SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday* Star of the South, s.s., from To-day. V Hawea. «.s., from Port Chalmers. Sailed. I Yp a y Hero, 5.8., for West Coast ports and Melbourne. Edwin Bassett, barque, for Sydney. Oxford, ship, for London. Craig Ard, barque, for Cork or Pal month for orders. Mary Blair, barque, for Adelaide, Abemyte, barque, for Queenstown or Falmouth, for orders. Bee, schooner, for Havelock. Pray Bentos, barque, for Newcastle, yia Sydney. , .. , Onward, schooner, for Auckland. Wave of Life, schooner, for Kenepuru. Marmion, brigantine, for Kaipara. Pelican, schooner, for Picton. I HIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Arrived—Jessie Nicol, from Lyttelton ; Dunkeld, from London. Sailed —Loongan for Hobart : Fairlie or Sydney ; Loch Doon for London ; Palace fbr Dunedin. , . Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived—Mary Bannatyne. Sailed—Wahaka for Picton and Nelson; Grafton for the South. Pout Chalmers, Yesterday. Arrived—Lyttelton, ship, from London (April 26 th.) London, July 16. Arrived—Barque Minnie Allen, from Port Chalmers.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office as follows: For Christchurch and North at 6.30 a. m, 10.30 a.m., and 5 p. m., daily. For Chertaey Rakaia, &c., at 10.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Caldstream, 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 G. 30 a.m., 10 а. and 4.80 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, <m Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a.m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longheach, at 4.30 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, Elgin, Seafield, New land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6.30 am. Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office— From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 ».m,, 440 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. From Chertaey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. and 440 p.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 6.35 p.m. daily. From Temuka and Timaru at 10.50 a. m. б. p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge en 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.

MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c To-Night, Tuesday, July 19. Phrenological Entertainment, by Profes sor Simon, Town Hall, at 8 p.m. To-morrow, Wednesday, July 20. Lecture in the Ashburton Presbyterian Church. Public meeting, Elgin Schoolhouse, 7 p.m. Ashburton Hnnt Club—Meet at 1 p.m., at Fairfield. 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. Monday, August 8, Rangitata Road Board —Monthly Meet ing. Wednesday, August 10. Local 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 ing.

TRAVELLERS GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton for Christ church and intermediate stations at 7- 5 a.m., 11a.m., and (Express) 5.48 p.m. Trains Leave Ashburton for Timaru and South, at 6.55 a.m., 10.36 a.m. (Express), and 4 50 p. m. —the latter pro ceeding no farther than Timaru. Trains 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 bo written legibly on the face of tha advertisement. When no rrdcr 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 1 1 be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

BIRTH.

McCallum.— At Moore street, Ashbur ton, on Monday, July 18th, the wife of Robert McCallum, of a son.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1881. A Defect in the Financial Statement.

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

It is rather unfortunate that in this colony, from the great distances of some of the constituencies from others, there are so many and widely conflict ing interests at work upon the action of the Government, that no Ministry ran afford to be thoroughly consistent, or even thoroughly honest. They may know well what is a right principle of action, but they are pretty sure only to carry it into effect so far as it does not interfere with their position. The question of their honesty, no matter who is in office, is only one of how much? If Sir George Grey or Mr Macandrew is in power, there are cer tain to be plenty of whole swindles of one kind ; if Dr Pollen or Mr Hall, plenty of half swindles of another. We have had an illustration of this laxity in the proposed reduction of the Pro perty Tax to one-half. About a year ago, in obedience to a just demand by many of the ablest thinkers of the colony, it was resolved that property should bear its just share of the public burdens, and, at the instance of the present Ministry, a moderate tax of a penny in the pound on the capital value was imposed. The Ministry then proved in so lucid a manner the perfect fairness of this tax, that even their opponents had little argument of any weight to bring against it. Even as regarded the amount, it was pretty clearly shown that though it would bring in a large amount, it would not press heavily on the community. Now that, partly in consequence of very strict retrenchment, partly in conse quence of an exceptionally goodharvest, there is a surplus of revenue over ex pentliture, pressure has been brought to bcaron the Ministry,and itisproposed to devote a large part of the amount saved to the relief of the distressed large capitalists and property holders of New Zealand. Why, we should like to know? Even the classes affected themselves refrained for very shame sake from clamoring about their hard ships publicly, knowing the unanswer able arguments against their grievances ready to hand. In an able article on this subject, our contemporary the Southland Times remarks ;

We think these proposals on the whole most judicious, and the outlook satisfac tory. The only criticism we shall offer at present is in regard to the reduction of the Property Tax, which we think a mistake, and the absence of any proposal to reduce the exemption. It is to be noted that a half-penny Property Tax means simply doubling the relative cost of collection, comparing with a tax of a penny. If the tax is to exist at all, it should be made as productive as possible within the limits of moderation, and as little costly as possible. It is not by any means excessive at a penny, and the remission would bo one of the things for which nobody was clamouring. The exemption we have always thought ridicu lously high at LSOO, and there is no good reason why it should not be lowered. The only real defence of the proposed reduction of the Property Tax, is that a compromise with trickery and injus tice is the only possible policy whereby any Ministry can continue in office. In this particular case one of the most equitable of all taxes is reduced to one half, though it is very certain that the first bad harvest, which of course may come any year, may necessitate its re imposition, and thus all the evil of a perpetual tinkering of our system of taxation be needlessly fallen into.

It may, perhaps, be urged that this saving has been affected, and that there seems on the surface 110 worthier object to which it can be devoted. We deny this altogether. There is one to which far too little public attention has yet been drawn, but which nevertheless every colony in the world, except New Zealand, as well as the mother country, sees clearly enough. We tefer to the urgent need of reducing our enormous and excessive colonial debt. To talk of allowing the L 28,000,000 and odd pounds we owe to remain at that figure, or even to be greatly increased, as Sir Julius Vogel recklessly suggests, is mere madness ; and every high commercial and monetary authority in British jour nalism knows that it is, and has said so over and over again. Nor is it the fact that by allowing this amount to stand as at present, or even to be en larged, we are merely throwing the whole burden on posterity. We are doing that, but that is not nearly all the mis chief. We are taxing the whole com munity here annually, so that in any manufacturing or commercial enter prise we have no chance of competing with other colonies or countries on equal terms. Over a million and a half has to be raised every year now to meet the just demands of British bond holders, and every laboring man, every farmer, every merchant or professional man has to pay his quota out of his often hard-earned income. In fact, tire extent of our colonial debt is an incubus which we should at least begin to clear off. For want of a commencement of this policy already Great Britain, not withstanding her immense capital, her iron and coal, and her splendid ma chinery, is being beaten out of the market of the world by other countries, where the taxation is less, because the total debt is less. We shall find this also as soon as we attempt to manufac ture. We shall be beaten by one colony after another, because our arti zans cannot work at equally low rates with theirs and yet keep body and soul together. The United States of America have wisely set us an example. They have already, within the last year or two, reduced their national debt by

about 500,000,000 dollars. It is a good example for us to follow. And as a large part of the sum we owe has been mainly expended on works which have doubled or quadrupled the value of property, property ought at least to make a beginning of clearing off part of the immense burden.

Football. — Tiro members of the local Football Club, who played against Geral dine last week, will contest a game witn the rest of the Club to-morrow after noon. . . , Pirnr xology.— We would again remind our readers that Professor Simon r. phrenological entertainment will be given for the first time this evening, at the Town Hall. “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”— Last nights performance of this drama was in every way a success, and although the boisterous state of the weather prevented many from attending, there was a very good house notwithstanding. Owing to the unprece dented success, and from the fact of many not being able to witness it owing to the weather, it has been resolved to represent it next Saturday mght, for positively the last time, and i’or the sole benefit of the Georgia Minstrels. Accident. —On Saturday evening last, as a man named Joseph Allan was driving his dray along the Wakanui road, he fell asleep, and when about eight miles from Ashburton fell off on the road. One of the wheels of the dray passed over him, and on his being taken to the Hospital it was found that one of his ribs was broken. The injury was at once attended to, and he is now going on well, so that lie will probably be out again within ten days’ time.

Ashburton Fours Sparrow Club. —A meeting of the Committee of this club was held in the schoolroom on Wednes day last ; Mr Stitt was in the chair. After some new members had been elected, Mr Sargeant stated that he had prepared the poisoned wheat as had been decided upon at last meeting, and that it would be ready for delivery to members by the 20th inst (to-morrow), the price to members to bo 15s per bushel, and to the public generally, 17s Gd. The first meet ing will be held on the first Wednesday in September. A Seal.— A correspondent from Water ton writes us that on Saturday morning last a largo seal, measuring 7 feet 10 inches in length, -was captured close to the place above mentioned, on the beach. Mr R. Davies and some other men, six in all, tried to capture the animal alive, but as ho showed fight wore unable to do so, and after stunning it by throwing large stones at its head, captured it by making fast a rope tied round its tail to a post in a fence. The seal was brought into town yesterday. It is of a silver-grey color, about two feet in girth, and a female. It lias been pur chased by Mr Jacob Mooar, who iutuuls to exhibit it at the Town Hall. Bright Wellington Jurymen. —We learn from the Wellington Evening Post that there have been one or two very bright juries at the recent criminal sittings of the Supremo Court. One prisoner, charged with house breaking, was proved to have been found recently in a stranger’s house, in the midst of rummaged drawers and boxes, the locks of which had been burst open and the contents strewn about the floor, was acquitted by the jury on the ground that “he had no felonious in tent.” This vc. diet, however, was capped by that of another jury yesterday after noon. A prisoner was found guilty of stealing a piano belonging to the trustees in an assigned estate, but the’ jury re commended him to mercy “ on the ground of conflicting evidence.” Important Land Sale. —Messrs J. T. Ford and Co. offered some land at Green street, and the late Sir Cracroft Wilson’s property at the Hinds, at Messrs Fried lander Bros.’ store yesterday. There was a large attendance, and some of tiro lots were eagerly competed for. Or the Greenstreet lots, No. 1 was sold to Mr Joseph Clark at Ll2 10s per acre. Nos. G, 7,8, were sold to the same buyer for LlO per acre. No. 0 was also sold to Mr Clark at Lll, and No. 10 at L2l per acre, while lot 14 fell to the bid of Mr William Scott, at LlO per acre. The remainder of the sections were unsold. Of the Hinds lands, lots 3 and 4 (2G7 acres) were sold to Mr McGregor Watt, at L2 2s per acre. Lot 9 (35 acres) was purchased by Mr Roscoe at LG Cs per acre, and lot 12 (55 acres) by Mr Gilchrist, at L2 2s per acre.

Acclimatisation of Fish. —Last Satur day evening Mr Slimy, of the Union Bank received another consignment of live perch, all of which, 200 in number, ar rived in good condition, and there was not one unhealthy one among them. Tire larger number were turned out into the Domain reservoir, but one can of seventy five was taken clown by Mr Slimy to Long beach and placed in Mr Grigg’s lagoon, without loss of a single fish. In the last three years Mr Shury has turned out, within an easy walk of the town (we arc not at liberty to state the precise locality), in addition to the 175 perch and 400 trout now in the Domain, GOO trout in a creek three miles from town, 500 trout in another, and 500 trout and 50 porch in a third creek, besides 50 perch in a lagoon in the river bed, and 125 porch at Long beach. The trout were obtained from the Christchurch Acclimatisation Society, through the courtesy of Mr Thomas Acland and Mr Farr, and the perch from the Dunedin Society, through the good offices of Mr Arthur, the secretary.

New Railway Station. —The follow ing petition is in course of circulation in Ashburton for signature “ To the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. The memorial of the undersigned residents in and about the ttown of Ashburton shewetb, —That the present railway station in the town of Ashburton, while conveniently situated for the use of the public, is wholly insufficient in size and construction for the accommodation of the goods and passenger traffic thereof. That much inconvenience to the public is thereby occasioned, while the limits of the passenger platform are so narrow as to create an appreciable risk to the lives and limbs of persons whose business requires their attendance on the platform at the times of the arrival and departure of trains. That the traffic both of goods and passengers at the said station is already of considerable magnitude as is shown by the railway returns, and is steadily increasing, while the Ashburton station is also the changing station for trains travelling be tween Christchurch and Timaru. That the deficiency in the accommodation made itself felt long since, and at a numerously attended public meeting held in the town of Ashburton some two years ago, a reso lution was passed condemning the railway station on this ground, but the station still remains as it was at that time. That your memorialists understand that a sum of LI,OOO was placed on the estimates in 1879 for expenditure on the said railway station, hut your memorialists would re spectfully urge that a much larger sum is needed to make the station what it should be, inasmuch as it was built at a time when the traffic to bo provided for was comparatively small, and nothing but an entire reconstruction of the station on a larger scale than the present will suffice foAhe wants of the place, while true economy would suggest that in rebuilding a station where the traffic is growing year by year, it should be rebuilt on a design fitted for enlargements ao required. Your memorialists therefore respectfully request that the Government will, during the pre sent session, ask the House of Represen tatives to vote a sum of money sufficient to defray the cost of rebuilding the Ash burton railway station on a scale com mensurate with the requirements of the district. And your memorialists will ever pray, &c. ” I

A Correction. —T!io attempted sui cide, referred to in onr paper yesterday, took place at Butler’s ilotel, not at the Ashburton Hotel. The Weather. —The fine clear frosty ■weather which we have been enjoying lately seems to have completely broken up. A flue drizzling rain commenced early yesterday morning, and lasted through nearly the whole of the day an 1 night, and this morning changed to a heavy steady down-pour, which continues up to tho time of going' to press without any sign of abatement.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST PROM EUROPE [I’KR. REUTER’S AGENCY.] Monetary. London', July 16. The National Hank of New Zealand has decl.vcd a dividend of 4 per cent, for the past half year. Li,ooo (sic) has been carried to the reserved fund. A Fatal Heat. The weather in England during the past fortnight has been of most ex treme heat, having been quite tropical, and many cases of sunstroke are re ported to have occurred. New York, July 16. The weather throughout the Northern Stales of America has been intensely hot for some lime past, and over 550 deaths from sunstroke have occurred since the extreme heat has set in. A Storm Brewing. London, July 18. The agitation in favor of the Irish tenants, which was recently manifested among the Irish laboring classes in Eng land is now showing signs of revival. Don Carlos. Paris, July 16. Don Carlos, the well-know claimant of the throne of Spain, who has been residing in France since the termination of the Spanish Civil War, has been ac cused by the French Government of intriguing with the Legitimist party. He was arrested to-day, and conducted to the frontier, and forbidden to re enter the country. Capture of Sfax. Paris, July 18. Latest intelligence regarding the battle preceding the capture of Sfax by the French, states that the Arabs of fered a must stubborn resistance to the storming [tarty, and inflicted upon it a loss of eighty killed and forty wounded. The engagement lasted some time, and the insurgents did not give way until they had suffered heavily. The French troops in occupation of Sfax have now been largely reinforced from the squadron, and have taken up strong positions in and around the city in pre paration for attacks by the Arabs. Ayoub Khan at Scinde. Calcutta. July 18.

Ayoub Khan has left his camp at Fen-ali, and has crossed the frontier into Indian territory. He is now at Hydrabad, in the province of Scinde. His motive for acting thus has not yet transpired. AUSTRALIA^ [pica iiEimm’s agency.] Tea and Sugar Markets. MGr.uocK.NE, July 18. Large sales of the new season tea have taken place during the last few days. Prices are against importers. The sugar market is firmer. The Ferret Case. The trial of Henderson and others, in connection with the steamer India, alias Ferret, commenced to-day. H-M.3. Bacchante. Melbourne, To-day. Her Majesty’s ship Bacchante will complete her repairs next week, and will then sail direct for Fiji, to rejoin the detached squadron. Requires Confirmation. It is stated (but the announcement requires confirmation) that the Austra lian Agency and Banking Corporation has purchased the business of Messrs R. Goldsborough and Co., well-known wool brokers.

TELEGRAMS.

[run press association.] Opening of a Railway Line. Auckland, Yesterday. The Holensville-Kaipara Railway was opened through to Heicnsvillo to-day. The settlors were greatly pleased. The Zealandia. Auckland, To-day. The mail steamer Zelandia has arrived. She discharged the mails at Motuihi. She brought no passengers, and has a clean bill of health. She awaits the outward passengers and mails at the heads. Latest from Te Whiti. OI’UNAKB, July 18. At the Parihaka meeting yesterday Honi Pihama’s wife, on entering the village, held up on a supplejack L2OO as a present for Te Whiti. The prophet, in addressing his people, enjoined them not to interfere with the constabulary, pulling down fences, as hostilities had passed. The Mines. Reefton, Yesterday. The Welcome Company’s return for the week is 7820zs amalgam from 90 tons quartz. The reef is about oft thick, and shows gold equal to 3oz per ton. The Golden Fleece Company crushed 5G tons quartz, and obtained IGSoz amalgam from the top plates and ripples. The Hopeful Company purpose letting the mine on tribute. During the week there has been a fair demand for shares in the Welcome, Golden Treasure, and United Alpine companies. Quotations are as follows : Buyers : United Alpine, LI 9s ; Keep it Dark, 14s Gd ; Golden Treasure, 7s ; Just in Time, Is Gd ; Eureka, Is 3d ; Welcome, 3s. Accidents in the Mountains. Dunedin, Yesterday. Two accidents are reported amongst the Wakatipu mountains. In one case a lad named Jack, who was out rabbiting, fell down the face of the rocks several hundred foot. It took a large party of men several hours to rescue him, and he is nut expected to recover. In the other case a man named Mcßae, in dismounting from his horse, fell over a precipice of 400 feet, and was killed instantaneously. A Wreck. A small cutter, named the Dove, was knocked to pieces, through missing stays, in the harbor yesterday. Bhe was in sured for Lot) in the Now Zealand oflice. The Otago Central Railway. Mr David Proudfoot to-day telegraphed to tlie P'eniier his willingness to proceed at once with the construction of the Otago Central railway on the basis of the proposed grants to companies measure. A Wire in the Way. Dunedin, To-day. Mercer and wife v. The Queen, a claim for L 2,000 damages for injuries sustained through the alleged negligence of the Telegraph Department in leaving a wire across the road, is being tried before a special jury to-day. Dismissed.

The Resident Magistrate has decided that the Governor has no power to inflict a penalty for breach of the tramway regu lations, and has dismissed the information against the defendant.

LATE EUROPEAN NEWS.

[Per s.s. Rotorua at the Bluff.] Londoh, July 5. The Bombay census has been published. It shows that the population of the city is 755.000.

An outrage has occurred at the town of Call an, County Kilkenny. A process server was seized and left bound and gagged, and his horse half-killed.

Phylloxera lias broken out in Portugal, and is causing great ravages among the claret vines, in Douro district. The forthcoming hop season promises most brilliantly, and the yield is likely to bo unusually largo. Notwithstanding their recent defeat, the Albanians are giving v.rcat trouble to the Turkish Government, although the leading chiefs of the league were arrested.

Dervish Pasha’s league continues hostile, and, in order to resist it, the Porte has had to send reinforcements into Albanian territory. A Socialist movement has been dis covered in Vienna by the police, who have arrested eight of its leading members. Serious riots have broken out among the wharf laborers in Msntreal. They were suppressed by the police with con siderable difficulty, and not until they had made use of their firearms to disperse the rioters.

The construction of the Panama Canal has not been making much progress lately. An outbreak of fever and quarrels with the laborers have considerably impeded operations. Emigration from Europe to America is as turning larger proportions than ever. On Thursday no less than 2,451 persons landed in New York.

A serious fire has occurred at Cincin nati, State Ohio, causing great destruction of property, and throwing thousands out of employment. The personal property of the late Earl of Beaconsfield has been sworn at L 77,000.

UNLAWFULLY WOUNDING.

(from: our own correspondent.)

[by telegraph.] Timaru, To-day,

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning Patrick Clancy was charged with unlawfully wounding Tim M'Auliffe, the well known amateur pedestrian. The prosecutor was too ill to appear, and the accused was re manded till Friday. Bail was accepted, himself in LSO and two sureties of LSO each.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND PARO CHIAL MEETING.

A meeting of the parishioners was held yesterday evening, in the Library Hall, to consider a proposal for altering the pre sent boundaries of the parish. The in cumbent, the Rev. A. W. Hands, was in the chair, and between twenty and thirty parishioners were also present. After the Chairman had opened the proceedings with prayer, Mr Jameson, churchwarden, read the following statement : In order to lay the matter clearly before parishioners, the churchwardens have prepared a statement showing the present position of the paiish, its boundaries, a list of places where services are regularly held, and the number of services held by the incumbent; also, what is the unanimous wish of the vestry as regards the proposed division. The position of the parish financially will be fully explained to yon by my colleague, Mr Gnndry. The parish of Ashburton and the parochial districts of Long beach and Mount Somers is in extent thirty six miles square, and extends from the Chcrtsey road to the river Rangitata, and from the ranges to the sea beach. In this large district there are fourteen places where services are held at regular intervals by the incumbem. At five of these places the incumbmt holds a service once a month, at eight of them once a quarter, and at St Stephen’s about half the services are conducted by Mr Ward, and half by Mr Hands. At some of these the services have not been held as regularly as we would wish, but the irregularity has been unavoid able. The unanimous wish of the vestry and churchwardens is that the borough and suburbs of Ashburton, as shown on the plan before you, be constituted a separate parish. The question has been considered at several meet ings, and the decision to recommend the division to the parishioners has not been arrived at without careful thought and con sideration of the subject upon all its bearings. The number of churchmen residing in the town and suburbs is now so great that the daily services of a clergyman are urgently re quired in visiting the sick, in attending to burial and other duties, in the church and schools on Sundays, and in other works of im portance that demand much more attention than it has been able hitherto to accord them. At the present time many of the services held at St Stephen’s and the Ashburton churches and schools are conducted by lay-readers, and while these services are gladly availed of, they have always been considered as temporary arrangements, and we think the time has arrived when a clergyman should be per manently located amongst us. Great dis satisfaction has been expressed for some time past by persons living outside, and also by many living in the borough, at the small amount of attention that is at present shown them in church matters. Under the existing plan this cannot be avoided, simply because Mr Hands has such a large district to travel over that it is utterly impossible to call on the parishioners as often as he would wish. The only satisfactory remedy for this is to divide the district into separate parishes. If this is carried out, we feel assured church matters will very soon have a brighter side than they have at present, and the apathy now shown will wear off, and much more real and earnest interest will be taken by all.

Mr Gundry, Churchwarden, then read the following financial statement : In older that the financial position of the parish may be taken fully into consideration, lists, comparing the offertories and subscrip tions received for the year ending Eastei, ISSI, with two previous years have been prepared, and it will be seen that the contributions from the parochial district have been falling oft' to such an extent that it may almost be said that the parish is taking the full burden of the whole district. The offertories received from that portion of the parish and parochial district outside the proposed boundary of the town parish were for the year IS7B-79, L 126 6s id ; for 1579-SO, L 62 19s lid; and for 18S0-Sl, L 79 os id. These offertories are placed to the credit of general expenses, and against this amount of L 79 leceived last year, we paid sinking fund on the Waterton and Tinwald churches, and Windeimere parsonage, L 32, interest on the loans on these buildings (L 400), L 26, and the expenses of carrying layreaders, Li2, total, L7O. The subscriptions to the sti pend received from the same portion of the dis trict, tor 1879-S0 was Ll6B 7s, but last year the amount actually received was only L 46 15s, 1.45 of which was contributed by three parishioners only, leaving Li 15s as the amount contributed by the whole of the parishioners outside the town and suburbs of Ashburton, excepting these thicc gentlemen. The contributions to the church funds from the town of Ashburton for the same periods were 1579-SO, offertories, L 126 14s Sd, subscriptions to stipend, L 56 13s, pew reu s, L 49 Cs 3d — L 222 13s I id; and for 18S0-Sl, offertories L 169 15s yd, pew rents, L6B 9s 911, and sub scriptions to stipend, 1,60 3s 6d —L29S Ss lod. Thus it will be seen that while the country con tributions have been falling oft to such an ex tent, as to be of very little service in working the parish and parochial district, the contribu tions from the town have steadily increased. \Vc may also mention that dining the year 18S0-81,' a gift auction was held in Ashburton, by which means Ll3l 15s 2d was obtained for church purposes, and almost the whole of the material and funds for this were contributed by the townspeople. The fixed loans on church property in the parish and parochial district are LBOO, and a private loan on bonds of LSOO. Total, Li, 300. This is provided for by shares in the Building Society, the paid up value of which at last Easter was 1211. The open accounts due by the parish and parochial dis trict at Easter were L 350. It is proposed that in case of separation, these accounts should be submitted to the church authorities to adjust,,

The estimated annual expenses of the new parish of St. Stephens are, stipend, L 250, si iking fund on the Ashburton church loan and the whole of Miss Winter’s loan, L6O (but w« think that at least a portion of Miss Winters would belong to the parochial district); church cleaning, Ll 5 ; gas, L 25; insurance, L 8; interest, L 62 ; sundries, L. 30. Total, L 450. The receipts (or this portion of the parish for ISSO-S1 were, subscriptions, L6O 3s 6d ; pew rents, L6S 9s gd ; offertories, 1, 169 15s 7d. Total, L29S 8s rod. Since the present vestry took office, however, the subscriptions to the stipend have been increased to the rate of L 75 per annum, and the pew rents to LIOO ss. and there are several parishioners who are with hohling their subscription to the fund until the question of the parish division is settled. The fact is that 1 ; e parishioners throughout the parish and parochial distiict aic dissatisfied with 1 he present arrangement of church matters. The members of the parochial district have ex pressed their opinion by withholding their con tributions altogether, and the town parishioners do not think they receive a full enough share of the Incumbent's services to warrant their subscribing lo the extent they otherwise would do. W T e would mention that there were only twenty-two subscribers to the stipend fund last year in the whole of the parish and patochial district, and of these seventeen were within the town division. The churchwardens and vestry are of opinion that if a parish were constituted in accordance with the plan before you, in order that we might have the full services of the Incumbent, it would greatly conduce to the harmony of the parish, and enable the church officers to work it satisfactorily. It is for the parishioners lo say if, in case of a separation, they would be prepared to sub scribe a little mo r e liberally to the funds of the church; and we feel sure that such a division will be for the spiritual welfare of the whole district. We have heard it remarked that by taking the step proposed we should be forcing members of the parochial district into pecuniary arrangements that may be inconvenient to them in their present position, and so doing them an apparent wrong and showing an ungrateful feel ing for the help we have received from them in past years, but we have, however, good reason to believe that this would not be the

After some questions had been asked and answered as to the amounts contri buted by the outlying districts, in reply to Mr Boyle, the Chairman said that it would have been a mere waste of time for him to have sent notices some time back of this meeting being about to be held to the outside residents, as he knew they would not attend. Mr G undry remarked that this meeting was held not so much for the outside as for the borough parishioners. All the other religious bodies had each a resident clergyman, whose duties lay chiefly in the borough. The Chairman said that a little while back, when he was at Buccleuch station, Mr Harper had stated to him that the out side people would not undertake to sup port a clergyman until the vestry brought down a financial statement showing what their liabilities would be; and he also stated that unless the sea district was in cluded in the outside parish they would have nothing to do with it. For his (the Chairman’s) own part, he took great inte rest in the sea district, especially from his experiences at Longbeach and Water ton. The whole question, however, would have to be discussed before the Synod, which will meet in about two months. Mr Fooks said that, in order to test the feeling of the meeting, he would move— “ That this meeting, having heard the statements of the incumbent and church wardens, is of opinion that a division of the parish and parochial district be made, and that the boundaries of the new parish be those shown on the map now before the meeting, and the church officers take the necessary steps for carrying out the division.”

Mr Bullock seconded the resolution, and said that if the meeting were ad journed there would probably be fewer instead of more present. The outside districts had contributed very little more than sufficient to meet the amounts due for the sinking fund on their churches. Ho thought it would be much better to leave them to make arrangements for having a clergyman of their own. It was quite time that the borough should be separated. Dr Trevor remarked that all the people in the outlying districts to whom he had spoken were desirous of a separation. Mr Gundry read a list of annual sub scriptions from the outlying districts which had either ceased or had been greatly reduced. The interest of those districts in the parish had ceased. All the country offertories, except those of Waterton and Longbeach, had fallen off. The Chairman said that it might be thought that his services had been almost exclusively devoted to Longbeach and Waterton, but that was not at all the fact. By far the larger part of the time he could spare for the outlying districts was spent on the hill country. Mr Ward, in a speech of some length, remarked that the amount received alto gether from the outlying districts in sub scriptions and offertories was about LIAO. He did not wish to see the separation carried out, because it was a repudiation of their engagements. When the present clergyman first came here, it was agreed that he should attend to the spiritual welfare of those outside places. Such a spiritual repudiation meant that in the districts the children were to be unbaptised, the dead nnburied, and the young people live in sin. [Several voices, No !J He believed also that spiritual repudiation would lead to financial repudiation. Mr Bullock rose to order, and said that not one person had proposed anything like repudiation. The Chairman denied that there was or was likely to he any such thing as there being no clergyman to perform baptisms, marriages, or funerals. The people in the country districts knew that they were not contributing according to their ability. They avowed it, and said they wanted separation. After a lengthy and desultory discus sion, Mr Fooks altered his resolution so as to read as follows: ing, having heard the statements of the Incumbent and churchwardens, is of opinion that a division of the parish and parochial district is desirable.” Mr Ward moved that the following words be added to the resolution : “ And that the further consideration of the matter be deferred until a meeting can be called at which representatives of the parochial district may have an oppor tunity of attending.” This was seconded by Mr Boyle, and the proposer and seconder having agreed to the addition, the resolution was put and carried, with two dissentient voices. Dr Trevor moved —“That the church wardens be requested to communicate with the church members in the country districts to ascertain their opinion on the desirability of separation, and to try to meet their views on the subject.” Seconded by Mr Ward, and carried. The rev. Chairman then pointed out that the effect of the resolution was that the people of the town were willing to support a clergyman themselves. Dr Trevor was then elected a man in place of Mr Winter, resigned. The doctor stated at the time that he would only accept the office on the under standing that he should oppose the letting of seats as heretofore. The meeting then closed after a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY AND THEIR PETS.

To THE EdITOK. Sir, —I notice in your columns that the 'Acclimatisation Society are trying to bring another peat into the country—namely, weasles. I think the members of the Society can have no interest whatever in

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1881.



p R I N T 1 N G, Of Evert Description, NEATLY AND CHEAPLY EXECUTED, AX IJIHE QFFIOE. V SHBURTON Q.UARDIAN THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN OFFICE, SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, East street, ASHBURTON!



Wanted. WANTED APPRENTICES to Dressmaking ami Millinery. Apply to Miss Buckman, Aitken street (house foihwerlv occupied by Mr G. D. Branson). - - ' J 280 c ANTED— 2O,OOO Bushels of GRAIN tgjCrush, at 2d per bushel. Mayo C>ls jLTunt. 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. Ling, Mayo’s Block. 185 c WANTED immediately—CHlCOßY DIGGERS. Apply at Works Moore street. E. B. Pearce. 180 c "VAT" ANTED EVERBODY to know that VV HORSE COVERS can be bought for 17s Cd (former price, 255), at S. Stephens’, Saddler, Tinwald. 72Ca W' ANTED KNOWN— That A. Farqu 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), 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, &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 Verhall is now showing her Winter Stock of Millinery, Drapery &c. Stay and Corset Manufacturer. Dressmaking done on Premises, Colombo street, opposite Cookham House. 030 a WANTED KNOWN. Ashburton REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants. —L. I'. 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 KNOW N—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. WANTED KNOWN Promissory Note Forms on Sale, at the Guardian Office. Special Advertisements. Thomas Taylor’s TEA AND GROCERY PRICE LIST (Abridged.) IMPORTANT. —As this Price List is usually copied “word for word” by an un-original section of the trade, with ac*r tain object, you are respectfully informed that T. TAYLOR’S ONLY PLACES OF BUSINESS COLOMBO STREET, One door city side of Tuam street and High street ; one door city side of St Asaph street. SPECIAL QUOTATIONS : A box of good tea for 14s 6d, lllbs in the box (guaranteed) at T. Taylor’s Assam or Pekoe Mixture Is Cd, Is Bd, Is lOd, 2s, and 2s 4d per lb. Finest Gunpowder or Pekoe Tea 3s Pure Assam 2s and 2s 6d per lb Sugars—3£d, 4d, 4ld, sd. Note—A jd per lb less by the mat Sperm Candles—(Full weight) Bd, 9d, lOd per lb Paraffine Candles —lid per lb Tobacco—(Twist) 5s per lb Currants—CM per lb Luncheon Biscuits —3ld per lb Kerosene —9s Cd and lOs Cd per tin (high test) Goods delirered daily in town and suburbs, or at the Railway station. These iquotatations are taken alphabeti cally from 500 others equally LOW IN PRICE. Arrowroot—Queensland, 8d per lb, St. Vincent, Is Apples, dried—7d per lb Baking Powder—Loose, Is per lb, per tin, sd, Cd, 7d Barley, Pearl—3d per lb, or 71bs, Is Cd Blacking—Day and Martin’s, 8d per doz Biscuits —Luncheon, 3M per lb, best mixed, 9d, Templars, 9d Blue—Dark, Is, Oxford, Is 2d per lb Candied Peel —Is Cd per lb Candles, full weight—Sperm, 8d per lb, paranffie, lid Cocoa—Van Houten’s, per tin, 4s Bd, 2s sd, Is 3d Corn Flour —Cd, Bd, 9d per lb Carbonate of Soda—Cd per lb Cheese, choice dairies—Cd and 7d per lb Extract of Soap, Hudson’s—7 pkts, Is Food—Neave’s, for infants, per tin, Is 3d Fire Kindlers—4£d per doz Groats—per tin, 10id, per packet, Bd. Honey—Cd or Is per tin Irish Moss—per bottle, Is 3d Jams, stoneless—7£d per tin, 7s per doz Jelly--Red currant, Is sd, calvesfoot, 2s 3d Kerosene—9s and 10s Cd per tin Maccaroni—lOd per lb Matches—looo, Bd, Plaids, Cd per dozen, Tandsticker, 4d per doz Milk —Milkmaid brand, 10£d per tin, 10s per doz Nuts—Barcelona, 9d, Almonds, Is per lb Oatmeal—Moir’s, 3s, Dunedin, 3s 3d per 251bs Pepper—ls 4d (black), Is Cd (white), per !b Powders—Steadman’s, Is 4d, Seidlitz, Is Rice—3d and 3£d, or 71bs, Is 8d oris lid Sago—4d per lb, white, 5d Sugar—Diamond loaf, Cd, crystals, 4£d or sd, other kinds, 4d or 3M Seed —Canary, hemp, rape, Cd, or 71bs for 3s Teas—Undoubtedly the strongest and purest the world produces are the Assam Teas, and although they are not shrouded in the mystery of Grip, Dargeeling, Pungency, &c., may be relied on for strength, purity, and rich flavour We quote—Pure Assam 2s Bd, broken do. do. 2s 4d, Assam Congou 2s (specially recommended) A mixture of Assam and China Teas Is Cd per lb. Compare this tea with any other than ours at 2s 4d per lb ; you will save lOd per lb in future Tobacco —Venus twist 5s per lb, Venus nail rod Cs, aromatic mild, Cs Tapioca—Cd per lb, or 71bs 3s Vermicelli— Is per lb, box 4s Washing Boards —Wood lid, zinc Is 4d Yeast Powder—Cd per tin 2840



Special Advertisements. qvjURSE. —Mrs Rattling begs to in 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 treet, 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 : EAST STREET. WM. SPARROW. 7oc Manager. O. Carstens & Co., (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pi pep, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco A nice assortment of Accordions, Con certinas, Flutes, Violins, Mouth Oi’gans, and Toys of every description, direct from Home. Saircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET ASHBURTON. 257a* 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 (i 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, &0., &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 just imported the following Brands of TOBACCO Nail Rod, Vanity Fair, Ruby Twist, Twist, <fcc., &c. CIGARS and CIGARETTES : Havanna and Cuban, Vanity Fair Cigarettes, &c., Ac., and a large selection of novelties in PIPE WARE. Haircutting, Shaving, and Shampooing Saloon, Montgome-w’s Buildings. 720 a AND LARGE DISCOUNTS. 4s. in the £ RETURNED to all Customers purchasing Mens’ or Boys’ Clothing, For this Month only, 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 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 James Murdoch, JJAVING 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 Hayes’ fjp IMBER YARDS. Balance of Short Firewood unsold at auction sale will be SOLD CHEAP, for cash, in order to clear it. ALPHEUS HAYES. FRESH SUPPLIES of TIMBER, &c., to hand. 608 a OTIC E . MOUNT SOMERS AGENCY. Mr W. H. Pudpicombe is authorised to collect money and transact' all business in connection with The Ashburton Guardian in the Mount Somers and Alford Forest districts. W. H. ZOUCH, Proprietor.