SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Edwin Bassett, barque, from Newcastle. To-day. Tui, a.s., from Kaikoura and Welling ton. Te Anau, 5.8., from Northern ports. Waitaki, as., from Akaroa and Port Chalmers. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Arrived—Seagull, from Dunedin. Sailed—Hero, for the South ; Colum bus, for Napier ; Sissy, for Greymouth. Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived Aurora, schooner, from Kaipara; Richard and Mary, from Timaru. • _ . SailedI—Taiaroa, 1 — Taiaroa, for Picton ; Te Anau, for Lyttelton, at 4.40. Port Chalmers, Yesterday. Sailed—Waitaki, for Wellington.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Qffice for the following places (subject to the neces sary alterations) as under : Saturday, July 16. For the United Kingdom, via San Fran cisco, Continents of Europe and America, West Indies, Sandwich Islands, Northern Ports of New Zealand, &c., per Wanaka, as follows :—Ordinary letters at 6.30 p .m. ; late fee letters, at 7 p.m. ; books and newspapiW, at 6 p.m. ; money orders, at 3 p.m. ; registered letters at 5 p.m. ; guard’s van, 8.30 p.m. train. Mails 6lose at the Ashburton Post Office as follows: — For CEflstchurcli and North at 6.30 a. m. 10.30 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10.30 a. in. and 5 p.m. daily. _. , For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstrekm, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6.30 a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. For Timaru and South, at 6.30 a.m., 10 *.m., and 430 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a.m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, at 4.30 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, Elgin, Seafield, New land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6.30 a. m. Mails'arrive at the Ashburton Post Office —' From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 a.m., 4.40 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. From Chertsey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. and 4.40 p.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.35 p.m. daily. From Temuka and Timaru at 10.60 a.m. 5.35 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p. m. From. Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at-10 a. m. daily. From Elgin, Wakanui, Seafield, New land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 4 p.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. To-morrow, . Wednesday, July 13. Mr Alfred Harrison, at his rooms— Trees j 12 o’clock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c To-night, Tuesday, July 12. Lecture r in the Wakanui Schoolroom, at 7.30 p. m. L.O.L.—Dinner, Somerset Hotel, 8 p.m. Ashburton School Committee. Monday, July 25. Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. Tuesday, August 2. Ashburton Permanent Building and In vestment Society, Monthly Meeting, from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. Wednesday, August 3. County Council, at the County Council Chambers,' at 11 O’clock.

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton foe Christ church and intermediate stations at 7.5 a.m., Il aim., and (Express) 5.48 p.m. Trains Leave Ashburton for Timaru and South, at 6.55 a.m., 10.36 a.m. (Express), and 450 p.m.—the latter pro ceeding no farther than Timaru. TbAins Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 24 a. m. (Express), 440p.m., and 7.45 p.m. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Timaru and South at 10.50 a.m., 5.34 p.m. (Express), and 8.15 p.m.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

All orders for insertion of advertise ments must be written legibly on the face of the advertisement. When no order is given the advertisement will be inserted until countermanded, and charged accord ingly. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1881. The Financial Statement.

TOWN EDITION. [Jssued at 4.10 p.m.]

The Treasurer’s Financial Statement last week is something more than merely satisfactory; it is a brilliant suc cess. The strong" point of the present Ministry is their finance; and Major Atkinson is clearly their trump card. There is little doubt that the statement of the way in which the finances of the colony have been managed during the past year, and are to be managed in future, will restore that confidence in the Ministry which their weakness and vacillation with regard to the Licensing Bill and some other matters —though not any active wrong doing on their part—have much impaired. The State ment also is all the more satisfactory as coming from Major Atkinson, the Bayard of colonial financiers, “sans peur et sans reproche ,” whose fearless ness and integrity are guarantees against the ambiguity, delusion, and deception which by far the larger number of Colonial Treasurers unfortunately prac tise.

There was a credit balance from last year’s transactions, after, however, an addition of a million had been made to the already enormous debt, of L 38,555. The revenue during the year, exclusive of land sales, was £3,123,961, and the expenditure L 3,168,113, so that there had been a deficit, reckoning the land transactions as a separate account, of L 5,667; but as the expenditure from

land sales has still been treated prac tically in the old manner, and not made part of a separate account, and has amounted to L 32.273 less than the re ceipts, there has been an actual surplus of 1,2 6,706 upon the transactions com pleted within the year. To use Major Atkinson’s words, “ after closing the accounts of the year ended the 31st March, 1881, we can see our way to provide out of the ordinary revenue for the liabilities outstanding at that date, with every prospect of a fair margin of receipts in excess of expenditure at the end of the year ; and this, notwith standing the fact that the interest we have to pay has been increased by some L 300,000 a year.” The difficult pro blem, therefore, of making our current revenue meet our current expenditure has been practically solved. It is per fectly true, indeed, that we shall not start for the current year with quite so large a credit balance, and it is quite true also that it would be better to have the proceeds of land sales entirely free from all charges of the ordinary expen diture, to be devoted entirely to public works; but considering how small a sum has been appropriated in these two ways, and considering also the rapid growth of our commerce, and the rapid increase of our population, there are the best reasons for believing that next year the credit balance will be consider ably larger than on the present occa sion, and that it will thenceforth in crease from year to year. This con clusion is all the more probable, not to say certain, from the fact that in one item alone, the railway revenue, there has been so large an increase that it now amounts to per cent, clear on the cost of construction, and will, at the same rate of increase, be next year 4or per cent, of clear profit. The great bulk of the Land Fund—almost all of it, in fact—will be available for public works, and no additional taxa tion will be imposed. On the contrary, taxation will be reduced, as the dues on moleskins, axes, and other articles largely used by laboring men, and also half the Property Tax, are to be taken off.

Considering the alarming state in which the finances were at the time when the Grey Government were driven from office, when there was an impend ing deficit of nearly a million, and the colony was so close to insolvency that only at the last moment were funds found to pay interest on the colonial debentures, we may well congratulate ourselves on the change from Messrs Macandrew and Ballance to Major Atkinson. Notwithstanding the petty carping criticisms of these gentlemen, and their denials of the state of the finances at the close of the Grey regime, the fact remains that the exposure of the real state of things in alMts naked deformity was made at the time, and that they were utterly unable to explain it away. Want of readiness of speech was in their case certainly not the real reason for this. Words and plausibility were the last things they were likely to lack. And although they may still contend, with more show of reason, that the present comparatively favor able financial prospect is due not to good management on the part of the Ministry, but to an excellent harvest, they may easily be reminded that with them, whether the harvests were good or bad, there was always reckless management, which would have squandered any probable surplus, no matter how large. The harvest was not exceptionally good, when Mr Macandrew, three years ago, made his preposterous proposal for constructing railways and other public works to cost L 8,500,000. If there had been a large surplus, therefore, more than the whole of it would have been jspent. It is satisfactory to learn from Major Atkinson’s Statement, also, that the Public Works and Immigration policy of 1881 has not proved a failure; but quite the contrary, as regards both the increase of our trade and the pressure of taxation. In 1870 our imports and exports amounted to four millions and odd pounds te-, spectively ; in 1880 to six millions and over, being an increase of about 50 per cent. Our taxation per head, after allowing for the 9s qd per head since incurred as the annual cost of educa tion, is actually 2s 6d per head less than it was in 1870. A more com plete vindication of the soundness of that policy could scarcely be furnished. We may daily expect to hear that, in consequence of the Treasurer’s Statement, increased confidence in New Zealand has so far been inspired in the Home country, that the price of our securities has largely advanced, and that if we have occasion again to borrow, it will be on easier terms than ever before. But we maintain that New Zealand has no right whatever to borrow any more money for several years to come. Our debt amounts now to a nett sum of L28,040,i7o —an amount per head unparallelled in the world. Far more prudent would it be, by means of those further reductions in expenditure which the Ministry pro mise, and of the increased receipts which are sure to come from our progress in wealth, to wipe off gradually a large part of our debt, and thus save a good deal of that burden of taxation which every man now pays as his share of the interest due to British bond holders. If we want to compete with other colonics, we should be less trammelled with taxation than we arc now.

Funeral. —The funeral o f the late Mrs J. Purchas took place this morning, and was attended by a large concourse of the friends of Mr Purchas. The Rev. J. Nixon conducted the funeral service, which was read in an impressive manner. Much sympathy is felt with Mr Purchas in his bereavement. The Orangemen. The anniversary dinner of the Orangemen will take place this evening at Shearman’s Somerset Hotel. h Wakanui School. —A lecture will be given this evening by the Rev. W. Keall at the Wakanui schoolroom on the subject of “ Stability and instability of character.” Library Concert. The next of the winter series of concerts in aid of the public library funds will he given to. morrow evening the Library Hall. The programme is said to be a very var ied and interesting one. Labor and Loan Society. —At the half-yearly meeting of the Friends of Labor and Loan Society, held at Christ church, it was reported that there were 286 members, holding 854 shares. The capital now amounts to L 3,690 18s Id. During the half-year, L 2,274 had been grantodjin loans to members. The profit amounted to L 430, and a dividend of 7J per cent, was declared.

Acknowledgment. The Master of the Old Men’s Home wishes to acknow ledge, with thanks, the receipt of a parcel of tobacco and newspapers from Mr Shearman, Somerset Hotel.

Treks. —Mr Alfred Harrison an nounces an extensive sale of fruit and forest trees, to bo held at his rooms to morrow.

Phrenology. —lt is announced by advertisement published elsewhere that Professor W. G. Simon will visit this town in the early part of next week, and will deliver lectures in the Town Hall on the above subject. In the day time, during his stay here, the professor will hold levees for the purpose of giving private readings of character. The Southern press speaks most highly of the proven ability of Mr Simon, and doubtless many persons will take advantage of this oppor tunity to acquire a knowledge of their good and bad qualities. Consultation. —In another column will bo found Mr J. Herman’s announcement notifying a sweep on the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap, to be run in November next. This is Mr Herman’s third Consultation, his previous efforts in this direction having met with every success, and the manner in which the sweeps have been carried out given every satisfaction to investors. The present is for 2,000 at 10a, and the prizes number seventy five. Earthquake! —Earthquakes have been so common in the last fortnight that they are scarcely worth notice. We may mention however, that one was experi enced in Ashburton yesterday at 5 min utes to 2 o’clock. This is probably the same as the one reported as having occurred at Amberley at 5 minutes past 2 o’clock. Even earthquakes take a little time to travel.

The Ministry. The Parliamentary correspondent of the Timaru Herald says :—The want of leadership in the House is only too apparent. The Minis try have a large majority if they used it properly, but they are so overcrowded in their departments, and some of them are so much out of health, that they let things take their chance, and thus the Par liamentary business falls into disorder, and only the hopeless disunion among the Opposition prevents any serious result arising from this. But it cannot last much longer without very much weaken ing the Ministry.

Hares not Game now. The Nelson Colonist says :—“The proclamation which placed hares in the list of game, only to be slaughtered by license has now, we learn, been withdrawn, and consequently it is competent for any one to destroy these animals, which have proved so groat a nuisance to those who have planted fruit trees.”

. Improvements in Timaru. —Prominent among the numerous Recent improvements instituted in Timaru, and most certain to strike the eye of the visitor, is the conver sion of the row of buildings fronting the railway station, and running up George street to the junction of the Main street, for many years unoccupied, into a row of neat shops. This work has been carried out by Mr J. Malcolm, formerly of Wai mate, and forms a moat important feature in .the town. The whole of the shops have been in occupation since the date of completion. In one of these Mr Malcolm has established a seed and grain mer chant’s business, his stock comprising every class of seed required by the agri cultural community of the district, and, owing to its adjacency to the railway sta tion, no difficulty in the respect of transit is experienced by those conferring on him their orders.

Charge of Malicious Prosecution. —At the Supreme Court sittings in Christ church yesterday, a commencement was made of the hearing of the case Arthur O’Neill v. Robert M'lntyre, in which a sum of LSOO damages was claimed for malicious prosecution. Mr Joynt ap peared for the plaintiff, and Mr Wilding for the defendant. The case arose out of the loss of a watch by the defendant. It appeared from the evidence that though MTntyro suspected o : Neil of stealing the watch, such was not the fact, it had in reality been dropped in a paddock, and was found by a man named Bradford. M'lntyre, howe' er, had O’Neil arrested in Ashburton. On his being brought before the Court the case was dismissed. In the meantime, however, he had been put to some expense, and had lost in credit in the town. The case was ad journed until to-day. We learn by a telegram, received just before going to press this afternon, a verdict for the de fendant was given.

South Rakaia Roard Board.— The ordinary meeting of the Board was held on the 7th instant. There wore present— Messrs O. N. Mackie (in the chair), Holmes, Coster, and Allan. A petition asking the Board to form Bowen street from Chapman street to the Main South road ; Fergusson street from Railway Terraco East to South road; and Bridge street from South Rakaia road to the South Town Belt, was granted, and it was resolved that tenders should be invited for the works at once. It was also re solved, on the application of the Mount Hutt Road Board, to pay half the cost of forming the whole of the improved por tions of Thompson’s Track. On the motion of Mr Holmes, it was resolved that the Board form the road bn the south side of the plantation from Sodtown to the North Town Belt, and get the cutting sodded up. Tenders were accepted for forming McCroy’a road, at 5s per chain, and Winchmore road at 4s fid; walling up cuttings on Duncan’s road, L 9; forming Bailie’s road, at 12s fid per chain; re-form ing Mainwaring’s road, at 4s per chain; and forming Great South road, at 5s lOd per chain. Accounts amounting to LIBO 12s Id were passed for payment. The Council then adjourned.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE [per beuter’s agency.] Obituary. London, July 9. The deaths are announced of the Right Hon. W. P. Wood, Baron Hatherley, formerly Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, and of General Sir R. Waddy, K.C.B. Shipping. ■ Arrived—Ships Candidate and Marl borough, from Lyttelton. The War in Tunis. Paris, July 9. Intelligence has been received from Tunis reporting that the French fleet be fore Sfax is still engaged in shelling the town. An attempt was made to-day to land a storming party under cover of the guns of the ships. The Arabs, however, who were in strong force, opened a heavy fire upon the boats, and the troops failed to effect a landing. Affairs in Afghanistan. Calcutta, July 10. The intelligence received on the 4th, inst, that Ayoub Khan had left Herat with a considerable body of mixed troops for Candahar is now fully con* firmed. Ayoub .Khan is in command of a force which is pushing forward with all speed.

The Italian Loan. Rome, July 9. The loan which Messrs Baring Bros.

and J. and C. Hambro and Co. have engaged to float on behalf of the Italian Government is for 1.30,000,000, bear ing interest at 5 per cent. AUSTRALIAN. [per redter’s agency. ] Small Pox. Sydney, To-day. The small pox is increasing, though its progress is slow. A fresh case was reported yesterday, the person attacked being a woman living in the suburbs of Ultimo. There arc now twelve in fected houses in the city and suburbs. A Small Pox Board has been appointed to devise fresh means for preventing the spread of disease, and a special quarantine station is now in course of construction at Little Bay, in Port Jack son, where all small pox patients will be sent. Pixe. Brisbane, To-day. A fire broke out last night on pre mises in Queen street, opposite the Theatre. It was speedily extinguished, but not before some damage was done. The insurances include policies in the following—New Zealand amongst other offices:—New Zealand Company, L 530 ; South British Company, L2OO.

TELEGRAMS.

[per press association.] The Orange Society. Auckland, Yesterday. The Orange Society held a commemo ration service yesterday in the Choral Hall, which was largely attended. The Rev. Joseph Long, Primitive Methodist, presided, and addresses were given by the "Von. Archdeacon Maunsell and the Rev. L. W. Isitt, Wesleyan. Visit to the Wakato Settlement. Major Mair has arrived an Alexandra. Tawhaio will meet him with 300 men, and will visit the Waikato settlement. Latest from Hong Kong. The news by the Bowen is of little in terest. The general verdict re the tea crop is that the leaf is damaged in ap pearance at least by heavy rains, and al though the annual rates are lower than last year, when the inferiority of the leaf, difference of exchange, &c., aie con sidered, they come out nearly 7 per cent, higher than last year. At Canton, 4,500 boxes of Congou were sold for 15 to 25 taels per picul; scented caper, 50,000 boxes, at ll|d to 26 taels per picul ; scented orange pekoe, 7,600 boxes, at 13 to 24 taels per picul. The first muster of . Honkow and K iniang teas was offered on ' the 16th May. The market opened at 31 , to 32 taels for Ninlochow and 28-25 per picul for Tooschan. The steamer Glencoe , was the favorite for the tea race to Lon don. She left on the 22nd May, with 2,048,4201 b«. New Zealand University Under graduates. The Star to-night has an article on the 1 case of an undergraduate of the Univor -1 sity which raises a point of considerable : importance. Tho student in question being engaged in business during the day, ■ applied to the Chancellor for exemption from attendance at the lectures, provision for such exemption being contained in the regulations. The Chancellor refused compliance with the application, persisting ; in the refusal. After a lengthy corres pondence, the injustice of the Chancellor’s action is argued in the Star on three grounds :—First, the public character of the University, which exists by Act of Parliament, is supported by endowments of public land, and is therefore for the benefit of the people, and not for their discouragement ; second, as being con trary to the objects of the University, as set forth in the Act of 1874, which makes. ; it an examining body, pure and simple ; third, the serious injustice and wrong that ' will bo done to a yearly increasing num ber of laborious, meritorious students if 1 the Chancellor continues to refuse ex emptions to those undergraduate who pursue their studies after business. The consequence will necessarily be that the degree will become the exclusive privilege of the rich, who can devote their whole time to the University. The Star considers that such restriction is diametrically opposed to the charter of the University, wherein its advantages are held out to all, without | any distinction of class whatever. Death of Major Paul. Auckland, To-day. Major Paul died suddenly last night, 1 between 10 and 11 o’clock, at the Northern Club. The deceased gentleman arrived by the Penguin from Wellington yester day morning, cn route for Waiwera, in hopes that a course of baths would afford relief from asthma. He was staying at the Club. On retiring to his room last night, he desired the attendant to bring him a basin of hot water, with the inten tion of inhaling the fumes. The act of inhaling had effected his lungs, and find ing that something had gone_ wrong, he opened ths door to call for assistance, and fell forward in the hall, on his face, dying instantaneously. Mrs Munro and Honey man happened to be in the Club at the time, and. their services were invoked, but in vain. He burst a blood-vessel, and died of internal hemorrhage. The deceased gentleman was formerly in the 65th Regi ment, and settled subsequently at Wel lington, and on the retirement of Dr. Greenwood, was appointed Sergeant-at- Arms of the House of Representatives, but subsequently resigned. The Government in a Difficulty. The Government are in a difficulty by the resignation of the Local Board of Health, and are negotiating to induce them to resume office with enlarged powers. The Union Company and the Pas sengers. The passengers for Sydney by the Pen guin complain in the Herald of the action of the Union Company in transferring them from the Ringarooma and bringing them here and leaving them without any vessel to take them on. Tho Albion is not advertised to go till Friday, and may be detained here in quarantine, leaving sixty or seventy passengers without means in a strange place. Weasels. "Napier, Yesterday. There is a nice little quarrel between the Acclimatisation Society and the rabbit trustees. The trustees, after sleeping for two years, suddenly awake, determined to introduce weasels, despite a protest from the press. A meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was held on Saturday, when a resolution strongly con demning the trustees was unanimously passed. It was also decided to offer a reward of LI for every weasel killed. Bible in Schools Association’s Circular. The. Wairoa school committee hare followed the example of the Napier com mittee in refusing to allow the Bible in Schools Association to distribute circulars through thp master. Natives Fencing Again. Wellington, Yesterday, Government received information to? day that some natives had erected a fence to seaward of the road to Pungarehu. | The fence was removed by the Con? i stabulary, and has not since be re?erooted> The Patients, i The patients will be, removed to the ( new Hospital to-morrow. i Trial of Steamer’s Arrangements. ] The steamer Inspector proceeded- ha H

board the Te Anau this morning, and j suddenly ordered the alarm bell to bo rung, with a view of testing the efficiency of the arrangements on board the steamer. ] The result was considered highly satis factory, the boats being manned and launched in a very short space of time. 1 Another Sculling Match. 1 It is understood that negotiations are being entered into for another sculling race between Hearn and Messenger. Tawhaio and his Friends at Alexandra- The following telegram has been re ceived by the Government from Major Mair, the Government agent at Alex andra :—“ Tawhaio, Wahanui, Manuhiri, and a number of other chiefs came in at 3 o’clock. Tauhaio ordered 80 guns to be laid down before me, and Wahanui said that this was an offering in the name of peace. 1 responded that, on behalf of the Government, I accepted the guns in the same spirit, and all people would now be satisfied of the genuineness of Tawhaio’s declaration that there would not be any more trouble. ” The Weather. Intercolonial weather exchange:—Mon day evening—Rain, with light southerly wind, over Eastern Australia. Elsewhere it is fine, with high barometer. Barthiiuake. Wellington, To-day. A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here about three this morning. The Boiler Explosion. It has been decided to prosecute Simp son, the keeper of the hulk on which the boiler exploded last Sunday week. It is understood that the grounds are that he neglected to keep the safety-valves clean.— A Robbery Case. Richard Bell has been committed for trial for the robbery of Ll 7 from William Hape. Recognised. Blenheim, To-day. The body found on the banks of the Waihopai river on Sunday, has been dis covered to be that of Charles Fleming, Nicholson’s head shepherd. Poor Diggings. Nelson, Yesterday. The report that a large nugget had been found at Wakamarina is denied. The Colonist warns diggers that the new ground - at these diggings is of small extent, and little is now being done on account of cold and wet. 1 The Clergy and the Gaming Bill. 1 At a meeting of clergy re the Gaming Bill, the following resolutions were car . ried—“That this meeting petition Parlia ment to pass the Gaming and Lotteries i Bill now before the House, or one em bodying its principles;” “ That this 1 meeting specially direct the attention of 1 the framers of the Bill to the necessity of so framing it that all advertisements of l consultations, sweepstakes, &c., shall be L absolutely illegal. ” , Measles in the Industrial School. Two hundred children had measles in l the Industrial School, 150 being in bed at one time. Only one death occurred. Breach of Promise- Dunedin, To-day. > In the case of Simonson v. Joseph - Solomon for breach of promise, the de s fendant appeared and said he was and i always had been prepared to fulfil his , promise. The plaintiff’s counsel said this i was the first they had heard of such a i thing, and plaintiff pressed for the only i reparation possible in the circumstances. I The jury returned a verdict for L 125.

THE TRIAL OF MR. WHITELAW

The Jury Unable to Agree.

(bt telegeafh.)

Wellington, Yesterday.

The trial of Whitelaw occupied the Supreme Court all day. No new facts were elicited. The jury, after four hours deliberation, said that there was no chance of agreeing, and were locked up for the night.

Wellington, To-day.

During the hearing of the case yesterday, Mr Travers raised a point that the Mount View Asylum* not having been gazetted under the Lunatics Act, an indictment could not lie for an officer under the statute. The Crown Prosecutor admitted the non-proclama tion, and the Judge said he thought the point fatal of course as for an offence under the statute. The third count, for a common assault, was removed, and the jury returned a verdict on it. It found that the act committed was in excess of authority, even without notice. On the Court resuming this morning, the jury, who had been locked up all night, stated there was no chance of their agreeing, and they were discharged. The Crown Prosecutor applied for a new trial. The counsel for the prisoner asked who was to pay for the second special duly. Judge Richmond said that, as a matter of law, the expense must fall on the prisoner, but he thought it would, under the circum stances, be graceful on the part of the Crown to pay the costs. The Crown Prosecutor said he would represent the matter to the Government, and en deavor to get them to pay the Lioa. The Judge asked the Crown Prose cutor ,if Ijp thought he could get over the non-proclamation of asylums, or otherwise make the charge merely one of criminal assault. Mr Izard replied that he could not A new trial by special jury was then ordered for Thursday, 21st instant. The prisoner was released on the same bail.

OBITUARY.

The Eight Honorable William Page Wood, F.RS.

We take the following from the “ Men of the Time”; —Hatherley (Lord), the Right Hon. William Page Wood, F.R.S. (second son of the late Sir Matthew Wood, Bart., many years one of the Members for the city of London, and brother of the late Rev. Sir J. P. Wood, Bart., who died February 21st, 1866), born in 1801, was educated at Winchester and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated in high honors, obtained a Fellowship, and was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn, in 1827. He was one of the members in the Liberal interest for Oxford from August 1847 till December 1852; Vice-Chancellor of the County Pala tine of Lancaster from 1849 till 1851; and was Solicitor-General from 1851 till he was appointed a Vice-Chancellor in December 1852. He resigned the latter post in March 1868, when he was appointed a Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal in Chancery, and sworn a mem ber of the Privy Council. When Mr Gladstone became Prime Minister in December 1868, the dignity of Lord Chancellor of Great Britain' was conferred on Sir William Page Wood, who, on the 10th of that month, was created Baron Hatherley of Down Hath erley, Gloucestershire. On October 15th, 1872, he resigned the office of Lord Chancellor, in consequence of failing eye sight, and was succeeded on the woolsack by Lord Selborne. Lord Hatherly is author of “Continuity of Scripture as declared by the testimony of our Lord, and of 1 the Evangelists and Apohtles. ” Our cable" hews of to-day informs \is 6f : his Lordship’s death, which took place on the 9th inst.

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held yesterday evening, in the Council Chamber. There were present—Cr Bullock, in the chair, and Crs Friedlander, Harrison, Ivess, St. Hill, Roberts, and Williamson. chairman's statement. The Chairman reported that he received a letter from the Treasury respecting . valuation, stating that the Government ■' desired to make one valuation do, which , would effect a saving of unnecessary ex pense. He congratulated the Council ., , the approaching completion of. the outfall drain, the most important work yet exe cuted by the Council,- and he had no doubt r i that the Mayor wduld fix a day to celebrate , , the opening. The rates collected during... , the present year amounted to - L 623 18s 6d, out of a total of LI,IOO. The present overdraft at the Bank was L 426 19s - 7d. Some large amounts from auctioneers and./< publicans licenses had come in, and also an amount from Oamaru for water pipes, which amounts together had reduced the overdraft to the sum stated. He suggested that the defaulting ratepayers should henceforth be sued for the amount over- > . due by them. Ho thought it was time lor the Council to pass a resolution asking the Mayor to send round a petition Government for another railway station. There was all the more reason for this at this present time, as the Colonial Treasurer had stated that there was in the hands of the Government available for public ■* works about a million of money. They .. should also ask that the Court House re jb6£7o made s ciuse one, - instead of being left open as at present. THE OFFENSIVE LETTBK. The following letter from Messra Mat son, Cox and Co., was then read:— Ashburton, July 2, 1881. To his Worship the Mayor, Ashburton.—Sir—We have -re- . . ceived a letter of the 29th ult.,' from the TbWn \ Clerk, returning our letter of the 17th ultimo, with an intimation that a resolution was passed at your meeting of the 27th ult., that it be not received. Now while it is a matter of. the most perfect indifference to us whether it be received or not, we do not think it is a matter of indifference that your Council Should receive - : a complaint from a member of your Council against absent ratepayers of your Borough, and when these ratepayers write, proving by the testimony of your own Surveyor, the Overseer in charge of railway work, and two of three?.' . other uninterested parties, that the complaint*- is without foundation, that your Council should refuse to receive that letter, especially 6n. the , deciding vote of the individual making the.. . [ complaint, who thus shirks the disproof of hix* ’ unfounded statement. We are notinfonned . on what ground our letter' is returned, 3 * from the newspaper report, we presume yooT ‘ considered our letter one of abuse of a member 1 of youriCouncil. If so, we venture to think ■ your Council were laboring- under a misappre- - : tension, as on referring to our letter, 1 Which we : enclose, and respectfully request a re-considera i tion of, we think you will be unable to find one ' word of abuse.; It is true we opinion that, by worrying, &c.', about tnflei, • we thought Councillor St Hill wasted a great. : 1 deal of time, but wc did not even hint that in i so doing he was actuated by; any but the best r • of motives—in fact, that he thought he ‘ doing business, while we thought the in& f ' r Surely we are each entitled to our ownopmion; and w e am further confirmed in ours by every* ' - 1 one to whom we have spoken oh the subject- However, deeds are said to speak louder/than , I words, and tKe latter part’of "out Mt&'jmts ‘ * 1 that practically before you, and, we think, 1 was entitled to more courteous treatment than , 1 it received; on which grounds we request a re r consideration of it, and trust, for .the honor of a British corporation, that it may lief go forth' _ to the world that a member of it may make an attack on absent ratepayers; and When a refu tation of it, on , abundant independent testi mony, as well as that of-your own officer, is submitted, that that should be refused to be received, mjd by the casting vote of the ac 'cuser. We also takc-tbo- opportunity of cor- . reeling a further mis-statement of CounctUbr St Hill’s, who is reported to have saicLthat-w* had turned the water off our roof; under our; „ : building. A little more careful examination . 1 would have shown that 18 inches of concrete ‘ \ foundations would have prevented that (had'we been so foolish as to try it), the fact being the 1 very severe storm which came just as the'pipes ■ were laid prevented their being 'soldered-then " as they now are. As, however, we fear it would be a never-ending work to correct" Mr - St Hill’s mistakes, we are, &c., Matson, Cox - : and Co. r.;- . . Cr St. Hill ross to explain his conduct, : and, by leave of the chair, was allowed to ; do so without moving a resolution. He , said that, in spite of the Mayor,, the _ Council, andthe Engineer, the writerS/oL the letter had persisted -in makingian obstruction "on the footpath.; He Iff* 5 plained his-own plan of what 5 been done to the street in frontrt-S» 1 Matson, Cox, and Co.’s Store. H-* had , taken eight or nine months to get the water taken under the path. He said there was a good deal of the old woman in - the letter writer ; ho had determined to . have the last word. He-vraa confident., that if a public meeting was called to consider his conduct, the majority- would express such an opinion of the writer as he did not at all expect. Or Harrison moved—“ That the first - letter should be received,” as there were some matters which were of public im portance, altogether apart from what it stated as to Cr St Hill personally. Cr Friedlander seconded the motion... The Council, he said, might at any rata,< consider the application to be allowed to; erect a verandah.

Or Ivess moved, as an amendment—?. “ That all the matter referring to Cr St Hill be omitted, but that those parts of the letter referring to the verandah and to the asphalting be considered.” He thought the second letter was » partial - retraction of, and apology for the first, as in the second letter Or St. Hill received credit for his good intentions. ~ , Or Williamson seconded the amend ment, though he thought it did not go far enough. An entirely new letter should be written, instead of a request to reconsider the first one. The writers had no business to make use of this Oouncil to convey their abuse to Cr St. Hill; they should go to him and tell him what they thought of him personally. The mover and seconder of thei motion, at the request of the Chairman, said they would withdraw the motion.

Cr St. Hill objected to the withdrawal. Or Harrison said that the real cause of all this difficulty was that a certain mem* her persisted in speaking to. the employees of the Council outside the Council

Chamber about work required td be done. Whatever Councillors wished to suggest they should suggest openly here. (Several members, in the course of this discussion, rcse on points of order; which they discussed with great acumen and knowledge of Parliamentary practice, but they were not officially decided upon.) The resolution that the motion be with* drawn was negatived, and the motion of Cr Harrison was put and carried. Regarding the asphalting requested, St. Hill moved —“ That in the present state of the Council’s finances, the applica-

tion be refused.” It was resolved —“ That the Council are 1 not in a position to execute any asphalt ing.”

Respecting the verandah it was re solved—“ That the work be allowed to bo

done, subject to the approval of the Engineer." KB chapman’s BION-BOABD. A letter was read from Mr J.. B, Chap- : man, respecting his sign-board, request ing to be allowed to retain" it where it is for the present, as he is about to erect a: | \ verandah as well, The Council agreed that he bo allowed to retain his sign-bqardwhere it is, for a month, CrFriedlapdfcr Objecting. THB COONOII’s FINANCES. Cr Harrison reported on behalf of the Finance Committee that he'had await&d '• bn'Mr'Shury, and the. Union Bant would grant the accommodation asked for, an additional Id,ooo, on the undentandm

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1881.



O. Carstens & Co., r (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, -Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco A nice assortment of Accordions, Con certinas, Flutes, Violins, Mouth Organs, and Toys of every description, direct from Home. Hairoutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET ASHBURTON. 257a* J H E R M A N’ S : NO. 3 f CONSULTATION ON THE CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB ’ HANDICAP, To be run AT CHRISTCHURCH, NOV. 8, 1881. 65 Nominations and 10 Starters. Total number of Prizes, 75. 20bQ Members, at 10s each. First Horse... Second Horse Third Hbrse Other Starters (divided) Non-starters „ 10 Starters at £25 each £2OO 100 50 100 300 250 Total £IOOO The Ten Starters at £25 each are extra Prizes, akd will be paid immediately after the drawing. Two stamps necessary for reply and result. Cheques must be crossed, “with la exchange added. To dose the end of September. Address— J.’HERMAN, ' , f Tobacconist, 244 q x> /. Main South Road, Timaru. T Hayes’ I M/BPJUK'T YARDS. of Slyirt Firewood unsold at ■notion sale will'be SOLD CHEAP, for cash, in thder it. %u ., -■••• A^p^ 5US HAY ES. FRESH SUPPLIES of TIMBER, &c., to hand. 608 a



Wanted. WANTED— 20,000 Bushels of GRAIN to Crush, at 2d per bushel. Mayo and Hunt. 2010 WANTED KNOWN—That the Under signed is prepared to put and keep in ORDER GARDENS, by the day or year, at very low rates. Apply, J. Lino, Mayo’s Block. 185 c WANTED immediately—CHlCOßY DIGGERS. Apply at Works, Moore street. E, B. Pearce. 180 c TIT ANTED EYERBODY to know that w HORSE COVERS can be bought for 17s 6d (former price, 255), Stephens’, Saddler, Tinwald. at S. 726 a TTSTANTED KNOWN—That A. Farqu- VV har has leased BUTLER’S BIL LIARD SALOON, and requests a visit. Pool every evening at 9 o’clock. 93c WANTED KNOWN—That Robert Elston, Burnett street, Ashburton, having procured the Newest Apparatus, is prepared to SWEEP CHIMNEYS at very low rates. Any orders left at the Town Hall will receive prompt attention. 81c WANTED KNOWN.—Young Ladies’ Journal, Is 7d ; Bow Bells, Is 7d; Family Reader (Monthly), 1s 2d ; (Quarterly)do., 2s 2d; Family Herald, Is ; London Journal, Is 4d ; &c., &c. A large assortment of School Books and Stationery of every description. Hymn and Prayer Books, &c., &c. Subscribers wanted for every Newspaper and Periodical published. Books, Piece Music, &c., not in stock can be supplied to order, at lowest prices. _ L. F. Andrewes, Bookseller, Stationer, and General Newspaper Agent, East street South. 953 a WANTED KNOWN—That Miss Vbkrall is now showing her Winter Stock of Millinery, Drapery &c. Stay and Corset Manufacturer. Dressmaking done on Premises, Colombo street, opposite Cookham House. 630 a WANTED KNOWN. Ashburton REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants.—L. F. Andrewes 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. 102 c WANTED KNOWN—That the “Crown Lands Guide” (No. 3), New Zealand Gazette , Parliamentary Papers, and all other Government Publi cations can be obtained by applying at Office of this Paper. TX7ANTED THE GUARDIAN tells ’ • your Wants for Is., cash. Special Advertisements. THE BEST VALUE FOR READY MONEY is the MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING Manufactured by THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, Which can be purchased at their Retail Branches all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. THOUSANDS OF DISCERNING CUSTOMERS Testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch : EAST STREET, WM. SPARROW. 75c Manager. A LL work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” consequently, bear ing the truth of this adage in mind, Frederick Clark, OF EAST STREET, HAIRDRESSER, Has just imported a quantity of NOVEL AND AMUSING GAMES wherewith to while away the dragging hours of winter nights. They meet the requirements of both old and young, and include playing cards, “ squeezero,” &c.; chess and draught men and boards, back gammon, dominoes, go-bang, race game, lotto, &c., &c. Those having favorite Authors should, to prevent disappointment, make their selections from his large stock of NEWEST NOVELS at their earliest convenience. THE SMOKER’S FRIEND is F.C., and to preserve the right to this title he has juet imported the following Brands of TOBACCO : —Nail Rod, Vanity Fair, Ruby Twist, Twist, &c., &c. CIGARS and CIGARETTES: Havanna and Cuban, Vanity Fair Cigarettes, &c., &c., and a large selection of novelties in PIPE WARE. Haircutting, Shaving, and Shampooing Saloon, Buildings. 720 a AND LARGE DISCOUNTS. 4s. in the £ RETURNED to all Customers purchasing Mens’ or Boys’ Clothing, For this Month only, at EVERETT BROS., Havelock street. Two Shillings in the Pound returned to all customers purchasing in Mercery, Dresses, Manchester, Millinery, and Fancy Departments. SAVE 2s in the £ or 10 per cent, on purchases, 4s in the £ or 20 per cent. 822 a JgONE DUST. Bone Bust ON SALE, in large or small quantities. Prices, £6 10a and £5 10s per ton. 195 c MAYO & HUNT. M US I C TUITION. NEXT TERM commences July Ist. Lessons on the Piano, Harmonium, Violin and Flute. Pianofortes and Organa on sale. Terms to suit purchasers. Pianos and Harmoniums tuned. IJ. J. WEEKS, 931 a Cameron street West. John Meech, PRACTICAL CABINETMAKER, UPHOLSTERER, &0., BURNETT STREET, Opposite the Mail Office. Cheapest House in Town for New and Secondhand Furniture. All kinds of Furniture repaired or ex changed. GOOD PRICE GIVEN FOR SECOND HAND FURNITURE. 819



Special Advertisements. RBEAVEN begs to inform the in . habitants of Ashburton and the surrounding district that he will COM MENCE BUSINESS on SATURDAY NEXT, as General Stationer, Bookseller, Fancy Goods, Toys, &c. The largest and best selection of Litera ture, &c., ever offered for sale in the dis trict. The best goods, choice selection, and extremely moderate prices, being the proprietor’s moto, he hopes thereby to merit a fair share of public patronage. Note the time and address— SATURDAY, JULY iith. SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, Next the Guardian Office, East street. J. Wilson, SEED MERCHANT, (Opposite the Railway Station, Timaru), Has on SALE the ■ following SEEDS— Clover—Allsack white, red, and cow grass Grasses —Perennial, poa pratensis, hard fescue, and crested dog’s tail Turnips Carrots Rape And a choice collection of Garden Seeds, of which special mention will be given in the future. 245 c Pianos. Pianos. PIANOS, HARMONIUMS, and AMERICAN ORGANS For Sale on deferred payments. Also, on Hire, as may be required. (Anyone hiring an instrument and subsequently wishing to Purchase within six months, the amount paid for hire may be applied to purchase of same. H. M. JONES, Stationer and Bookseller, East street and Baring Square. 365 a Dr Janies Murdoch, JJAYING taken the House in Bur nett street, at present occupied by Mr Cambridge, Chemist, will COMMENCE PRACTICE in Ashburton, on MONDAY, 6th June, 1881. 951 a -\TURSE. —Mrs Pauling begs to in -I\| timate that she has opened a Private Nursing Establishment and Hospital for Ladies and Gentlemen, and is prepared to receive Ladies to Nurse who require medical attention. A-ddreas Moore street, near Presbyterian Manse. 104 c OTICE OF REMOVAL. JOHN HARVEY, BOOT and SHOEMAKER, Begs to intimate to his numerous friends and customers that he has removed into his new Premises, next to the Panama House, TANCRED STREET, Where he hopes to merit a fair share of public patronage. Every description of Boots and Shoes made to order on the shortest notice. Repairs neatly executed. 199 c WANTED KNOWN Promissory Note Forms on Sale, at the Guardian Office. THE GUARDIAN is pubtSshed every evening, giving every day v «7. s, up to the hour of going to press. This is better than buying a sixpenny weekly Railway tariff. Copies of the New Scale of Fares and Charges on the New Zealand Railways can now be procured at Office of this Paper. TT7ANTED KNOWN —Every desorip » » tion of Plain and Fancy Printing executed on the shortest notice, at the Guardian Office, nearly opposite the Rail way Station. METHVEN AGENCY. MORGAN and HIBBS, General Store keepers, Methven, are authorised agents for the Ashburton Guardian. Subscribers will please get their papers from the agents in future. Orders en trusted to them will receive prompt attention. W. H. ZOUCH, Proprietor.