SHIPPING.

FOB! OP LYTTELTON. - Arrived. Yesterday. Wa&atipa, s.s., from Port Chalmers. To-dat. Rotorua. s.s., from Port Chalmers. Sailed. Yesterday. - Ocean Bird, ketch, for Collingwood. I Rona, schooner, for Auckland. Clio, schooner, for Wakatipn. Hero, cutter, for Havelock. BSIPPINa TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Arrived —Sovereign, for Rarotonga. Sailed—Arawata, for Sydney. ', New Plymouth, Yesterday. ■ Sailed—Taiaroa, for Nelson and South ern ports,at noon. . , Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived— Wanaka, frotn Picton and Nelson; Hawea, from the South; Kim, from Napier. J ■■ _

COMMERCIAL.

London Seed Market. Messrs John Shaw and Sons, of 37, Mark Lane, London, report (through their agent, Mr Leonard W. Blake, of Chriat -1 church), Ahat the market during the fort night ending June 3rd was, as usual, _ at thTo time of the year, extremely quiet, there having been only a few retail sales ■». Caused by some welcome rains. -The sea son closed with stocks all round un •snally light. • For sowing mustard and tope seed, there was more demand, the latter *t an advance of 2s per qr. Canary eeed was meeting with increased attention. - Rye grass was very scarce, the consump tion having been very great during the past season. *

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office H follows: , v x For Christchurch and North at 6.30 a. m. 10.30 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. Tor Cherlsey Rakaia, &c., at 10.30 a. m. , sad 6 p.m. daily. _ ' For Dtmedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Celdstream, Rangitaty, 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 , a.m., and 430 p.m., daily. . Fer Greenstreet,' Ashburton Forks, Meant Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, •B Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a.m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, at 4,30 p.m. daily. _ For Wakanui, Elgin, Seafield, New- Isnd, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6.30 a.m. arrive at the Ashburton Post From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 .A 4O p.m., and 7.50 p.m. FromChertaey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. and 440 p.m. daily. x , Item Dunedin and intermediate places *t 8,85 p.m. daily. A _ A From Temuka and Timaru at 10.00 a. m. 8,35 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet,, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge •n Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m. From Ashton, Waterton, and. Long feeadi at 10 a.m. daily. ' From Elgin, Wakanui, Seafield, New hind, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, ' and Saturdays, at 4 p.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster '

DAILY MEMORANDA.

MBBtINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c > To-Night, • Thubsdat, Jmy 21. Thistle Lodge—Monthly Meeting, 7.30 jp.HU ' ' - ■ ISaturdat, Judy 23. Amateur Dramatic! Club and Georgia Minstrels, Town Hall, at 8 p.m. Monday, Judy 25. goroagh 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. Monday, August 8. Bantftata Road Board—Monthly Mect - lßff ’ Wednesday, August 10. Ijjcal Industries Association—Annual meeting, upper room, Town Hall, at 8 ■ p.m. - Thursday, August 11. ’ library Committee— Monthly meeting. Mount Hutt Road Board, Monthly Meet-

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Lbave Ashburton foe OHUBCH And intermediate atations at 7.5 «.m., II a-m., and (Express) 6.48 p.m. Trains Leave Ashburton for Timaru and South, at 6.55 a.m., 10.36 a.m. (Express), and 4.50 p.m. —4he latter pro oeejung no farther than Timaru. Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 24 a.m. (Express), 4.40 p.m., and 7.45 p.m. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Tocabu 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 he 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 Tim Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas, et Prevalebit. THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1881. The Local Government Bills.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 4.10 p. m. j

If there is a grain of common sense in the collective wisdom of the House of Representatives they will not hesi tate about preferring the Ministerial scheme of Local Government to the rival schemes brought forward already. Major Atkinson’s Bill may not be per fect —we don’t think it is, for reasons already adduced—but it is at least feas ible. Theirs, on the contrary, are all characterised by the grossest absurdi ties. Mr Sheehan’s proposal to abolish abolition of the provinces, and resusci tate them from the dead, is about as reasonable as to suggest that Great Britain should be governed by an Egyptian mummy, that the Heptarchy should be restored, or that Queen Vic toria should vacate the throne in favor of the deceased Queen Anne of blessed memory. Mr Ormond, forgetting that taxation of property is of necessity the first duty of any local government, is so disgusted at his own property,_ of which there is a good quantity, being taxed that he is willing to call any scheme of government a lovely piece of decentralisation, a beautiful plan of local government, if only it does not tax properly. But Sir George Grey’s scheme, of which so much was heard in anticipation, is the most wildly ridicu lous of all. The Dunedin Star not inaptly styles it “ a hotch-potch of Pro vincialism, Republicanism, and Abso lutism.” It seems to us a Provincialist dress with Republican and Absolutist trimmings. To most people “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” and a province by any other name would smell as sour. Not so to Sir George. All the old follies and

injustice of Provincialism ire to be restored, and some new ones added. As the nine old Provinces were too ex pensive to last, and came to grief for one among other reasons, that they always spent an extravagant quantity of money, and then ran blubbering to their mother, the General Government, to pay their debts lest they should be declared insolvent, Sir George Grey, by means of his own special multiplication table, has discovered that though nine Provinces were a very extravagant luxury, twenty would cost scarcely anything. Of course the old plan of levying black mail on the remote districts to enrich the provincial capitals would be per petuated. So also would the election of tinpot kings, only that there woulcj, be twenty instead of nine. Of course this would involve twenty provincial secretaries, twenty provincial treasurers, twenty provincial solicitors, twenty par liamentary speakers, and, so far as can be seen, twenty commanders-in-chief of the volunteers. For under the brand new scheme of the great Liberal party the volunteers arc to be under the control of the provincial Presidents and Councils. Never more will Sir George Grey’s righteous soul be agonised, as it was in the last days of provincialism, lest the Imperial vessels of war should bombard Auckland to compel sub mission to the brutal foreign power which holds New Zealand in subjection. Sir George—for of course he would be one of the Piesidcnts—would summon the volunteers of his province to the rescue, and the British fleet would make tracks for other waters. Once more the ancient war cry would be raised by the property-holders of Auckland—

“On with your one gun ; Onward ye twenty ! Cows we have plenty. Cowards not one. ” And the British squadron would in continently vanish. The provisions which our con temporary the Timaiu Herald says are seriously proposed to be in force with regard to the volunteers we do not find embodied in the printed Bill, though they perhaps may be intended. They arc that a large number of wild deer arc to be let loose nil over the colony, in order that the volunteers may render themselves expert marksmen by potting them whenever they come within range. The idea is ingenious, but we shall show Sir George Grey what the Apostle Paul might style “a more excellent way,” Why not utilize the Chinese for the purpose, and thus kill two birds with one stone—furnish targets for the volunteers, and relieve the labor market at the same time. In their own country the celestials not unfrequently offer themselves for a money considera tion to be beheaded or hanged in place of wealthy malefactors who pay over a sum of money to the sufferers’ parents. Perhaps a comparatively moderate sum placed on the provincial estimates would procure sufficient Chinamen to answer all purposes, and many of the parents, the mothers-in-law particularly, Height not all object to the subsidies the Government might offer in such cases. Another curious feature of Sir Q. Grey’s scheme is that which concerns the Judges. According to his notions, they have not shown in their decisions any respect for the great Liberal party or for Liberal sentiments. They are be elected by popular representatives chosen by popular vote henceforth, and as the great Victorian Liberal, Mr George Higinbotham expressed it, “ brought under the heel of authority,” and we presume have the boot of Liberal opinion, and the toe of pos terity and the whole human race ap plied to them if they don’t behave themselves more submissive!}'. But the last of the Grcyite proposals is the most curious of all. He grapples like a man with the question, who’s to pay the piper, or find the funds for all this regal authority in twenty provinces? He tells us that the surplus funds of General Government after all expenses have been met are to be handed over to the twenty Provincial Treasurers. It. strikes us that this would be a mighty small sum. In fact judging by the ex perience of the past few years, the Gene ral Government would only hand over a large deficit. But what would that matter in the arithmetical calculations of a great proconsul ? Sir George Grey is a long bit in advance of his times. When we listen to his glowing eloquence, when we consider the wisdom of his new financial and judicial arrange ments, we are always forcibly reminded of Punch’s model member of Parlia ment who told his constituents that “he looked forward to the time when men should receive taxes instead of paying them, and laws should be all repealed.”

Wo take the earliest opportunity to ac knowledge eur indebtedness to the pro prietory of the Mail, who assisted with the use of their engine and machine yesterday in the production of the Guardian. Owing to an unfortunate break-down to a portion of our machinery, just as were going to press, we could not, but for the kindness mentioned, have placed our usual sheet before our reader 3 until a very late hour in the evening. Wo trust our elder brother will never bo placed in a similar strait himself, but should the chapter of accidents involve him in a like difficulty, wo shall be only too happy to assist Kim' to the utmost of our power.

The Old Mee’s Home. —The tender of Mr Crumb, L 53, for the repairs re quired in the Old Mtn’a Home in this town was accepted at, the last meeting of the Christchurch Charitable Aid Board on Tuesday last. Quoits. —A ivtiru match between the Ashburton Club and the Mount Somers and Alford Hmsst, Clubs trill bo played to-morrow on the Pound ground. Play to commence nt noon. Hounds. —Yesterday morning Mr Archer brought with him into town from Timaru, at his own expense, a very good looking pack of hounds. In consequence of bad weather the hounds did not meet yesterday, but they will do so in the first week in August. The Weather anb the Railway Line. —The had weather which prevailed in the early part of the week still continues. It is still raining hard, and there are no signs of clearing up. We are glad to learn that though earth had been washed away from the line in several places near Rakaia and Chertsey yesterday, several men were set at work last night, and the earth replaced, so that this morning the trains were again running right through in both directions between Ashburton and Christchurch.

Ploughing Match. —ln consequence of the unusually bad weather," the Agri cultural and Pastoral Association have decided to postpone the ploughing match, dinner, and ball, which were to have come off to-day, until next Tuesday. There has been some grumbling among the fanners about the want of notice of postponement yesterday.

The Bangitata Bridge. —At the meet ing of the Mount Peel Road Board on Friday, the clerk was instructed to write to the Hon. J. B. A. Acland, ami Messrs Studholme and Wakefield, M H.R.’s, stating that the Ashburton County Coun cil began to work at the Rangitata traffic bridge on the 6th July, and after working cioffit days they got one pile driven to a depth of sixteen feet, when it broke off. The Board therefore consider it neces sary that steps should be taken to put a .stop to this monstrous experimental ex penditure.

In the Wrong Box. —A person named Hix, who was defendant in a civil case heard before the Resident Magistrate last Friday, writes to us to say that the ver dict was in his favor and not for the plaintiff, as appeared in our report. On enquiry of the Clerk of the Court we find that our report was quite correct. Paper Mill Company. —Last Friday a meeting was held al Temuka for the pur pose of forming a Paper Mill Company. Mr John Hayhurst was in the chair. It was resolved that the company should be formed, and a large number of shares were at once taken up. Change of Proprietary. —From an nouncements elsewhere it will be soon that Messrs A. R. Markham and Co. have disposed of their business at Ohertaey to Mr Robert Alcorn. We wish Mr Alcorn success in his new venture in the rising township of Chcrtsey. In Bankruptcy. —Par Pattorson, of Ashburton, contractor, has filed a declara tion of insolvency. The Other Side of the Question. — It is rumored, a Timaru paper states, that a reply to a recently published brochure dealing with the land question will shortly make its appearance. This will bo en titled, “ How are we to get away from from Here.”

Phrenology. —Yesterday evening at the Town Hall, Professor Simon gave his postponed phrenological entertainment. There was a poor house, in consequence of the bad weather, only about twenty persons being present. The Professor, however, after a few introductory remarks on the importance of phrenology in the choice of a profession or trade, invited some of those present to come on the platform and have their characters de lineated. Eight persons accepted the invitation, and their craniums were accordingly examined hy the Professor, four whilst he was blindJo.Jed with a handkerchief, and four with the handker chief removed. They all stated that the characters given them were quite correct so far as they’ knew. Mr Simon stated that, in consequence of the smallness of of the audience, ho should not deliver his lecture that evening, but would do so at a future date. We arc informed that Pro fessor Simons’ private practice in phreno logical examination at Quill’s Hotel is very considerable. It will be seen by a notice in another column that Professor Simon will remain in Ashburton through the present week and can be seen every day at Quill’s Hotel. From Ashburton he proceeds on invitation to Rakaia, but will return to Ashburton to give a phreno logical and physiognomical entertainment at the Town Hall on the evening of Saturday, the 30th July.

Swindling a Drunkard. The North Otago Times records the following abomin able.swindle :—Somewhere about a week ago, in a district well know as the land of “Kerry men and merino mutton,” the the following honorable transaction took place One evening a farmer, who owns a farm of 700 acres, having on it a house and homestead, several hundred sheep, and several hundred pounds worth of of horseflesh, etc., went down to a public house. Here he enjoyed himself until he had a “ wee drap in his e’e.” A son of the worthy host then got him in tow and he became “gloriously” drunk. This gentleman then persuaded the unfortnate farmer to sell him his farm, and everything on it, for LlO per acre, and at two o’clock in the morning, so as not to allow his guest to get sober before the transaction wae completed, went and roused one of his servants out of bed to witness the signing of the bargain. It may be mentioned that this 700 acres comprises some of the best land in the district, neighboring land having been sold for over Ll2 an acre.

An Archbishop who has Kissed thb Blarney Stone. —The following choice specimenfof “ soft soap ” is from a speech given at Tipperary by the Archbishop of Cashel:—I know that in other countries the people are sometimes a very dangerous lot to follow. Following the people in France or in Germany, or in Italy, or, unfortunately, now in Belgium, and almost all the countries in Europe, would be doing what would be wrong. But do you know what I have said —and I hare said it in high places, and every day of my life confirms me in the conviction — that the instincts of the Irish people are so good, it is impossible they can be wrong (applause). And, therefore, when c n masse in a body, the religious, sacrament receiving, supernaturally-gifted—marvel lously supermiturally-gifted—people of Ireland, who would not wilfully do any wrong to anyone—when they seize upon a certain principle and wish to carry it into action, and strive to do so, I am as sure as I am of my own existence that that principle is right, and the action of the people is, therefore, to be commended (applause). Therefore, when I saw this business of the League, the uprising of the Irish heart and the Irish head and the Irish arm against the tyranny by which the people of this country were kept down for ages when I saw that swelling like an immense hurricane, and sweeping over ihe country I said —“ It is impossible that can be wrong because the Irish heart is always right, and the Irish head guides it to secure aim.”

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE. [per rbuter’s agency.] The Hop Crops- London, July 18. Accounts to hand from the Kentish hop grounds give less favorable reports of the state of the season’s crops. Banking. The English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank has declared a divi dend of 4 per cent, for the past half year, and carries forward 1.4,000 to the reserve fund. Monetary and Commercial. Consols, New Zealand secu rities remain firm at last quotations. Adelaide and New Zealand breadstuff's are without quotable change. July 19. Consols fallen }i, and are quoted to-day at 101#. New Zealand Five per Cent. 10.40 Loan, Zealand Five per Cent. 1889 Loan, 105 ; New Zealand Four and a half per Cent. 1879-1904 Loan, 103. _ Adelaide wheat, ex warehouse, remains at 48s, and New Zealand wheat, ex ship, at 48s. Adelaide flour, ex warehouse, 345. Australian tallow is unchanged j best beef, 345 6d; best mutton, 36s per cwt. I

Affairs iii Tunis. In the House of Commons to-day a question was put to the Premier with a view of ascertaining the intention of the British Government in regard to the present state of affairs in Tunis. In reply Mr Gladstone stated that dip lomatic communications were passing between the Foreign Office and the French Government in reference to Tunisian affairs, and some decision would shortly be arrived at as to the action, if any, to be taken by England. The Mails. The Australian and New Zealand mails via Suez and Brindisi, which left Melbourne on June 7th, were delivered here to-day. Getting Through with It. London, July 20. In the House of Commons last night the Irish Land Bill was further con sidered in committee, when the remain ing clauses to the last were duly passed. A few clauses, which have been post poned during the progress of the Bill in committee, will now be brought up for final consideration. The Wimbledon Meeting. At the annual meeting of the Na tional Rifle Association at Wimbledon, the Queen’s Prize (second stage), con sisting of Association’s gold medal and La so, has been won by Private Deck, of the 3rd Devon Volunteer Corps, who made a score of 86 marks, the highest score on record. The Fisheries Dispute. Telegrams to hand from America state that, despite the settlement of the Fortune Bay fisheries dispute, which was arrived at last month, a fresh difference has now arisen between American and Canadian fishermen re garding the rights of former in New foundland waters. Communications have already passed between the American and English Governments in regard to the point now in dispute. The War in Tunis. Paris, July 19. Telegrams have been received to-day from Tunis reporting that notwithstand ing the success of the French troops at Sfax the insurgents, encouraged by the inactivity recently manifested by the Tunisian forces, are daily increasing in boldness, and are raiding the coun try in'all directions. To-day bodies of armed and mounted Arabs approached to within a short distance of the city in their predatory incursions, and news to hand from outlying districts reports , that the revolt is still spreading, and that the Arabs are rising to arms in large numbers. AUSTRALIAN. [per reuteb’s agency.] TheTe Anau. 1 Melbourne, July 20. - Arrived, this morning—Te Anau, from the Bluff.

TELEGRAMS.

[per press association.] New Design for a Ferry Boat. Auoklanh, Yesterday.

The new North Shore Ferry Company awarded a prize of L3O to Mr Bailey, North Shore, for the best design of a ferry steamer, built on the American £rinciple. The trip to the North Shore , to bo done in six minutes. Whitelaw’s Second Trial. Wellington, Yesterday. The second trial of Whitelaw will come before the Supreme Court to-morrow. A New Volcano. The Marine Department have received the following telegram from Captain Fair child :—“ There is no mistake about the volcano reported by Captain Anderson near Channel Island, off Cape Colville. We found it without any trouble. The water is boiling up like a spring for a space of about one hundred feet. Channel Island bears N. by W., three quarters of a mile. The yellow water drifts away with the tide, and is in shape veiy much like the tail of a comet. There is no change in sounding. The least water we found was twenty-four fathoms, so that navigators need not be afraid to go their usual tracks when passing there. I took the Stella on the spot, and dropped the lead into the centre of the boil, and then found twenty-four fathoms. I loft the lead down as long as I could, to see if it would come up hot, but it came up quite cold, and brought up broken shells. The Marine Disasters. Wellington, To-day.

The steamer Wakatu, which is ashore at Patea, is not much damaged, and is expected to bo floated off by 5 o’clock this evening. One of the blades of her pro peller is broken. It is not expected the Maggie Patterson will break up. The crew proceeded on board this morning and furled the sails.

Sly Grog. The proprietor of the Te Aro club was fined L2O to-day for selling spirits. Whitelaw’s Trial. Whitelaw’s trial is proceeding. Fifteen of the jury were challenged. At a Standstill. A southerly gale is still blowing, and shipping business is at a standstill. Export of Gold. Hokitika, To-day. The s.s. Hero sailed for Melbourne with 18,888 ezs. of gold from the West Coast. Spurious Tea. Dunrdik, Yesterday. The Mayor has received a letter from the Board of Health at Melbourne stating that some spurious tea, recently landed there by the steamer Ocean, from China, had boon forwarded to Dunedin. The Collector of Customs is trying to trace where it lias gone. Damages. The case Mercer and wife v. The Queen concluded to-day. The verdict was for L 750 for damages sustained by plaintiffs being capsized out of a buggy through a telegraph wire being left across a road by the workmen engaged in repairing it. Carisbrook Cricket Club. The Carisbrook Cricket Club have for warded to Mr F. Fulton, formerly their captain, who is now settled in Hawke's Bay, a handsome gold watch as a mark of esteem. He was an enthusiastic sup porter of the game, and the originator of the Carisbrook Club. Interprovincial Football Match. The interprovincial football match is fixed for August 27th.

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

♦ - LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, July 20. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Licensing Bill (from the Lower House) was read a first time. The Wellington Queen’s Wharf Sale Bill, Regulation of Elections Bill, and Oamaru Harbor Board Bill were read a second time, the latter (on a division) by 14 votes to 10. The Companies Bill was passed through committee with numerous amendments. Thp other business was postponed, and the Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, July 20. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICES OF IIOTIOK. Mr Macandrew gave notice to more for the appointment of a committee to con sider the best means for establishing direct steam communication between New Zealand and the Homo country. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, various members stated It must depend upon the de velopment of public events ai to when the publication of the Governor’s dispatch bearing upon the state of native affairs and the imprisonment of natives could be published without prejudice to the public interest.—The power of inflict ing a penalty equal to 1,000 per cent, on the rent due in the event of a tenant of Crown land in Kelson district not paying his rent on the day it fell due was con ferred upon them by law.—The law as it stood was sufficient to prevent the public health being endangered by impure milk supplied to customers. The Health Boards had power to inspect and clean dairies, and take what action might other wise appear to be necessary for the public protection.—Prison officials would be pro moted in accordance with their merits, and the recommendation of the Prisons Inspector of appointing retired naval and military officers would not be given effect to. WANT OF CONFIDENCE DEBATE, In the absence of Mr Fulton, Mr Levestam resumed the debate on the motion for the second reading of the Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill. He said that he would confine his remarks to a statement of the reasons for the vote he proposed to give. The proposals of the Government ■would not recommend themselves to the country. The real secret of good local government was to set aside a fund for the localities, tu be dis tributed in accordance with some well digested scheme, leaving those bodies to expend the money to the best advantage. He also objected to the proposed constitu tion of the Board of Works. He desired to see it elected by the districts, and not in the mode Government pxoposed. He demurred to the statement that this House was the place where grievances should be best redressed. Unless Go vernment took back their proposals, and substituted others, he would be bound to vote against them. Mr Collins said that the country had been renewing its social and political strength under the wise administration of Ministers. If this vote of want of confi dence was carried, it would mean a return to the former unsatisfactory state of affairs. Considering the condition of the country, he thought it would be most in advisable to disturb the present adminis tration. He had made no promises when elected, but he intended to vote for the Government, in the exercise of a strong conviction that he was doing what was best both for his constituents and the colony. Their proposals were not revolutionary. They were simply an endeavor to make the institutions they had more useful. They had been invited to discuss various schemes for local government, but co his mind none of those were so satisfactory as the one put forward by the Govern ment. To ask them to go back to pro vincialism was simply to invite them to disinter a fossilised animal and feast on its carcase.

Mr Murray said it was most unusual in cases of this kind to find all the speeches made on one side of the House. Their opponents must surely have a poor tale to tell when they were so loath to tell it. It would have been fairer and more straight forward to have tabled a direct vote of no confidence, and not try to bring about such a result by means of a side issue. The complaint that proper redress of grievances could not be got was not pecu liar to this House. The same complaint existed against the Provincial Councils. He would vote against the amendment. Mr Turnbull contended that the im proved state of the colony was not due to sagacity on the part of the Ministry, but to the buoyancy of its natural resources. If the Bill was not a good one, and he con tended that it was not, then their duty was to put their foot upon it at once. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. On resuming, at 7.30, the debate was continued by Mr Turnbull, who charged the Govern ment with having practised false economy in the matter of retrenchment. Instead of helping the country on they had driven away the bone and sinew of the country in disgust. The . Bill before the House would have the effect of throwing a groat deal of patronage into the hands of the Government, and in that way would secure a fresh lease of power for them— a lease they could not otherwise expect to secure. He looked upon Mr Saunders’ proposal as the most reasonable, and being a friend of the Government they could not do better than adopt his hints. Mr Te Wheoro criticised the proposal for rating native lands. The object of the measure was to swallow up the lands of the natives. The principle of the Bill in this respeet was monstrous. It meant al lowing Ministers to have control over native lands.

Mr Tawhaio said that the Colonial Treasurer, as member for Taranaki, had already had a taste of the sweets of native lands, and ho was now anxious to have another bite at them. The conduct of the Treasurer reminded him of Ahab when he coveted Naboth’s vineyasd. He for one was not prepared to yield up the lands of his forefathers. He would like to see a mill-stone tied round the nock of the Bill and have it thrown into the depths of the sea, 1,000 miles from New Zealand.

Mr Wakefield regretted that _ those gentlemen who were acquainted with the natives had not given them a fairer esti mate of the contents of the Bill. It was plain from what had transpired that they had been ill-informed on the point. He denied a statement made by Mr Ormond to the effect that his demand for local government was in any respect similar to that of Sir G. Grey. The two claims were diametrically opposite. In this matter ho desired to be in no way associated with the action of Mr Ormond. He had said that he would support any statesmanlike scheme for local government independent altogether of party considerations. Sir G. Grey proposed to restore Provincialism, and with that issue Mr Ormond had identified himself. He (Mr Wakefield), on the other hand, advocated an exten sion and improvement on the present system. For himself, he would like to see the Government bring down a bolder scheme than they had done, giving local bodies a definite position and larger powers. Their scheme, however, went in the right direction —the direction of rendering local bodies more useful and efficient than they had been. He had watched the operation of the County system since it was first inaugurated, and he had seen enough to convince him that it had a great deal of local self-government

in U. He instanced its operations on the west coast of the Middle Island* and then (raced the operations of the system in Canterbury, where a great many of the Boad Boards had been absorbed. Indeed, taking the whole colony through, it would be shown that amidst many dis advantages it had worked well. In Glivo the county to which Mr Ormond belonged, it had worked so wtll that they made the whole of the roads county roads. Indeed, lie had been surprised at the success that had attended this system all through. The Government proposals were of a nature to effect much needed changes without causing any great disturbance of the system in operation. Looking back . oh the last two years, he could not but be struck by the success that had attended the administration of the Government. They were men of the highest personal character, and they had been successful in communicating that high character to their administration. They.had been an economical Ministry ; they had reduced the expenditure to a degr e that they how managed to do what they had never done before—that is, live within their income. Then again in native affairs they "had wrought a great improvement compared with what had been the state of matters under the administration of the late Government. The native office and all its corruptions had been swept away, and yet, despite the predictions of the late- Native Minister, there had been no bloody war. Under the late administra tion thousands were squandered in at tempting to open up negotiations with the King natives. This Government had let the natives alone. They had no trouble with Tawhaio. They told the natives that they would be governed the same ms the Europeans, and what did. they fijid 1 Tawhaio was now moving quietly about ih' the European settlements, no notice being taken of him. And what did they now find ?” They found these natives bringing in their followers and delivering up their arms. Had this taken place under Sjr. G. Grey’s jftovernment it would have been heralded aU over the colony, and great work otherwise made over the event. What did this Government do under the circumstances 1 They did not even an nounce the fact to the House until the Honse questioned them on the point.. Mr Ormond explained that lie had been, as stated, on| terms cf intimacy .wkk the Government this session. life had had communications, but not of the. nature attempted to be set up by the last speaker. He had been carefully reticent with the party. Government quite understood hia feeling towards them, and he had not by word or otherwise given the Government to understand that he continued a mem ber of the party on a confidential footing. with them. In addressing his constituents , months age he had clearly defined his position. The Hon. Major Atkinson rose to con [ tradict this statement, but was ruled out of order.

Mr Wakefield said he had spoken on information, which he believed to be re* liable.

Mr McLean said his communication* with Mr Ormond led him to believe that he was a supporter of the Government.

The Hon. W. Rolleston said that ha had heen on intimate term* with Mr. Ormond. Their communications were such as to cause him great Surprise at finding Mr Ormond taking up the position he had done.

Mr Wood. agreed with the previews speaker as to the character of the Govern ment administration, and yet he would be found in one lobby and Mr Wakefield in another. He opposed the Government proposals upon two grounds :—First, they ■involved additional taxation, and second, further borrowing. The Government puffed what they call the prosperity of the colony in a manner that was not warranted. They did not find English statesmen boasting of the extraordinary prosperity of the country. The ground of this boast * was that money was easy., --This wmjiy o ?;*- indicated that there was no outlet for the money. When trade was goed money was ’ never cheap, but when trade was slack and business scarce money was. cheap, because there were no investments. The money all came from England, wnere it was plentiful from the cause named. Take Wellington and they found building after building for said or to let. That was not a sign of prosperity. In all parts of the colony there was a want of employment. That was not a sign of prosperity. Within the last twelve months wages have decreased 15 to 20 per cent. Then, again, millions of money in sovereigns had to|be sent to England out of the loan. It was questionable if they would be able to con tinue doing this. Upon what principle, of justice could they impose rates on native lands that were not held by Crown grant. It would eventually fall on the purchaser. These lands were generally sold at 3s and 4s per acre, and when the rates exceeded that it meant confiscation. Then natives did not want roads ; they even objected to allow telegraph lines to pass through their lands, yet the Government proposed to foree them to pay for what they did not want. If they went on ad vancing until the rates exceeded the value of the land where was the security. He believed that there was still an alternative between borrowing more money and the total suspension of all works. They had spent one million o! money on acquiring a landed estate in the North Island, which was paying nothing. Out of the balance. cf the public works fund a sum of L 200,000 should, he would propose, be employed in the opening up _ the lands. In that case they would get back their million of money, and provide for a continuous stream of the land fund... m He proposed to take the opinion of the House on a proposal of that kind at an early date. The resolutions he should pro pose provided that this money should be allocated amongst the different districts— L 50,000 north of Auckland, L 50,000 to Wellington, and so on, and the rest to bo expended by the local bodies. In the allocation he would purposely .leave Taranaki out, as he could not see a spot in that favored province where there was room for any more expenditure than they had already had. Mr Oliver said that usually when rotes of this kind were proposed grave charges were adduced. He had never known the existence of a Government threatened on such frivolous grounds. The only real demand by the local bodies was to provide them with the funds necessary to carry on their work. This was the only demand that came to them from tho country itself. What was proposed on the other side to take the place of the present form of local • government was a modified system of provincialism. What power would such bodies have to redress grievances more , f than they had. He did not think that/, tho country was prepared to go back to such a system of provincialism. Super intendents occupied, no doubt, a happy position, but he ventured to say that, had they continued to the present day the colony would have been bankrupt. He twitted Mr Ormond with a desire to re turn to the position he had already held in Hawke’s Bay —that of Superintendent —feeling, as he no doubt did, that since he lost that position he had lost much of his personal importance. The proposal' for rating native lands was a step in the right direction. What was wanted was to make the Maoris fully recognise their responsibilities, and this was a getting in of the thin end of the wedge. He also spoke in favor of the proposal to rate Grown lands. It wtus simply the measure of the necessary contributions that the localities had a right to expect, from the Government. He believed this action of Mr Ormoftd would be disastrous. It , would comprise the issue on which they would go to the country, as there would be no time for a re-distribution of repre* sentation before the next election. They

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1881.



Hayes’ IMB B R YARDS. Balance of Short Firewood unsold at tffiHitnn aale will be SOLD CHEAP, for guh, in orderto clear it. ALPHEUS HAYES. FBBBH SUPPLIES of TIMBER, &c., to hand. 608 a R I N T 1 H G, Of Evert Description, 9IATLY AND CHEAPLY EXECUTED, fJTHB QFFIOE. SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, East street,



Wanted. WAITED— 20,000 Bushels of GRAIN to Crush, at 2d per bushel. Mayo amd Hpmt. 201 c 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. Peaece. 18.0 c TTT’ANTED KYERBODY to know that *V HORSE COVERS can bo bought for 17s 6d (former price, 255), at S. Stephens’, Saddler, Tinwald. 726 a ANTED KNOWN—That A. Farqcj hak has leased BUTLER’S BIL LIARD SALOON, and requests a visit. Pool every evening at 9 o’clock. 93c ANTED KNOWN—That Robert Elston, Burnett street, Ashburton, having procured the Newest Apparatus, is prepared to SWEEP CHIMNEYS at very low rates. Any orders loft at the Town Hall will receive prompt attention. 81c WANTED KNOWN.—Young Ladies’ Journal, Is 7d ; Bow Bells, Is 7d; Family Reader (Monthly), Is 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, Ac., &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. 950 a WANTED KNOWN—That Miss Ybrrall is now showing her | Winter Stock of Millinery, Drapery &c. Stay and Corset Manufacturer. Dressmaking done on Premises, Colombo street, opposite Cookham House. 680 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. WANTED THE GUARDIAN tells your Wants for Is., cash. , Special Advertisements. ~VTURSE.—Mrs Pauling begs to in- J\J 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. Address Moore street, near Presbyterian Manse. 104 c 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 : BAST STREET. WM. SPARROW. 75c Manager. O. Carstens & Co., (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, TOBACCONIST, FANCY GOODS, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nail rod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco A nice assortment of Accordions, Con certinas, Flutes, Violins, Mouth Organs, and Toys of evgry description, direct from Home. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET ASHBURTON. 257a* A LL work and no play makes Jack J\_ 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,, “ sqneezem,” & c.; chess and draught men and boards, back gammon, dominoes, go-bang, race game, lotto, &c., &a. 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 just 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, Montgomery's Buildings. 720 a John Meech, PRACTICAL CABINETMAKER, UPHOLSTERER, &c., 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 O TlO E TO SUBSCRIBERS Subscribers to this Journal are requested to communicate with the Proprietor when any delays or omissions in the Delivery of this Paper occur. W. H. ZOUCH, Proprietor.



Special Advertisements. 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, Station r.R and Bookseller, East street and B.ning Square. 365 a Dr James Murdoch, jjAVING taken the House in Bur nett street, at present occupied by Mr Cambridge, Chemist, will COMMENCE PRACTICE in Ashburton, on MONDAY, Gth June, 1881. 951 a AND LARGE DISCOUNTS. 4s. in the £ RETURNED to all Customers purchasing Mens’ or Boys’ Clothing, For this Month only, EVERETT BRO S., 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 STORE. We have much pleasure in informing the public that we have DISPOSED of our BUSINESS at Chertsey to MR R. ALCORN. In doing so, we desire to thank the residents for the very liberal support accorded to us since we have been in business, and we trust the same patron age may be extended to our successor, who, we sure, will attend to their interests as we have always endeavored to do, and from his long experience in the trade, will he able to compete with any other house in the trade. A. R. MARKHAM A CO. in reference to the above, I hope by keeping a S&ck of everything that ought to bo found in a General Store, and Selling at the Lowest possible Prices, to merit the patronage of every resident of the district. 295 c ROBERT ALCORN. HERT SE Y STORE. Having DISPOSED of our BUSINESS, we wish that ALL ACCOUNTS DUE to us may ; be PAID at once, as we propose leaving the district. A. R. MARKHAM & CO. July 19th, 1881. 296 c rpO THE RESIDENTS OF ASHBURTON. Prof. Simon Desires to acknowledgehis appreciation of the interest shown by the Ashburton people in the science he advocates, and in consequence of the condition of the weather, he has decided to REMAIN in Ashburton for the remainder of THIS WEEK. Will be in the Upstairs Com mercial Room at Quill’s Hotel from 9 a.m. till 10 p. m. Having received an invitation to visit Rakaia, he will return itt time to give a Phrenological and Physiognomical Enter tainment at the Town Hall, East street, on SATURDAY, 30th JULY. 302 c METHYEN 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.



Holloway’s Pills. —Nervous Debility.— No part of the human machine requires more watching than the nervous system —upon it hangs health and life itself. These pills are the best regulators and strengtheners of the nerves, and the safest general purifiers. Nau sea, headache, giddiness, numbness, and men tal apathy yield to them. They dispatch in a summary manner those distressing dyspeptic stomachic pains, fulness at the pit of the sromach, abdominal distension, and over come both capricious appetites and confined bowels—the commonly accompanying signs of defective or deranged nervous power. Hollo way’s Pills are particularly recommended to persons of studious and sedentary habits, who gradually sink into a nervous and debilitated stale, unless some such restorative be occa sionally taken.—[Advt.]