SHIPPING.

PORT OP LYTTELTON. ] ' Arrived. ■ Yesterday. Reward, achooner, from Wnitapu. '; Sailed. 1 - Yesterday. Annie, kekcb, for Greymouth. Mathien, barque, for Newcastle. Mawhera, ba, for iimaru, Oamaru and 1 Dunedin. . - SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. ««£* —— •* - Auckland, Yesterday. * Bailed— for Melbourne and • fioCibr Wsilinct N, Yesterday. , Arrived —Rotomahana, from the South and Melbourne ; Rotorua, from the North; Mahinapua, from the South; J, Go-Ahead, from Napier; Manawatu, from the West Coast and Nelson. Sailed— Mahinapua, for Westport and * Greymouth ; Rotorua, for Lyttelton. -■ Timaru, Yesterdaj. Arrived Taiaroa, from the South; Annitt Bow, from Newcastle ; Rose Hill, !f from Newcastle. _ . V Sailed Huon Belle, for Fortrose, Taiaroa, for the South - . • Dunedin, Yesterday. Arrived—Hawea and Wakatipu, from f ■ - the North i Para, from Wellington. V ' Sail&—K*asa, barque, fer Sydney ; >Elibank Caatle, schooner, for Brisbane.

COMMERCIAL.

’ Ashburton Guardian Office, Saturday Afternoon. ■, Messrs Matson, C*x and Co. report on the £ 'Jjfac stock market in the Ashburton district for f the week ending April 30th as follows:—On - Tuesday, at the Tinwald Yards, we held our ? • Usual weekly sale of sheep, cattle and pigs. v-‘ r" The attendance of farmers .was good, and had been fine, the>e would have., been ffT a much larger gathering. ihe catalogue for V the&day was a large one, fand comprised s;' . sheep of mostly good quality, but we cannot S, * note any improvement in values. In pigs, a *’ ■' lat&V entry came forward than we have seen i- "■ ■ for some time.past, and were all sold at good a ? ‘ values. :In cattle, there was a fair entry, but i■ ' owing to the downpour of ram which took > ’ "place at this part of the sale, very little busi ness was done. We quote mutton from 2#d t’- to *Mdi>er ,lb; beef, at ; l6s to 1 7s fid per <r KOblbsi sold on account of C. Sargisson, - - ■ I. Grigg, J. Johnston, H. T. Smith, W. Nor * lie, Prebble. J. Ford. C C. ' ' Primmer, W. Manson. A. McLeod, C. Camp beU. A. J. -Houston, C. G.Hawdpn, J. Hamp ’ ~ ton/ J.'Oshotne, K. ; Horsey, W. Millar, J Clark, J. McCormack, H. Cullen, S. Knox, / „ Aimettßros., T- Crossen, D. Ryan, W. Haw ; - ld&/kb;, the foll6wingt-72 fat merino ewes, ' fisfid; 56 cross-bred lambs, 7 s Ild i 4? fat crossbreds, 15s ?<*; 3° merino ewes, 5s gd; 32 - old merino ewes, 2s gd; 4S cress l red wethers, ” T . 12s fid; idd merino wethers, gs gd; 172 cross l ,;i , bred two and four-tooth ewes and wethers, 12s : . jd; 202 crossbred ewes, 7 s 8d; 206 crossbred «wes and wethers, 13s 2d t ; 126 crossbred old ; ' ewes, in lamb, 7s 6d; 150 crossbred ewes, in ; 1)1 mK 8s; 69 two-tooth crossbreds, irs 2d ;80 crossbred lambs, gs 3d; 285 menno wethers, } ■ forward condition, gs; 3 Leicester rams, 2%gs. In pigs, 10 small pigs, 10s ; 10 stubblers, Li •' «; 10ditto, Li is; 12 porkers, Li 10s; 3 'I Berkshire sows,' L 3 14s each; 1 pig, 10s; 10 K weaneis, 8s 6d. In cattle, fat cows, L$ 2s 6d "' ’ to IXl2s fid; fat heifers, L4toLs $s ; two ycarild steers. L2 13s to L 3. On baturday ■’ '■ we beld'a clearing sale of horses and contrac r tor’s plant at Tattersall’s, at which most satis , jr'factory prices were realised. Horses, light, ' trap and draught, from L 7 to Ll 4 ; medium s’ i dnUUtbU from Ll sto L 23. iJSsrs Fricdlander Bros, m conjunction vT ! - - ".with Messrs R. Wilkin and Co (per Mr -F. C. .Tabart, auctioneer), report on the live stcck market for the week ending April 30th, as fol '■ ’ lows :—Large entries of all kinds of stock L '■:.' were sent forward to the Tinwald yards for the ’ week’s supply. Considering the bad state of ' - tbe weftther the attendante of buyers was fairly ’ good, and competition brisk in several classes * 7, j ■ gf sioek^sarine-tegc-^«rtry—at->:totc.sneep - pnA cattle prevented any improvement in ’ .values being recorded by the auctioneers •i ’ doing business. Our entries for the day com £ prised 2,696 sheep and 15 head cattle, of whice we, placed 4x3' merino ewes at Ss gd, !j 7 loo*crossbred ewes at 10s, 3 00 ditto at 10s, i up ditto at gs. In cattle : S s t Mrs a t L 5 i.5 s > jjßeilers at L 5 2s 6d, $ young head of cattle at 30s. We quote for mutton from to r beef at 16s 6d to 18s per loolb. < Privately during the week we placed 1,082 ¥‘V merino ewes at 8s ; 277 crossbred ewes at 8s i), dd. 2SS merino ewes at 6s gd each.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

gA ' . ; r?it 1 1-UCTIO^' SALE A 'j~ •. May 6 %1~ Matsoo, Cox and Co., »t t e Ashburton #»lejprdp-—Stock, "A.'- Thubsday, Mat 8. f - Messrs J. Mundell and Co., at ScoUburn, ; near Peel Forest—Live and Dead Stock iA- MEETING-',.AMUSEMENTS, Etc. IIAA'A’- '.■■■' 'V-,'- Monday, Ma* 5. ■ - r Ashburton Coriraing Club—Nominations and Draw, for Second Meeting, at the A , Somerset hotel, at 8 p.ru. .VA' 1 ' 1 ' 'Monday, Mat 12 _ Oddfellow*’ Hall—Public Tea Meeting and Lecture A Borough Council, at Borough Council V - Clumbers, at 7.30. - Fsid-.t, Jons 6. : ■ Ashburton County Council—At Council ,

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1884. The Radical Speeches.

There is so much similarity between 1 the member for Dunedin South and J the member for Christchurch South that the addresses with which these 1 gentlemen have favored their constitu ents during the present week may fairly be considered together. Both representatives belong not only to the Opposition but also to the same section of that Opposition, while for pure talking power it would be difficult to decide which should occupy the premier position. Mr Fish last session earned the un enviablejnotoriety jof having introduced an entirely new clement into the Parlia mentary debates in New Zealand; For merly we used to boast that the manner j n which the business of our Legislative Assemblies was carried on formed an example that might be advantageously followed by other colonies, but thanks to the presence of politicians of the Holmes and Fish type in the House of Representatives we can, alas ! no longer lay claim to this distinction. Everybody will remember the torrent of virulent abuse, extending over several weary hours and couched in language worthy only of a Billingsgate 1 fish-fag, which the member for Dunedin South poured out upon the heads of the Ministry during the penultimate session. Even the most bitter oppo nent of the Whitaker-Atkinson Ad ministration must have felt ashamed of this new recruit to their party, who by his violent language unquestionably caused a re-action which injured the prospects of the Opposition. Mr Holmes as a politician, if such a term is not a misnomer to apply to one whose knowledge of politics is so very slight, is of the same kidney as his Dunedin confrere. His utterances may not be so uniformly vulgar, but they have just about the same practical value. To eac|i might be oppositely applied the Hudibrastic couplet— But still his tongue ran on, the less Of weight it bore, with greater ease ; And with its everlasting crack Set all men’s ears upon the rack. What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh, is a proverb as true as it is trite, and Mr Fish’s speech on Monday displayed many of the charac teristics ot the blatant orator, whose knowledge is in universe proportion to his ability to string words together. That these pre-sessional speeches be come so inexpressibly monotonous is of course due to the fact that every representative considers it necessary to give his own individual reason for the depression now existing in the colony, and the member for Dunedin South, belonging as he does to the Opposition side of the House, put down the cause of our to the maladministra tion of affairs by those now in power. Mr Montgomery the other day chose to speak of the Premier as a “ hollow financial sham,” and the epithet has been repeated parrot-like by the lesser lights of the party. We have, how ever, too much faith in the good sense of the colony to believe that the mere assertion of the member for Akaroa will outweigh the recollection of the service rendered to the colony in the past by the Colonial Treasurer, It is , well known that when Major Atkinson took office he found the tfihances of New Zealand in a perilous state, and that by his careful management he raised our credit in the Home rharket. Admitting that he over-estimated the revenne for the past year ? and that con sequently he has now to meet a heavy deficit, this does constitute him the “ sham ” his opponents have dubbed him. Even had he been gifted with the spirit of prophecy and had foreseen the unprecedented bad times the colony would have to go through, and had proposed greatly increased taxa tion to meet the difficulty, he would have been hooted at as a Cassandra by the very men who are now so ready to pick holes in his reputation. However, Major Atkinson can console himself with the reflection that that reputation will be re membered when the speeches of his maligners are buried in the dust of forgotten things. To do Mr Fish jus tice, when he is not blinded by his per sonal hatred of the present Ministry he does attempt to account for the depressed state of the colony in some more sensible way than by putting it down to the misgovernment of the Premier and his colleagues. In one part of his speech he said that the peo ple are to blame, because of their per sonal extravagance in the past, while the action of the banks in connection with large companies and in other ways is an important elementjin the situation. This is, so far as we can see, almost the only sensible thing the member for Dunedin South managed to say, but we think that these matters will set them selves right in time. As to the policy of the Opposition, Mr Fish states it as follows :—“ First, financial separation of the two islands and proper local go vernment; second, the abolition of the property tax; third, the imposition of a progressive land and income tax; fourth, reform of the Civil Service; fifth, reform of the Upper House; sixth, bona fide settlement of the people upon the land of the country. Cer tainly no fault can be found with this platform pn the score pf want of com prehensiveness. So far as the first item of the programme is concerned, the utility of a financial separation of the two islands to the South Island would, we apprehend, depend entirely upon the terms on which it was effected. As to the second we are all agreed upon the necessity of a better system of local government, but the difficulty is to devise a really workable system, and this Mr < Kish and h's friends have hitherto failed to do. Nor is the alteration in the incidence of taxation, as advocated by Mr Fish, in any way called for. It would be impossible to make a tax that would satisfy every body, but the Property Tax is as little objectionable as any other. It serves all the purposes of an Ifl£pme Tax, while it is incom parably easier tp collect. The three final items ®f policy need little notice, as no one will question their soundness!. The present Government have promised to give their attention to these matters, j and we have yet to learn that they are j less able to deal satisfactorily with them

than would be a Ministry formed from the Opposition. The address of Mr Holmes delivered at Christchurch on Tuesday need not detain us long. Like Mr Fish, the member for Christchurch South is a reformer of a drastic kind, only more so. He considers that there is no need for taxation to meet the deficit, all that is necessary is retrenchment. And he certainly advocates no half mea sures, as will be seen by the following summary of his proposed remedy for our malady. If Mr Holmes had his way, he would reduce the Armed Con stabulary to one hundred men, the Native Department would be improved off the face of the earth, the Minister of Justices’ Department would be re duced by per annum, the honorarium of members of the House of Representatives would be limited to a guinea a day, while the “ Lords ” would receive nothing for their services. Those bug bears of the Radical party, the absentees, would be compelled to pay fifty per cent more taxes than any other person, local industries would be fostered by protection, and last but not least a National bank is to be estab lished, on the lines laid down by those financial geniuses, Messrs MacandrEW and Bathgate, where all that is wanted to provide us with unlimited wealth is a printing press, a few bales of paper and some ink. It would seem as if Mr Holmes had read his fellow mem ber’s speech of the previous night, and, in the graphic card slang of America determined to “go one better.” And yet this is the man who ventures not only to re-iterate his leaders opinion . of Major Atkinson’s financial abilities, ■ but also applies to the Premier such elegant epithets as “ egotist,” “ brag . gart,” “ bully ” and a host of other , pretty names which comes so lightly from the tongue of this vigorous refor , mer. Let those people who, not un . justly, have resented the recent actions of the Government consider what would ; be the state of the colony could a r Ministry, formed from a party of which r Messrs Holmes and Fish are examples I come into power. It would indeed r be jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire, and nothing could show us better than the two speeches we have reviewed the necessity for a General Election, so that the objectionable ele ment so apparent in our present Par ; liament might be weeded out.

The members of the Rinking Club inus tdred in good force at the Town Hall last evening to inaugura e the season, and there was also a fair attendance of the public Skating was indulged in up till ten o’clock, and everybody appeared to heartily enjoy themselves. It has been decided to give a complimentary ball to Mr H. Zander, who is about to pay a visit to Europe, and the event is fixed to take place next Friday week. Yesterday a woman entered Mr S. B Poyntz’s store and purchased goods to the value of LI 14s. In payment she ten dered two notes, and received 6s in change, stating that she woqld call for the goods during the afternoon. This morn ing when balancing hia cash Mr Poyntz discovered that one of the notes was a good imitation of bank paper, but of no value itself. The purchaser has not since called for the goods, and the matter is in the hands of the police, but as there is reason to believe that the woman had herself bean deceived by thoximitator her name is withheld. We call attention to Mr J. Ivess’s ad vertisement in another column from which it will be seen that the member for Wa kanui wi;l address the electors at the Town Hall on Wednesday next. The following gentlemen have been no minated as members of the South Rakaia Road Board :—Walter Hartnell, Robert Mulligan, Charles William Turner, and Caleb Tucker. A poll will be taken for the election of two members on Monday, May slh at Ryle and Rakaia,

Ticke's for the soiree at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Monday week are being rapidly disposed of, and it is expected that the attendance will be unusually large For the convenience of those present at the tea meeting, tickets to admit to the lec ture only have been circulated, at the low price of one shilling.

The first of the series of sixpenny en tertainments in St Stephen’s Sunday schoolroom will be hold on Tuesday next at 7.30 p.m. Mr Sidney Wolf has very kindly consented to give his assistance.

The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Mount Somers Road District was held at Mount Somers on Thursday. Mr A. B. Peache, the Chairman of the Board, read the audited statement of accounts as follows : —Receipts : Balance last year, L 143 14s 6d ; other receipts, L 92 5t 7d ; rates collected, LBl3 19s 2d ; due bank, L 135 15s; total, L 1,185 14s 3d. Expen diture : Main roads, LBB9 16s 3d ; bye roads, L 52 14i ; office, etc, L 139 6s; salaries, LlO3 18s; total, LI, 185 14s 3d. The balance-sheet was adopted. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Edson — “ That the Chairman call a Bpecial general meeting of ratepayers, to test the feeling of the district as to whether one or two rating bodies should exist in the cmntj, and, if only one, which would th«y favor —-Road Boards or County Council."

What might have been a nasty accident was occasioned yesterday through some person tethering a cow so that the rope stretched right across one of the streets within the borough. As a woman was driving a horse and cart yesterday after noon, and whilst proceeding down Park street, the rope was not noticed and the horse in some way got entangled with it and was thrown down on its haunches, very nearly landing the occupants, who were, besides the driver, a baby and young girl, into the road. If an example of some of the bye-law breakers, who are always tethering cattle in our streets, was made we opine that the ratepayers gener ally would be better pleased with their borough management.

Glad Ridings. —Some constitutions have a tendency to rheumatism, and are throughout the year borne down'by its protracted torture Let such sufferers bathe the afflicted parts with warm brine, and' afterwards' rub in this soothing Ointment, They will find it the best means of lessening their agony, and, Issisied by Holloway’s Pills, the surest way of overcoming their disease. More need not be said than to request a few days' trial of this safe and soothing treatment, by which the disease will ultimately be completely swept away. Pains tthat would make a giant shudder are assuaged without difficulty by Holloway’s easy and inexpensive remedies, which comfort by moderating the throbbing vessels and calm ing the excited nerves,*— Advt. “ German Syrup.” —No other medicine in the world was ever given such a test of its curative qualities as Boschee’s German Syrup. In three years two million four hundred thou sand small bottles of this medicine were dis tributed free of cbarge by Druggists in the United States of America to those afflicted with Consumption, Asthma, Croup, severe Coughs, Pneumonia and other diseases of the throat and lungs, giving the afflicted undeniable proof that German Syrup will' cure them. The re sult has been that Druggists in every town and village in civilised countries are recommending it to their customers. Go to yoqr Druggist and ask what they know about it. Sample Bottles 6d. Regular size 3s. 6J, Three doses will relieve any case,—[Advt.]

The New Zealand Tobacco and Oigar Manufacturing Company commenced oper ations yesterday. Accommodation is pro vided for forty hands. When machinery arrives by the British King the number will be made up to fifty. A steamer passed the Bay of Islands at noon yesterday, steering South. She is supposed to be the British King from London.

It is said the action of the Auckland Harbor Board in rescinding the resolution recently passed respecting the extension of the main sewer to deep water will bare the effect of delaying the operations of the Freezing Company, who will be un able to got on with their works until a decision is arrived at. At the Auckland Roman Catholic Dio cesan Synod the Fathers assembled again to discuss matters to be proposed by the Bishop. The principal and most impor tant item of the afternoon discussion was the education question, and his Lordship the Bishop proposed several regulations for the proper organising of the schools of the diocese. The discussion was private and with closed doors. The results have not yet transpired. At the inquest on the body «f Patrick Moran, who died in the Auckland gaol with ribs discovered fractured, the jury brought in a verdict to the effect that death was accelerated by the accidental fracture of his ribs. The police and prison authorities were acquitted of blame, but the jury expressed their conviction that Moran’s dying statement was true, that he asked for admission into the hos pital and had been refused. Dr Bond, House Surgeon of the hospital, in his evi dence denied this, and said Moran had not applied for admission, nor was there any record of his having done so. The enquiry into the stranding of the Oreti was resumed at Greymonth yester day, and additional evidence was taken, but without eliciting any feature worthy of special mention. The decision of the Collector of Customs was that the strand ing was purely the result of accident, and that neither officers nor crew were to blame. He accordingly returned all the certificates. The Oreti is insured for LSBOO In the South British, and the cargo of coal for L9O, but the office is un certain.

Peter Phillips and John Fraser, miners, at Granville, near Groymouth, were fatally injured yesterday by the falling iu of the tunnel. Phillips has since died. At the inquest yesterday on the Gar lands, there was not the slightest further light thrown on the Temuka tragedy. The jury returned a verdict that J. W. Garland committed the deod, but there was no evidence as to his sanity. A deputation of the local members of the New Zealand Bide Association waited on Messrs Watt and Fitzgerald, M. BLR.'s yesterday at Wanganui,’relative to obtain ing a grant of LIOOO next year for pr.ze money at annual meetings, instead of L4OO as formerly. The deputation pointed out that after defraying expenses the balance of the LSOO grant was alto gether too small to provide prizes. Messrs Watt and Fitzgerald expressed their willingness to support a vote of LLOOO as proposed, when it comes before the House. In addition to the 9000 carcases which the Gear Meat Company are freezing for the steamer British King, they will freeze 4000 for the steamer Aorangi, which leaves Wellington direct for London. A sudden death has occurred in a Wei lington tramcar. A young girl named Paulmir, who had been ill for three or four days with diarrhoea, was being taken to the hospital for treatment, when she uttered three or four words and expired. It is probable an inquest will be held. The Otago Daily Timts suggest that Sir Julius Vogel should be asked to address a public meeting hare in regard to the present depression and political out look.

A paddock of Oits belonging to W. Young, sen., Tuturau, Southland, has produced 110 bushels per acre.. Don’t use stimulants, but nature’s brain and nerve food—Hop Bitters. See. —[AdVt.] Hop Bitters has restored to sobriety and health perfect wrecks from intemperancdP Per use all.—[Advt.] Gorged Livers, Bilious conditions, consti pation, piles, dyspepsia, headache, cured by “ Wells’ May Apple Pills,” $d and is boxes at druggists. The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents. 2 Wells’ “Rough on Corns.”—Ask for Wells’ “ Rough on Corns.” Quick re lief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, ■mnions. The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents. 2 “ Rough on Rats.”—Clears out rats, mice roaches, flies, ants, bed-bugs, beetles, insects, SkunkSjJack-rabbits, gophers. 7j£d. Drug gists. The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents. 2 Holloway’s Ointment'and Filis.—

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

AS HB ORTON.— Yesterday. (Before H, 0. S. Baddeley, Bsq , 8.M.) CIVIL CASES. Plummer v. Clark.—The following is the conclusion of the evidence in this case heard yesterday William Stuart, sworn, s id he was an experienced farmer. When he went to the farm, 67 acres were in stook and was too wet to stack. This was on the 3rd March. Started on the fal lowing day to assist Plummer to cut a portion of the grain that remained. From the sth to the 9th of March the weather was very wet, and it was impossible to cart grain, The crop was very poor, being thin and uneven. The cutting done on the ground was as good as it was possible for any man to do. All the crops out in the district at the same time as Clark’s suffered more or less. Considered Plum mer a good workman. —Cross-examined by Mr Purnell; During the time the men were waiting for the grain to dry, they cut a small paddock. Would not swear that he did not siy that Plummer was too much of an old fogey to push on the work. Had a "keg of beer on the ground, but that did not affect the weather. Ohario* Inder had been used to harvest work for the last ten or twelve years. Plummer asked witness to assist him with some stacking, but instead of going him self had sent another man. The first paddock cut (a portion of the 67 acres) was in very good trim. The catting done by Plummer, was done as well as it could be done by any man in Canterbury. Wit had bean engaged in harvest work every year for eleven years past, and had no in terest in this case. In his (witness’s) opinion, Plummer usad evory precaution ho could to save the grain. Had hunted out stock from Clark’s paddocks white the grain was growing and in stook. , In the first place the ground was very badly pre pared, consequently half the seed was lost. Estimated that the crop would go about twelve bushels to the acre if the weather had remained fine. Cross-examined by Mr Parnell : Was a butcher by trade, and was now carrying on the business of a livery stablekeeper. The horses an 1 cattle he had seen trespassing on Clark’s land were stock in Braden’s charge.—This closed the evidence for the defence. Plaintiff, recalled, deposed that he had had several conversations with Mr Inder about this case. In one conversation he told him he wan afraid it would be s case with Plummer that he (Plummer) owed him money, and he feared if the case want against him he would lose what was owing to him.—By Mr Voiding : The first conversation about the case was on

i- aster Sunc ay. —After counsel had ad L dfossed the Bench, judgment iri the first case was given for Lfifi ss, and costs in the second case plaintiff was nonsujtgff with costs.

Joseph Clark v William Smith.—the defendant consented to a judgment of LS2 7s lid and costs. To-Dat. [Before Robt. Alcorn, Esq., J.P.] Djiunkbnness. A man named Grigg was fined 10s and 2s cab hire for drunken ness. John Murphy, alias “ Dublin Jack,” an old acquaintance, was fined 10a or twenty-four hoars’ imprisonment on a similar charge. Michael Shea, who had been arrested on a warrant, pleaded guilty to drankenuess and disorderly con duct at the Chertsey Hotel, also to using obscene language. He was fined L 4 in all or eight daya’ imprisonment.

UPPER ASHBURTON ROAD BOARD

The annual meeting of the Board was held at the Board’s Office, Tinwald, to day at noon. Mr Donald McLean occu pied the chair. t he report and balance-sheet were read by the Clerk. The former called atten tion to the fact that the financial year had been commenced with a bank over draft of nearly LSOO. This was now ex tinguished, and the Board had a credit balance of Ll6O at the bank. Notwith standing the economy necessary to effect this improvement in tho Board’s position, work to the value of nearly LI,OOO had been done in the district —1,400 chains of new road had been formed. The Board had taken over the roads in Allenton and bridged the Wakanui creek in two places at a cost of nearly LIOO Balance-sheet. Receipts. £ s- A 33 per cent of deferred payment land ... .- 754 19 4 Rates, 1882 ... ... ... 199 09 Rates, 1883 ... ... ... 857 "4 3 Rents ... ... ... ... 63 2 o Sundries ... I 19 4 £1,876 S 8 Expenditure. £ 8. d, Overdraft at Bank ... ... 478 14 4 Works 988 17 ” Official expenses ... ... ... 183 5 ® Salary ... ... ... ... 75 9 • Balance at Bank 150 7 11 £1876 "s~* The report and balance-sheet were adopted. On the motion of Mr Broomfield, a vote of thanks was passed to tho members of the Board, which Mr McLean ac knowledged, It was resolved to postpone the discussion of local government by two rating bodies until after the next meeting ' of the County Council.

SOUTH BAHAIA ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held on Thursday. Present— Messrs Mackie (chairman),. Holmes, Mann, and Osborne. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The Chairman read a letter from Mr Coster apologising for his unavoidable absence. A letter from the Chairman of the Mount Hutt Road Board was read, en closing resolutions passed at a public meeting of the ratepayers -in that district re the taxation of the two locol governing bodies, and affirming that the Road Boards were the proper and most suitable bodies to have the power for raising local rates. '! he Chairman stated that as a resolu tion similar to this had just been unani mously passed-by a most influential meet ing of the ratepayers in this district, it was unnecessary for the Board to pass an other resolution. —It was decided to send the Chairman of the Mount Hutt Road Board a copy of the resolution passed by the ratepayers. WORKS. It was resolved that pipes be laid on Mr Morrow’s [road near his home. It was decided that Mr Lyttelton bo au thorised to plough and so w the ten chains of road leading to the Rokoby cutting, providing a roadway was left and a gate hung. TENDER ACCEPTED Mr James Gardiner’s tender for form ing Loudon’s road at 4s 3d per chain was accepted- ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of L 212 13s fid were passed for payment. VALEDICTORY. The Chairman (Mr 0. N. Mackie) said that this was the last occasion of his sit ting on the Board, on account of his hav ing for England. For this reason he had not sought re-election. He would most heartily thank the members of the Board for their assistance in carrying out the works in the district. They had ever worked unanimously and heartily. It had been one of his greatest pleasures working with them as a member and chairman of the Board, and it was with the deeepest regret that he severed his connection with them. He would always take as much in terest in their doings in the future as he had hitherto 4 0 * 10, ' He again thanked them for their courteous manner to Kim personally, and for the impartial way that every part of the district had received their attention. Mr Holmes; Mr Mackie, on behalf of the Board and myself Ithankyoufor your ser vices renderjed to the district. You have devoted a large portion of your time to public duties at considerable personal in convenience end pecuniary loss ; you have carried out your duties ia a most honor able and conscientious manner for the good of the district. I feel that in losing your service# wa shall not be able to find a successor to tarry out the duties in such an efficient manner. lam sure that every resident in the district heartily appreciates your services and wishes you a pleasant and prosperous future. Mr Mann spoke in feeling terms of Mr Mackie’s services to the district. Mr Mackie said ha should like to have placed on record the satisfactory manner in which Mr A Makeig, the Clerk, had carried out the duties of executive officer to the Board.

Mr Makeig thanked Mr Mackie for hu kindness, and regretted that he was leav ing the district as much as anyone, ha had always received Mr Maokie’s assistance in discharging his duties. The meeting then adjourned.

SOUTH BAKAIA.

The annual meeting of ratepayers was held on Thursday. Mr 0. N. Mackie took the chair. A large number of rate payers attended. ' The Chairm'an said T congratulated tl>e tatepayors on the satisfactory balanceraheet before them. A large num ber of works had been completed during the year—he would like contractors to be more particular in tendering for works, as in many cases the contracts had to be thrown up before comp etion on account of the low prices. In last year’s report the attention of ratepayers was called to the storm-water question, which has not received the same amount of attention as it should have done owing to the diffi culty in providing fun’s The excessive rating of the district at the present time almost precludes the possibility of a special rate\for any works, however im portant they may bo. As for the storm water there is no doubt something will have to bt» done very shortly. I would remind you that we are heavily rated by the County Council, and receive no cor responding benefit. It will be for you to consider w'bether’yov. are not entitled to a fair share of th : » rate in ail of a water scheme, or any other important work in

the district. ' The village settlers are an* titled to a refund of L 564 3s 41 on the amount already paid by them for ttheil sections. A meeting had been held to coneider what work* were required, and plans could now be seen in the office, and it would be well if the settlers satisfied themselves that the works was all that they required before submittiog plans to the Commis sioner of Crown Lands. If this was now done the works could be carried out dor-

ing the winter. 1 have again to congratu* late yon upon the absence of road, rates in this district, and I venture to think that irou will endorse the policy of the Board : n the conservation of its funds, consis tently of coarse with the wanteof the dis triotr The Board has always endeavored to act fairly and impartially to every put of the district and to favorably consider any application for necessary works. I would now draw 1 your attention to a mat ter of considerable interest in thia dis trict, and that is the proposed division of it into two road districts. I last year suggested the advisability of dividing the district into wards, thereby securing fair representation throughout. I still think this would be better and less expensive than working two Bead Districts. ; If we once begin multiplying our local go verning bodies we shall never know when to stop. In my opinion we should rather seek to enlarge our Road Districts end dispense with our county system, or ss some think merge the Hoad Districts into the counties and abolish one rating power altogether. In any esse before long s change will have to bo made, for when Road Board funds are exhausted rates will have to be struck for necessary works, and the doable rating power will prose heavily on the ratepay-rs In conclusion, I have to thank ym fir the confidence yon have always reposed in the members of the Beard, and to con*ratdlater you J upon the very satisfactory balance lying to the credit of the Board in the Bank.— Receipts: April 1, 1883—To balance in Bank of Hew Zealand, L 8,199 11s 2d; in- I cidental receipts, L 27 Its ; interest from fixed deposits, L4lO. Total, L8j637 7s2d. —Expenditure : March 31, 1884: By new roads and works, L 1,434 16s 6d; maintenance of roads, L 586 12s fid ; ex penses, L 63 3s; Bakaia township, hew works, Llls 6s fid ; plant, LIOO 13s 3d ; plantations, L6los; clerk’s srlary for 13 months, L 216 13s 4d; advertising, L 65 10s Id. Total, L 2.679 3a 2d. Lem out standing cheque, L 4. L 2,676 3s 2d; balance in B*nk at closing of business,' L 6,062 4s. Total, L 8.637 7s 2d. On the motion of Mr Oxley, ascended by Mr Allan, the balance-sheet as read was adapted. f : Mr Allan said that it was the-wish,of a Urge number of ratepayers ' present to have the district divided into wards.

The Chairman stated that if a petition was sent in to the Board, he had no doubt the request would be attended to at once. Mr Holmes thought that as there ware so many present it would be a goodoppor tunity of considering the question of ' haring two rating bodies, and to'eZpteaft ’ an opinion as to the advisability of either doing away with the Oounty Ooupoil or the Road Boards. The Cornual were heavily rating the district, and, as a mem* her of that body was present, perhaps he. * would explain to the meeting what the rate was raised for. Mr Lambic said he was of opinion that the Road'Board should have the rpting ... powers and that the Oonnty Councils should be done away with. The Council had done good work, and certainly had i made some blunders. The Road Board, * if conducted properly, would be the beat local body, and the cheapest. _ The impor tance of the subject renders it necessary { t tvory ratepayer to seriously consider It, for sooner or later one body or the other must be abolished.

Mr Lyttelton proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr 'J.. Mann and carried unanimously :—“ That in the opinion of this meeting, the Road Bused is the proper body to have the : rating powers, and that the power of the ; ounty Qounoil to raise rates be abolished; . that a copy of this resolution should be forwarded to our member in the House of v* > Representatives, asking him to use his nt most endeavors to carry the same into effect.” • Mr Lyttelton proposed a vote of thanks- - to the Chairman ant members of the Board for their services. Mr Latnbie in seconding this said he thought it should be a very hearty vote of 1 thanks to the Chairman at least, who was; •• * now about to leave us for a tnp Home. : . He had rendered very valuable services to ' all in the district. Mr Mackie thanked all present for the vote of. thanks passed to himself - and - other. members of the Board, and ex* pressed regret<%t learing the district where. he had been for so many years. The meeting was then closed.

SPORTING.

NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL. The following nominations for the meet ing of 1884 hare been received 1 by the Secretary; OEANU NITIOXAE HAKDICA*. Mr J. Pilbrow’s < larqnce * Mr Pilbrow’s Barbary Mr P. Bqtler’s Agent Mr A. Hathorn’a Comet Mr H. Luna’s Canard Mr W, St. Armitage’a Black Qootor Mr J. Lqkey's Fawn Mr F. Cotton's Hercules •awa ITAIhT-?0 HANDICAP. Mr J. pilbrow’s Clarence Mr J. Pilbrow’s Barbary Mr P. Butler’s Agent Mr J. E. Brown’s Hard Times Mr E. Hill’s Johnston’s Luggage Mr R. Roberts’ Woodstock Mr F. Simpson’s Topthorn Mr J. G. Seaton’s Andy Mr H. Loan's Canard Mr W. S. Armitage’s Black Doctor Mr F. Cotton’s Hercules KAIDBN TLA.TR. Mr Rutherford's The Lad Mr J. Meikle’s Ben H. (late Allasdale) Mr A. Aymes’s Andy ' Mr F. Simpson’s Topthorn Mr 0. O’Connor’s Riccarton Mr 0. G. Hawdon’s Karatiana Mr W. W. Dundas’s Dandy (late Bred* onhill , Mr Kerr’s Ravenswood Mr Kerr’s Linwood Mr L. Holmes’s Mustard (late Bugler) Messrs M. and 0. Hobbs’s Moody /J |.Mr T. Sheenan’s Brown Boy 1 ’ HDNT 0108 OPF. ’ Mr Hamlyn’s Euclid : " m Mr A. L. Barker’s Marquis Mr R, Roberta's Wo'odstock Mr F. Cotton's Triwt ” ” ' Mr W. S. Arq«itbgo?B Rona Mr J. Meikle’s Ben H. (late Allendale) Mr E. Hill’s Johnston’s Luggage Mr W. St Lindsay's Oaragheeq Mr T. Egan’s Tally-ho , Mr Sheenan’s Brown Boy

COURSING.

PLUMPTON PABK. The second meeting of thie dub was held yesterday, when two rounds each of the May Cup and Selling Stakes were run off, with the fallowing results • The Mat Cup, for twelve all-aged dogs at L 3 10s each. Winner, L 25; rnnnsr up, Lll - First Bound. Que m c>t Scots beat Jacque'er Pareora beat goebedg ttqckwood belt Soipib Obstacle heat Sir Herculaq

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1884.



COMMERCIAL Stationery* Account Books, ' j -&c. :■ . &. M. JONES, ima. East Street. 11 123 : ; i■ ■ i - ; '■■■■' * C' : L I u ■ '■ '■' . v T%O RKET 3, PAXTON & CO. S U ABB ■j'-‘ - CASH PURCHASERS OP WHEAT BEANS BARLEY PEIS * ■ t •: OATS COCKSFOOT ' AND ;■ f! : ;|BYE GRASS' SEED. V They supply farmers with the beat quality Large (Jorneacka, at the lowest market rates, and will make liberal Cash Advances against Grain placed in tl eir " A«nda for shipment to London or else 5; robekts; paxton & Co. - L.to P, Ounningham Snd Co’s offices, * Corner of Manchester £ud Lichfield Sr.a ‘ Christchurch. 3 523 . FARMERS r; Store your Grain! jnpHß undersigned having Leased from JL ' Mr T. Bullock that very corairic ! dious IRbN GRAIN STORE in WVst attest, is prepared to RECEIVE G ■ AIN or any bind of Produce, and STORE the , at the very LOWEST RATE. ' XtoUv#”* taket tt any Hsae of the day 529 * T.H.ZOUOH. i&uiveisiiry Star of the i-ast No. 63.



Wanted ■O'7" ANTED —A Girl to assist in gen- V\ eral housework. Apply to Mrs ( Pass, Wills street. 5 783 j \TTANTED, immediately Every cue V\ to read Hayes and Co.’s adver tisement. ST[7 ANTED—A young Girl, to assist \ y in house work. Sleep at homo. Apply Guardian Office. B 766 WANTED —Every one that was unsuc cessful in Hates and Co.’s art onion to read advertisement. 4 749 WANTED to purchase Good Lard in any quantify ; also, Sound, Small Pickling Onions. Apply, S. E. PoYNTZ, Novelty Emporium and Provision Store. 5 758 WANTED Known—Beat Rice, 3d ; Sago, 4d ; Tapioca, Bd ; Cheese, 6d per lb. —J. MoGkjooh, Taucred street, opposite the Arcade. 4 640 WANTED —To Sell Two second-hand Breach-loading Central Fire Re bounding Locks Fowling Pieces, in splendid order. Apply, F. Feuriman, East street. 3 535 W r ANTED Known—The cheapest house in town to buy Millinery, Dolmans, Jackets, Dress Stuffs, etc., is fl. C. -'-'cgers’s, Sealy’s buildings, Bast street. First-class goods marked with a small profit. New goods now open. 2 234 W' ANTED KNOWN—Robert Elston, Bill Poster, Theatrical Agent, etc., Town Hall, Ashburton. Theatrical companies and others visiting Ashburton should communicate with the above. Orders by post or telegram promptly attended to. . 760 c E~xt'ANTED Known—For sale cheap, VV a Three and Four-Roomed House, Half Acre of Land ; two frontages,, situated on East Belt, near Wakanui road. Terms easy. Also, 5 Acres in English grass, with county water race through it. Apply W. C. Davis, next Oddfellows’ Hall, Ashburton. 5 766 tttANTED Known—That Jones and Vt Bradshaw, next Mr Lancaster’s butchers shop, East street, are now offer ing Pig Feed, Chick Wheat, Horse Feed, et°, etc., etc., cheaper and of a better class than any other in the tjwn. All goods delivered free of charge in town. 8 . 4 752 Vfe 7 ANTED—The public who are in V V want of Boots to inspect our win dow before purchasing elsewhere. As far as style and cheapness we are determined not to be excelled. Boots for everyone, and at any price. Large stock of wo.men’s best prunellas from 7s 6d ; men’s Half sole and heeling, 4s 6d ; women a do, 3s 6d ; girl’s do, 2a 6d. Noees, Leicester Boot Warehouse, Burnett street. 12 1107 VETERINARY SHOEING FORGE. WANTED Known—W. T, Kingston (late with J. R. Steel, Blacksmith) begs to announce to the public of Ash burton and surrounding district that he has commenced business in a new shop erected on the Wakanui road, next C, Ray, Engineer, Millwright, etc. (nearly opposite Central Hotel), and trusts to re ceive a fair share of public patronage. All shoeing done in his usual style, and guaranteed the best workmanship. Re pairs neatly executed. Estimates, given for builders’ ironwork. 3 552



Special Advertisements. TURNIPS FOR SALE,—'The under signed has 80 Acres to be Fed off with sheep ; inspection invited. Apply to R, CAMPBELL, 4 750 Chertsey. NoSSt J- A. Persson CABINETMAKER, UPHOLSTERER & SHOP-FITTER, Wakanui Road (near Post Office), Begs to thank his customers for past favors and to announce that he is now prepared to execute orders for all classes of suites of furniture in tapestry, repp, velvet, leather and horse hair, and to suit every one. Furniture upholstered and polished. Mattteaaes re-mada and car pets re-laid. People from the country will do well to pay J. A. P.’s establish ment a visit before purchasing elsewhere. All work entrusted to him will be faith fully carried out, and his prices will defy competition. Agent for Walter Gee’s Venetian Blinds j. B. Mansfield, Monumental Mason FUNERALS CONDUCTED ON SEASONAL® TERMS.



Meech and Co. 0 not, as a rule, care to blow about the Excellence of their Goods, but when they find that they can offer induce ments which no other house in Ashburton can possibly do, they feel justified in rushing into print to let the general public know that they will be studying their own interests by purchasing from the makers. MEECH AND CO., CABINET MAKERS, UPHOLSTERERS, UNDERTAKERS, &c., &c., Ac., BURNETT STREET, ASHBURTON. Being supplied with the latest improved Machinery, they are able to tarn out Fur niture, &c., in all the newest designs, and at prices which defy compel.-a. Farmers and others wishing to make their homes comfortable should pay this Firm a visit, and they will find that MBEOH AND CO. can supply every Household requisite at prices which, to meet the times, will really surprise them. Brackets and all other k nds of Gutting done f or the trade -2 37$



ARRIVAL * OP New Tweeds, FANCY COATINGS, Etc., jnRST.OLASS MATERIALS ONLY. Full particulars will be given in a few days. CRAIGHEAD AND CO., TAILORS AND CLOTHIERS TANORBD STREET, ASHBURTON,



Special Advertisement jj^TATIONERY. Commercial, Plain, and Fancy. ACCOUNT BOOKS PRIZE BOOKS SCHOOL BOOKS & REQUISITES (Sohool|Oommitteea supplied) TOYS & FANCY GOODS. Andrewes Bros., Booksbuibs, Stationers, &c., ASHBURTON.



[PORTANT The undersigned is now landing prime Newcastle coal for household purposes. BLACK PINE FIREWOOD. Building Timber at Prices to suit the Times. ALPHEUS HAYES, Coal and Timber Merchant. WILLIAM COLLINS, Manager. Also on hand, BEST NATIVE COAL AND



INTENDING PURCHASERS OF CLOTHING FOB THE SPRING AND SUMMER SEASON Should visit the NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory’s BRANCH, Where they can select from the LARGEST VARIETY OF. FASHION ABLE GARMENTS, Manufactured from sound and reliable New Zealand Tweeds. The well-known reputation enjoyed by the Firm of Selling a GENUINE ARTICLE AT WHOLESALE PRICE Has resulted in an increase of Business during the past season, ann they can now boast of having Twkntt-one Retail Branches in New Zealand, thus enabling them to increase the Factory produce, economising both msterial and labor, ann ensuring to their patrons a further benefit in the shape of a still iLowkb Rate of Wholesale Price SHIRTS, UNDERCLOTHING, BATS & CAPS, PORTMANTEAUS, And every requisite at Wholesale Price. Ashburton Branch : EAST STREET. GRAIN SEASON 1884. mHE NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND JL MERCANTILE AGENCY COM PANT (LIMITED). Capital £3,000,000. Reserve Fond £210,000. RAKAIA, CHERTSEY, AND METHYEN AGENCIES. Mr 0. W. TURNER, the Company’s Local Agent, will be in regular attend ance at CHERTSEY: ON TUESDAYS, from 11 a.m. till 2 p.m. METHYEN; ON THURSDAYS, from 12 till 4 p.m. RAKAIA: At all times during the week. Every information as to Cost and Arrangements for SHIPPING GRAIN can be obtained on applicatipn to C. W. Turner, AGENT, 2 358 Rakaia, Ohertsey, and Methven. F YOU WANT GOOD AND STRONG FURNITURE, GO TO DAVIS’S CHEAP FURNITURE AND RED DING MAN U FACTORY, EAST STREET SOUTH. ASHBURTON. EVERY article Sold at Christchurch Prices and best of material and w erkraanship.



FUNERALS CHEAPLY & COMPLETELY FTJKNI3HED N OTIOB to farmers. The Undersigned are CASH PUR CHASERS of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Peas, Beans, Rye-grass, Cocksfoot, Butter, Cheese and Potat jesat HIGHEST MAR KET RATES. Liberal Cash Advances made on Grain sent in for Storage at our Brick Granary at Addington, where, if necessary, ar rangements can be made for Classing, Cleaning and Grading all descriptions of Cereals at moderate rates. The machine in use for this purpose was specially se lected by Mr George G. Stead during his recent visit to Europe, and we can with the utmost confidence recommend this Grader, being similar to the one in use by the New Zealand Grain Agency Com pany, Limited,. To those who are de sirous of shipping to the European and Continental Markets on their oyn mt oupt, our charges *nd arrangements will com pare favorably with any other agents in Canterbury. No Commission or Interest charged on advances against shipments. Prompt and original account sales ren dered. WOOD, SINCLAIR & 00., Millers and Grain Export Merchants, i. 'ant for Ashburton — 3 840 F/FERRIMAN.