South 1

Rakaia, and said sheep had eaten and de stroyed plaintiff's turnips and grass. Tres passes had been committed also in July and August. William Meharry, farmer, said that in June last ho was in occupation of land at Rakaia, for which his name was on the rating roll. On the 24th June last I was on the farm when a brother of the defen dant brought between 500 and COO sheep. Some time before this Iliad seen defen dant at Tattersall’s, in Christchurch, and asked him if ho wanted any turnips to buy. He said that be thought he could make arrangements with my mortgagee about those turnips. A week afterwards he turned his sheep onto the turnips. There wore forty-five acres of turnips, an average crop. I never consented to his turning the sheep on to the turnips. There were only defendant’s brother and myself present. Shortly after I turned the sheep off, and they wore put in again by defen dant h mself. They were two or throe days o-i the plains before they were put in again. I turned the sheep off three times in all. The sheep were between five and six weeks on my land, and ate up all i;y turnips that wore any good. On the 24: 'i of June defendant’■ brother said the m rtgagee had given dm liberty to put hi sheep on the land. They had the run of the whole farm, and ate the grass and de nolished (he fences. The turnips were w >rth between 15s. and LI an acre, and the damage done to the fences could not be repaired for L 5. The damages claimed are fair. When the feed was all eat m the sheep went away. Never gave ; .y one liberty to lei my turnips, and never got a fraction from Baxter on accoun ;.

By Mr. O’Reilly—There’ never was an Acton .'.hoop on my land till Baxter’s sheep came aad broke down my fences. The land is ’nine subject to a mortgage. The only ti: le I actually saw B xter and the sheep ogether was on the 24th of June, but thi sheep were there f>r five or six weeks after that. I often turned them off. I did not turn the sheep off for five or six days because 1 thought Baxter had bought the turnips from the agent of the mortgagee. In December the agent of the mortgagee told me he was not aware I had any turnips. After the sheep had been on for a time the neighbors told me Baxter had not paid a penny. Baxter’s brother said an arrangement had been made for the turnips with the bank agent at Southbridge.

By Mr. Purnell —Had the sheep not ate the turnips I would certainly have got the benefit of the crop. Mrs. M. A. Meharry remembered the 24th of June last. Was on the farm that day when John Baxter brought some sheep of his brother’s to the farm. Could not say how long they were on the farm. Defendant came and told me to tell my husband not to turn the sheep off. They had been turned out. He said he had got permission from the Bank to put them in. Saw the sheep on the turnips, but could not swear to how long they wore there. William Morrow, farmer at Rakaia, de poned to seeing sheep bearing G. Baxter’s brand, on plaintiff’s turnips in the mon h of June last. Knew the Acton brand. Saw the sheep there at intervals of fully a week. The turnips looked well, at har vest time. Knew of turnips bringing 10s. an acre at Rakaia. 3d. a week was not too much to charge for grazing sheep if the feed were good. Cross-examined —Mohs of sheep with different brands on were there. Would estimate the whole number of Baxter’s sheep on Meharry’s land at from 400 to 500.

Robert Taylor gave evidence corrobora tive of plaintiff’s. For the defence, George Baxter deponed—That he had no understanding with plaintiff about sheep in June, July, or August. No claim for grazing had ever been made against him. Bought 250 sheep from Mr. Bluett on Aug. 17th, and drove them home. Took 210 from the Southbridge farm to the Rakaia one. On August 20 it was getting dusk, and witness could not get to his farm that night, so he put the sheep in an empty paddock on Meharry’s farm. The fences were all tumbled on Meharry’s land, and the station sheep were coming and going as they pleased. The farm was lying waste, and had done so all through the winter. Took the sheep away early in the morning. There wore turnips on the land, and all the sheep that had been on Meharry’s land during three months were those already mentioned, unless there might have been some mixed with the Actonflock. In October or so Staveley, the agent, gave him permission to put sheep on Meharry’s land if witness put up the fences. Put up some of them, and put 200 or 300 ewes on for a few weeks. Never heard of this claim till he got a summons.

By Mr. Purnell—Never got a letter from plaintilFs solicitor demanding this money. Never saw Stavely in June about Meharry’s land or turnips. Saw Morrow in June about buying some turnips, and did not remember saying he could get Meharry’s land for nothing, or had the run of his land. Did not know of his brother going with sheeptoMeharry’sland. His brother had a care over the sheep. Saw Mrs. Meharry in September or October. Did not think he could muster 400 sheep on his Rakaia farm. Told Mrs. Meharry that Staveley had told him he could put the sheep on, and would not deny that ho had asked her to tell her husband not to drive off the sheep. Stave ley wanted witness to buy the land. The fences were all down when witnesses’ sheep came on the land. The bailiffs were on the land all harvest, and the cattle and horses ran on the turnips. The crop could not be very great after that. John Baxter, brother of defendant, remembered bringing a few sheep to Meharry’s land in January last. Did not think he brought any sheep before that. Could not remember if he d’d. John Carruthers—Was a farmer owning a section adjoining Meharry’s. There were sheep on Meharry’s section in June. They broke out of Mcharry’s into wit ness’s. The mob would be a thousand or so, and there might be one hundred or so of Baxter’s. From that time up till this date the fences have been down. They were first knocked down by Meharry’e cows, before the sheep came. Remem bered the crop of turnips. They were young healthy turnips, and four or five head of cow cattle were amongst them before the sheep went in. Meharry’s sale took place in January or February, and the place has been neglected since. Any sheep had access to it. Morrow, re-called, swore to Baxter having laughed at him for asking 255. for turnips, when Baxter said he could got Meharry’s turnips for nothing. Counsel having addressed the bench, His Worship gave judgment for plain tiff for L2 10s and costs—Gd. a sheep for 100. It was a mixed up sort of case, and the number of sheep had not been satis factorily elicited. But the sheep had evidently been put there, and without Meharry’s permission.

ASHBURTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Special Meeting. A special meeting of the School Com mittee, at which all the members were present, was held last night, to discuss a motion given notice of by Mr. Felton “to consider the advisableness of chang ing the master.” Before speaking to his motion, Mr. Felton asked to see the report of the Com mittee, which was read at the last meet ing of householders. : Mr. Ward had not the report wi'h him, but would go and fetch it. On his re turn, he read the report, which has already been printed in these columns. Mr. Felton said the reason why he had moved in this matter was his belief that the master was inefficient At the last meeting of householders, it would be re membered, he had asked that the In speetor’s report should be produced, but it was not forthcoming ; and if it bad been, he would hove had a pood deal more to say than he had said on i’l .t coca-ion. For what he did say, then, however, and for Ins action in bringing forward the motion they were there that night to dis cuss, ho had been called unmanly, and other strong language had been made use of in characterising the course he had fol lowed. The report was adverse to the master, and satisfied him (Mr. Felton) that the master was not fit to be in charge of such a large school. There were 4CJ children attending—was it right for these children to be put in this man's hands to pvnetipe upon for another thi’ee months 1 Was it right that that large number of cbi'dren should be in the bands of a man for another three months who bad been pronounced by the Inspector to be unfit for. his position ? There was nothing un manty tin trying, in the interests of all these children, to have him removed. At the annual mooting an old member of the Committee —he would not mention names —had said that ho knew of his own know ledge, and from the progress his own children were not making, also from com plaints that had been made to bun, that the teaching had been inefficient. The Committee ought, if they wtre not, to have been aware of the slate of the school, and should have taken action. He blamed them in this. It was quite reasonable for this Committee to forward to the Board of Education a confirmation of the Inspec tor’s report. They were an independent body, and were entitled to say whether they agreed or disagreed with the report, and if they thought the master efficient or not. It was all very well for the master to come, (fj '-er a report had been made by the Inspector, and give as reasons fur his non-success that he had been short handed, and that his school had been crowded ; but he should have said all that before the report came in, and given the Committee warning that he was alive to the disadvantages be had been laboring under and expected a bad report. Had he done so, he would then have shifted the blame to the shoulders of the Com mittee, who were responsible for laying before the Board the real state of the school. He had not a word to say against the master’s abilities—but he was not an efficient teacher ; and while he was in charge of the school, he had the care of 400 or 500 children, and the responsibility of those children's future lay with him. It was all very well to talk of justice and fairness and sentiments like that in a case of this kind ; but the education of the children had to be seen to at whatever cost; and in this case, it wasamatter of one man’s comfort against the welfare of 500. Much had been said about a workman not being able to work without tools, and so forth, and that time should be allowed a man to try himself when he got a time given him. Hewasnotagainsttl. it time being given, I).Che wished to state that his belief in the master’s inefficiency was no new thing with him. In an old note book he.had by him, he had that day read notes a twelvemonth old, of complaints made to him against the teacher. Then, in reference to a remark made by the Chairman at last meeting regarding his own (Mr. Felton’s) boy having been dux of the school. He hoped the Chairman did not look upon that position as having been given to the lad as a bribe to hn father ! He hoped he knew the Chairman better than to believe he expected him to look upon it in that light.’ Of the fact it self he could only say that if the lad was dux, the others must bo very poor indee* 1 . Then, another fact did not look well for the school. A lad named Murray had only been a few months in the school, yet he had carried everything before him. He had been taught in England—everything was now to him hero ; he had come off the idleness of a long sea voyage, and yet ho was able to go into that school, and show the superiority of his English train ing over the Ashburton training by leaving all his fellows behind him in the competitions. To speak in the terms he had been doing of the school was no pleasurable duty. He would far rather praise the school, and would gladly be in a position to do so. It was no personal matter with him ; he had only the most casual acquaintance with Mr. Stott, and had net exchanged altogether a dozen words with him. Ho did not speak in a dis paraging strain of Mr. Stott as Mr. Stott; he only knew him in this matter as the teacher of the Ashburton School, and in that capacity he thought ho was inefficient. A great matter for complaint was the num ber of times lessons were changed. Latin was begun. In two or three weeks’ Latin was changed, and algebra was begun. Two or three weeks more, and algebra gave place to shorthand, and so on. With these constant changes the children were never able to fix their attention upon any one thing, and took a dislike to the whole and learned nothing. He could bring numerous parents to say exactly what he had just said about those repeated changes. He had hoped that the Committee who knew these facts, would have taken the matter in hand, but they didn’t, and in stead gldssed them over. He believed he knew what the powers of the Committee were. ’ They had the appointing of the teachers, the local management, and the spending of the money set aside for the working of the school, though the Board held supreme power. He believed he was acting quite within the Committee’s func tions when he asked them to adopt the motion he would now move. It was dif ferent from the one that he had given notice of, and he would put it in this way with the consent of his seconder : “ That a leHer be wiitten to the Board, in forming them that this Committee agrees with the report of the Inspector, Mr. Edge, as to the inefficiency of the present master to conduct the Ashburton School.”

Mr. Hodder agreed to the alteration. Mr. Felton continued—ln wording the resolution in that way he felt that it was left open to the Committee to act. inde pendently at the end of three months. If the motion could be improved upon, he was willing to have it altered, so long as it retained an expression of the Com mittee’s opinion that the master was in efficient, Bo did not wish to interfere with the three months' trial. Long official experience had taught him how unpleasant it was to have to report an officer, and Mr. Edge’s duty was a peculiarly un pleasant one. Mr. Hodder thought the conduct of those who had supported Mr. Felton at last meeting had been somewhat miscon strued. He did not think it was intended to be precipitate in changing the master. They o dy wished to express an opinion in harmony with Mr. Edge’s report. He could say a good deal more, did he think it necessary, than he had yet said about the school,, but Mr. Felton had laid the mat ter so thoroughly before them that further talk from him was-useless. Hiselder boy had been trained at an English school, and was constantly interrogating the

younger one as to how school matters were carried on, and the answers were not such as led to a high opinion of the manage ment. He would second Mr. Felton’s motion. Mr. Robinson thought that all Mr. Hodder had to say against the school should be said. Mr. Hodder would not keep back any complaint he had to make if the Com mittee wished him to make all he had in detail. He supported all Mr. Felton had made—who had, in fact, taken the wind out of his sails. He certainly would sup port him in what he had said about the changes of lessons. He would add that there was a looseness about the opening of the school, which was sometimes late and irregular. There was a want of decision of character about the teacher, and he had not abibty to maintain discipline. The manner in which the children spoke of him was proof of the latter. There were many good points in Mr. Stott’s character, and he respected him very much, but he believed he came short of the essentials for a teacher that he had mentioned. Mi-. St. Hill expressed his regret at the way the discussion had turned at last meeting, especially as it was the first meeting of the new Committee. Rcgard : ig Mr. Felton’s long tirade about the inefficiency of the teacher, which he had so beautifully and so clearly illustrated, Mr. St. Hill was not at all pleased with it, as he felt the master had not been rendered ju lice. Mr. St. Hill took a position independent and alone; he did not tie himself up to the head master, but he hated injustice, and that was the rea son why he again said the course pursued by Mr. Felton and the others was un manly, and the circumstances warranted the word. It was simply handicapping the master with increased difficulties to hold this meeting and rake up all that had been said. He was sorry to see that two old members of the Committee had stul tified themselves in the way they had done. If they would remember what took place at the Committee meeting when the In spector’s report was read, they would recall to mind that it was simply remitted to the schoolmaster. They had every opportunity then to cry out about the master’s inefficiency if they had chosen ; they had every chance to urge on strong measures if they wished. But what did they do. They acquiesced in the doings of the old Committee and allowed the report to go to the master, and the matter to remain in the Board’s hands, who had taken it out of the Committee’s. But now a man conies into the new Committee with the new blood, and tries to sweep everything before him for the benefit of ail creation. Then these old members suddenly discover that they should do something that they did not think of doing before when they had every chance to do it. The old Committee was made up of as good men and as intelligent men as now compose the new, and the old Committee were unanimous in hanging the matter up for the time the Board had fixed. They did not consider it necessary to take any steps till then. But when two of those old members came back to this Committee they discover that the gallant Felton leads the charge against the master, and they are prepared to join in the hue and cry. It was wonderful what valor and enthu siasm that leader had infused into his followers, who were quite prepared to hang the master at the word of him they had chosen to follow, and came into the Com mittee with an avowed intenk'on of turn ing out Mr. Stott. Outside, Hr. St. Hill had not heaxd a single householder say one word in favor of this precipitate desire to hurry matters, but many of them had said they ought to wait. These house holders were all parents of children at the school, but they were quite willing to wait until the proper time came. Mr. Felton had spoken lightly of the short-handedness of the school. Suppose all his men were taken from him, and he were allowed to stand alone in Ashburton. Suppose a row took place in one part of the town, and another row in another at the same time —Would the Sergeant be blamed for not being at all these rows at the same time 1 Certainly not, but the blame would be put upon the authorities who took away his hands from him. Mr. Stott was not to blame for the short-handedness of the school. Time and often Mr. Stott had complained about it, so he was not to blame for that. The Committee knew he was short-handed. First Mr. Wake, an xcellent teacher, went; then the two Misses Henderson went—they were equal to first-class teachers; then three pupil teachers we it who had been in training for some tiitvj; and all these withdrawals had been nr le at a time when the school ' was crowded. If blame lay with anyone it was with the Board —the authorities — for they were aware the staff was weak. If they had not been aware of it, would they have voted another LOO a year to pay the salary of the new mistress that had just begun work ? Then the report of the Inspector was not sent till De cember. If it had been sent to the Com mittee first to act upon, there would have been some color for the blame that has been laid upon the old Committee. But it was not sent to the Committee to act upon. It was sent accompanied by a letter, telling the Committee what the Board meant to do, and leav ing the Committee no choice but to let things take their course for three months. The old Committee thought it best to wait for the three months, but this Committee, in its superior intelligence, would not do that. This motion was what they wanted to do. It didn’t stop the Committee from acting ; to be sure it didn’t. It didn’t put words in the mouths of the parents either, to their children, who were precocious enough to drop to the state of matters and come down to school with all respect for discipline and the master destroyed, and what would be the state of matters then 1 He simply asked for justice, and he would move :

“In view of the fact that the Roarrl of Education have ordeied the school to be ex amined in three months, and thus in a great measure taken the matter in their own hands, the action proposed to be taken by the motion standing in Mr. Felton’s name would in the opinion of this Committee be unfair to the master, urcourteous to the Board of Education, and detrimental to the interests of the school. I therefore move that no further action be taken in the matter till the school is examined.” Mr. Robinson did not know that that amendment was to be proposed ; but lie could thoroughly endorse all that had fallen from Mr. St. Hill. The thing had been taken out of the hands of the Com mittee, and he, for one, after the lapse of three mouths, would be quite willing to take such steps as may be required to re move the master or otherwise, as the tenor of the report should indicate, and render necessary. He would second the amend ment.

Mr. Orr was glad to see that a spirit of justice seemed to pervade the meeting. He was sorry that the scene of last meet ing had occurred, and he was bound to confess that had it not been for the manner in which the chairman had tried to force his ideas upon the Committee he would not have voted for the motion of Mr. Felton. He, however, admired the way in which Mr. Felton had put the matter before the Committee, still he (Mr. Orr) had always been in favor of waiting the three months before any steps were taken towards definite action: against the master.

Mr. Hodder said they ought not to over look the fact that since Mr. Edge’s report had been published the largest, meeting of householders that bad ever assembled on the education question had been held, and had given quite a new aspect tb affairs. At that meef ’g a very strong expression of public op’ ion had been made. In deference to -hat expression of opinion, and not at all as a criticism of the old

Committee, the step suggested by Mr. Felton’s motion should be taken. Mr. Andrews thought no harm could come of a free ventilation of the matter. It might bring out justice to the master just as readily as it might bring justice to the scholars, and show the true reason why the school had not been a success. Mr. St. Hill had said a good deal about taking away a man’s hands. li had to be remembered that the Misses Henderson left the school at the time of the Inspec tor’s examination, and this fact, so far as Mr. St. Hill’s argument was concerned, put the hands on again. He did n °t believe, whatever they did, that the three months’ grace would be interfered with, but when they talked of justice they ought to argue for it on both sides, and while one man’s comfort was involved in the question the welfare of 500 children was also involved. Had not one word to say against Mr. Stott in any connection but his efficiency to impart knowledge. The Chairman was glad to note tl i temperate tone of the discussion, and tl j change that had taken place in Miv Felton’s motion. Had the motion tak ’ a form like this at last meeting, he for ot< ■ would never have opposed it as he did. Had there been an endeavor to sift out the true causes of the bad report, and an effort made to allocate the blame equally where it was deserved—amongst the want of teachers, the youth and want of train ing amongst the pupil teachers, and the want of room, he would not have struggled against the motion of last week. He had had no wish to override or dictate to the Committee. That was very far from his desire, and he regretted that they should have construed his conduct as implying such. He only struggled against what he believed to be a gross injustice, and he was sorry if in the heat of the discussion he had been led to act in a manner that gave rise to’a feeling that he was dictating to the Committee. He could not in his position do anything of the kind. He thought too, that the motion was not a legal one and he shrunk from doing an illegal thing if ho knew it to be so. He believed that a fair and searching inquiry with tlie teacher before them would have elicited facts that would have shown Mr. Stott was not so very much to blame. He must correct Mr. Felton in his state ment as to the bad reports. There was only one bad report against the school, and further the school had stood very high in regard to the number of passes that had been made on the 6th Standard, while the pupil teachers had been remarkably well taught, and one of them had got a scholar ship with very little effort indeed. In re ference to what M r. Felton had said about the lad Murray, it certainly was a fact that ha was a very smart boy, but it did not follow that because he was so he made a good case for judging the school. The Chairman then read the following letter, making a running commentary on it as he 1 read :

Schoolhouse, Ashbiuton, February 141 b, 1881. Mu. Chairman and Gentlemen. — In regard to the work of the school, I beg re spectfully, in justice to you, to the parents and myself, to submit the following for your con sideration. In September, 1878, I took charge of the school. It was examined in November following. No. presented in Standards, 205 ; passed 58 per cent. In October, 1879, the school was ajiain examined. In Standard VI, V, and first division of IV then specially under my care, the following were the results : Standard VI, 2 presented, 2 passed; Stan dard V, 7 presented, 7 passed ; Standard'lV, 17 presented, 14 passed. Total presented in school, 230; passed 77 per cent. The staff then consisted of head master, second master, mistress, two ex-pupil teachers, one pupil teacher in fourth year, one in second year, and two in first year. The Inspector reports—The attendance at this school has increased consider ably during the past year, and additional ac commodation is now urgently needed. An other pupil teacher is required. The discipline and order have improved. Out of 230 ex. amined in Standards, only about 40 were presented in Standards they had previously passed under the old regulations; this o course indicates a praiseworthy anxiety on .he part of the teachers to advance their pupils. No school in North Canterbury passed more than two in Standard VI. Ashburton school is specially noted, along with two others, as teaching extra subjects. (Vide report.) Hid the pupils been kept in lower standards when the new regulations came in force the per centage of passes would have been great , and the work lighter, for the past year. ' o carry on the work efficiently during the past year, was there additional accommodation pro vided?—No. Did another pupil teacher step in to help ?—No. The advanced pupil teachers honorably gained certificates and got better paid situations. Boys and girls were sought for to fill the vacant places, and were obtained with difficulty and delay, during which time the work had to go on, and the attendance for the year was as follows : Ist Quarter —Working average, 339 2nd ~ ~ ~ 340 3rd ~ „ „ 331-3 4th „ „ „ 339’S

Also, Ist Quarter —Average roll No., 442'8 2nd ~ ~ ~ 478-2 4th .. » .. 449 Several improvements have taken place lately, and a new teacher has been added to the staff —the only one appointed since 1879 who had ever taught before. The young pupil teachers are making progress in their work, and soon the new school will be opened. All the teachers who have borne the strain of the past year’s work have worked faithfully and ener getically, but the disadvantages were too many for success. Gentlemen, —Whatever may be the result, I shall never feel that I have mani fested laxity or incapacity in conducting the work of the Ashburton Borough School.—l have, &c., Alexander Stott.

He had no desire to burk inquiry, and he was glad to see the excellent spirit that had been manifested. Mr. Felton still saw nothing in any thing that had fallen from the Dr. that was any argument against his motion. All that the motion wanted was an expression by the Committee of their opinion of the Inspector’s report. Mr. Stott was not being condemned unheard, for the report of the Inspector was the result of a trial. Mr. St. Hill waited to know how Mr. Hodder could substantiate his statement that the householders expressed a strong opinion against the action of the last Com mittee. There had been 19 candidates up for Committee membership, and four out of those returned were old committee men. Mr. Andrews had expressed him self very anxious for justice. Why was he so anxious now, when, as a member of the old Committee, he had had every opportunity to be as severe as he wished upon the master. It was no use saying there was no mischief being done. There was mischief, and the playground would become after this a sort of Socialist or Nihilist hotbed. The children would hear their parents sneer, and would resolve to “ douse” the authority they were under at school. The colonial youth was very pre cocious, and he knew what would happen. He thought the best thing the Committee could do for themselves and the school was to drop the subject. The Chairman then put the amendment. The following is the result of the voting : For the amendment —Dr. Stewart, and Messrs. St. Hill, Robinson, and Orr.

Against—Messrs. Felton and Andrews. The amendment was therefore declared carried. Mr. Felton wished that those in favor of his resolution would state their assent with it, and on the question being put by the chair, Messrs. Felton, Hodder, an.’. Andrews declared themselves in favor c it.

Mr. Orr said that he thought the whole discussion had been out of order, as they were called to discuss a particular resolution, whereas they had had under consideration a perfectly new matter. Dr. Stewart said attention had been called to the alteration in the motion at the beginning of the meeting. The meeting then adjourned.

THE MURDER AT TE AROHA.

Portlier Particulars. Grahamstown, Feb. 14. The body of the Maori murdered at Te Aroha was found by the side of the road leading to Paeroa. The head had been severed almost from the body by a fearful gash, and the gaping wound was a terrible spectacle. The skull was almost battered in, and there ware several deep cuts on the face and neck, apparently inflicted by some jagged instrument. man was named Himiona (Simpn), and was a member of the Ngatikoi tribe. There are some doubts as. to .iiin fractures on the skull were caused, some people alleging that they tfereljaiieiSfl a conical stone which was found close by deceased, covered with gore, while, other* are of opinion that the wounds were * caused by a tomahawk. Fromthe''faot of the fern being trampled it would seem that a struggle had taken place, 'and the murdered man (who was probably un- x | armed) fought hard for his life. Himiona’* , > coat and hat were found in the middle of the road, also an amber mouthpiece, fwith a silver ferule attached, and a white handkerchief spotted with blood. The pockets of the deceased’s, trousers were ; turned inside out, the motive of the " murderer having been robbery. , The police later in the day found at the tent of a man named Procoffy, a native pf ... , Finland, some newly-washed cJoshes still wet, with stains on them, which are be lieved to belong to Procoffy. He had been quarrelling with the murdered-rnan on the previous night, hence suspicion falls upon him. On being charged with the murder the accused replied, “ I‘don’t know anything about it. I did not do it.” He appeared much excited when naked , i questions, but answered without any hesitation. Accused is a man of small proportions, and from his appearance il*. : : I not likely to have committed the crime. Ho has been working in the Sunbeam claim. The natives are greatly incensed- =5 A at the murder. On Saturday afternoon ~-,t. an inquest was held at Te AroLa; before (mu Mr. Kenrick, R.M. The evidence showed that deceased and the prisoner were not on friendly terms, and had quarrelled pp the day of the murder. - The tnedic*lf s testimony showed that the wound was made by a sharp instrument, which had A been drawn backwards and forwards across the throat of deceased. Some bruise* were also found on the prisoner. The medi cal man could not say if the stain 3. on.- tbe f clothes were blood until they were sUbt' jeeted to microscopical observation. After half an hour’s deliberation the’jury returned a verdict —“ That the deceased.

Himiona Hoara, was found foully ipuf dercd by some person Jbr persons un- i. known.” The circumstantial details, nf the case are most suspicious. There is a feeling here that the enquiry has been brought to a too abrupt termination. Tho ■ prisoner was afterwards brought up before Mr Kenrick, charged with the wilful raur- ,; der of Himiona, and remanded to .' . Grahamstown for eight days. ! - ,l To-day. The police state that they have t _ tracing the mouthpiece of thd pipe -f6und : - I near the body of the native murdered, to _ the possession of the prisoner. ! ‘ ■ Threatening Attitude of the Natives. The Nghtaihako tribe, of which the. Native murdered at Te Aroha was a mem ber, is now holding a tdngi over the body* and is very excited. The miners are coining in from all the outlying claims. The Natives declare they will have blood for blood. The Nghtaihako is the tribe . that commited the assault pn the istMfvey ; party 18 months ago. One man is' now missing, and a search party are out. His friends fear danger to • him from the natives.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1881.



Special Advertisements. ANOTHER YEAR OF SUCCESSES Commercial and fancy STATIONERY. The Undersigned has opened up a NEW ASSORTMENT of the above. Cream, Blue, and Hand - made Notepapers ; Ruled, Plain, Fancy, and Repp ditto. Good Business Envelopes, No. 7, Court, Albert, Queen, Tinted, Repp, and others. Pens GTlott’s, Mitchell’s, Brandauer and Co.’s Inks —Stephen’s Blue Black, Walkden’s Black and Colored, Antonine, Copying, Ac. Workboxes, Albums, Books, &c. H. M. JONES, STATIONERY AND FANCY GOODS DEPOT, East Street and Baring Square. 710



HE BEST VALUE foe READY MONEY IS THE MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, Which can be purchased at their Retail Bx-anches, all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Thousands of the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch EA S T STRE ET . WM. SPAKROW, 751* Manager. WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. JW. M‘RAE bogs to inform the , public that he has taken the above Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs. Buggies and saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention. 852 TIT ANTED KNOWN—That a Church W of England minister’s wife writes that she saves Ten Shillings a Fortnight by using Harper Twelvetrees’ Villa Washer, Wringer, and Mangier, com bined ; and, although she permits no rubbing, the clothes are beautifully white, and much cleaner than when done by hand, while the saving in mending has been astonishing. Sold by J. HERN, Range Maker ard Importer, corner of Manchester and Tuam streets, Christ church ; Price—£9 10s. 700 O. Carstens & Co. (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, 0.8. D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco Musical Instruments, etc., etc. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. 520*



Jack Maori Again. —Another act of Maori aggression is reported from Hawkcs’ Bay. This time the scene of the outrage is Tikitiki, on the Patea road, and Renata’s people are again the aggressors. Mr. Kennedy was surveying land for the Government’ on Messrs. Donald and Hiraka’s station, when a party of thirteen men and six women of Renata s hapu came up, and, without giving any warn ing to the surveyors, went to _ the home stead and ransacked it. Finding nothing there, they went to Kennedy’s tent, and seized ' all the surveyors’ instruments, books, and blankets. A messenger was sent to Hiraka, but Renata’s party met the man. stripped and maltreated him, and sent him back. Mr. Kennedy then came to town and reported the matter.



Wanted* WANTED MARRIED COUPLE, for Maronan, without incumber ances. Man, odd jobs; woman to eqqk: ' < for men. John Carter, Grove Housei Tinwald. 82a W A N T ’ E' D. TENDERS for CARTING about 70 Cubic Yards (more or less) of Land and Shingle, for New Bank, Rakaia. NELSON AND COUTTS, ? 113 a Ashburton. ANTED TO SELL Twenty-five 1 SECTIONS, Wakanui Rbad. Apply to Patching, Tent-maker, East Street. 898 ANTED KNOW N; That HENRY’S PORTRAIT BOOMS,] ,; Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ash-' ‘ burton, are Open DAILY, from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Portraits takep: in any/ weather. Great Reduction in Price. 101 a WANTED MUSIC KNOWN, H. J. WEEKS, Teacher of Music, Tuner, &c., has room for a few more Pupils for the Pianoforte, Harmonium, Violin, Flute, or Singing. Terms on application. . Second , , hand instruments bought or sold on com mission, Address—Cameron street west. TTTANTED KNOWN—The Largest l ' YV Best Stock of Saddlery is to be found at the shop of S.. STEPHENS, ; Tinwald. Good strong Cart Collars from, . 135.; Cart Winkers, Bs. 6d.; Plough Back-bands. 6s. cash ; Cart Saddles and Breechens, from 505.; Reaping Machine,. Pole Straps, 2s. Farmers will make a great saving by buying of S. Stephens, Saddler, Tinwald. TTTANTED KNOWN. Aahbnrtoh VV REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants. — L. F. Andbewes begs to inform the public of Ashburton and surrounding districts that he has opened the above. Male and Female Servants of all classes provided. Em ployers requiring servants, and all persons with good recommendations,, who are in want of situations, are requested to apply * to L. F. Andrewes, Labor Agent, Book seller, and Stationer, East street. South. : _J 527 Meetings -10. G. T. —Unity DEGREE TEMPLE , Special Meeting of 3 bird Degree Members on THURSDAY, 17oh ihst., at 8 o’clock, at the Templar Hall, for ex traordinary business. All Third Degree members invited. Thomas Williams, D.T. 106 a



Amusements. J O. O. F., M. U. &YAL ASHBURTON LODGE, No, 6003. GRAND ANNIVERSARY Concert Of Vocal and Instrumental.: Music, Dances, and Comic Sketches, in the ; TOWN HALL, ASHBURTON, MONDAY EVENING, FEB^'2B. The Loyal Ashburton Lodge, No. 6003, ; purpose celebrating their Anniversaiy.witji a Concert on the above oats|Wlsn|g( cellent programme will be pr« a i A BaLL will take place immediately,,. after the Concert. : : .g 4 Doors open at half-past, seven {.concert s : - at eight prompt.' JOSHUA TUCKER, N.O, 76a R. MINNIS, Secretary.