COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Gqakdian Office, Monday afternoon. Mr T. Bullock reports on the horse market fruffre week ending Saturday, July 25th : There was a very good attendance, and more aairited biddings evinced than lor some months past. As a proof of this, oat of 25 entered including special entries, the whereof them were sold, excepting two j but - at the same time I should mention the prices 11 W»i'in hntmnrh hirhr- than what have been ob tained at previous sales. Out of the total --entry of 25, 23 were sold as follows, viz. draughts of a good stamp, L2O 10s to ' la< : ■ ditto rather lighter, LrS to Ll 9 los; lom of a similar description brought Ll 7 to LlB iosj aged, pretty good, Lio to Ll2; mine three years old, two brought L 23, two-year-dd colts, Lll 10s to Ll2 xos; jrear * La 10s to L$ Ss ; light harness horses, ‘mod, Lioto Ll 4 10s. A number of inferior ditto and also hacks changed hands at about ’ same prices as were ruling last week. ’ also sold the well-known bay mare Twilight . 'for Li 7. , second-hand McCormick twine binder brought LIO los; McSherry drill, Lao; dray, Lia ; double-farrow ploughs from L 3 10s to> L 5; a quantity of harness, harrows, etc., at lull z market rates.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Tuesday, Joly 28 Messrs Matson, Cox and Ox, at the Tinwald Saleyarda—Stock Hmnauv, AUGUST 1. Mr T. Bullock, at the Arcade, Barnett Street —Hones snd Sundries * .MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, Ere. MnspiY, AUQUsr 3 .Arcade Chambers—Star of Ashburton, U.AiO.D,, at 8 o’clock Barough Council, at Borough Council *Ohsmbers, at 7.30 Orange Hall— Parliamentary Union, at 80 V olook Tuesday. July 2s Ashburton Volunteers— Meeting at Mr T. IL.Zoaoh’a grain store - - Feiday, August 7 Lonbgesch Road Board at Road Board ''' Office. . - ~ Satubday, August 8 awhbttrton County Council —At Council j .. Chambers, 11 a. m.

NOTICES TO ADVERTISERS.

Advertisements for The Ashbubtos most be sent in not later than S p.xn., withthe number of insertion, ' ifnttan plainly on the copy, otherwise they will be inserted until counter manded, and charged accordingly. Re * 61*66 Advertisements must be supplied previous to that on which they re to be inserted. , Special notices can be received up to 8.30 p.m., but will be charged double ates. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Ptytlis must be accompanied by the sig - = of the sender, as a guarantee of ood faith. All advertisements and business miters be addressed The Manager ; literary - aOßUmnuoations should be addressed to The Editor.

MAIL NOTICES.

•WaUrn blow at the Ashburton Post Office ‘ ‘ foUows: — For; Christchurch and North at 6 a.m. 10.30 fcm-, and B p.m.,daily. For CffiertsejrKakaia, &&, at 10.80 a.m. lad 6 p.m. duly. . - For DonediiijTinTrald, Winslow, Hmds, ' gjMjfrtroam Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, Geraldine, at 10 a.m. dally. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., For Timara and South, at 6 a.m., 10 4.30 p.m., daily. - For Gieenatreet, on Wednesdays and "Saturdays, at 10.45 a.m. Foe Wakanui, Elgin, Seaview, Seafield, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satvqayi, at 6,30 a.m. For tlount Somers, daily at 430 p.m. For Mayfield and Buapnna, on Mon days and Thursdays, at 430 p.m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, at 480 j p.m. daily. 1 ForFteuuDgton, on Mondays, Wednes - okn, and Fridays, at 430p.m.' For Rowlands, on Tuesdays and Fri days at' 10.30 a. m. arrive at the Ashburton Post From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.15 *lO., AB6 p.nu, and 7.20 p.m. From Chertaey, &o. at 10.15 a.m. and 455 p.m. daily. From intermediate places at n,m. daily. From Temuka and Timaru at 10.40 a.m. tf,so p.m., and B p.m. daily. Item Greenstreet, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10 a-m. From Mount Somers, daily at 10.5 tf, in: - From Wmyfiwld and Buapuna, on Wed nesdays and Saturdays, at 10.6 a.m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a, m. daily. From Rowlands, on Tuesdays and Fri |hm Flemington on. Tuesdays, Thurs * lays.andSatnrdyaa, at 10a.m.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, JULY 27, 1885 The Education Statement.

The statement delivered by the Minister of Education in the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening was essentially a personal one; Mr Stout took particular care to make it distinctly understood that he was simply expressing his own individual opinion on the subject of education, and that this important question-was upon which the Ministry were by no means agreed. Under these cir cumstances it is not surprising that the Statement contains no very clear enun ciation of the future policy of the De partment; it treats mainly with sta tistics and generalities, and adroitly avoids everything that could be repug nant to members of the Cabinet hold ing views contrary to those entertained by the Premier. If we may gather anything from the Statement it is that the Minister is favorable to a consider able amount of attention being given in our elementary schools to technical education. “He had,” he said, “in cluded drawing among the compulsory subjects, as it was a first step to a technical education, but he would not enforce this subject in the higher standards at once. He proposed, how ever, by the adoption of drawing copy books, and by only requiring at first what may be termed an elementary pass, to lay lines for the development of drawing. He also proposed that attention should be paid to elementary science, and believed that elementary science can be taught, not from text books, but by the teachers, and that it should be taught to our children from their earliest years, and without any technical names. Geology could be called earth - knowledge, botany plant knowledge, and so on, and principles of mechanics could be taught without text books by means of object lessons. In country schools teachers should be able to give a special bias towards agriculture, and in schools in various town districts special bias may be given towards those manufactures that had been, or are likely to be, established in these towns. He entertained a hope that perhaps from private munificence, if not from Government aid, we may see established, at all events in each large centre, some working schools where the handling of tools may be taught to children, if only for an hour or two a week.” This bias of the Minister towards technical education we hail with satisfaction. There can be little doubt that much useful knowledge could be_ im parted to children if the simple method suggested by Mr Stout were adopted and intelligently carried out in our State schools. With the present syllabus there is a very obvious danger of a child passing through the course of a State education without becoming acquainted with the practical applica tion of much of the knowledge it ac quires. None of the class books pro vided are of an eminently practical character; some, to our mind, are most unsuited to the purposes they are in tended to serve. In the larger schools it is impossible for the teachers to de vote any time to the elucidation of the moral and economic lessons which Mr Stout has found pervading the familiar literature of the class room. The sys tem lacks vitality and adaptability; it involves the maximum of labor and the minimum of results; it neither attracts the child nor stimulates the teacher. Were the system changed as suggested by Mr Stout we are confident most satisfactory results would follow, but we are again confronted with the ques tion of cost. There are already indi cations of wide spread opposition to the magnitude of the education vote ; any proposal to increase _ that vote would undoubtedly fan this incipient flame into a formidable and possibly destructive conflagration. If we are to give more attention to technical and se condary education, we must reduce the cost of our elementary, schools, and possibly this is the true solution of the difficulty. It is notorious that in large centres of population—Dunedin in par ticular occurs to us as we write—-a con siderable proportion of the children attending the elementary schools are mere infants; in short, a large part of the .education vote is expended upon the maintenance of a State etiche. The Act provides that every child between the ages of five and fifteen shall attend school, but children below the age of five are not precluded from attending, and by permission of the Committee children above the age ©f fifteen may be admitted. From recent figures we find that nearly $ per cent, of the chil dren attending our State schools are below the age of five, and that per cent, are above the age of fifteen; the two classes involving an additional tax of about Lso.ooo upon the public re venue. We can quite appreciate the motives that induce parents to consign children of tender years to the discip line and comfort of school life, we should be sorry to deprive them of such a ready convenience; and we can con ceive circumstances which might render the admission of children above the stipulated age desirable, but, as we have already observed, the exigeheies of the colony demand that if we are to have ■ technical education we must provide for its cost by retrenchment. If the Act were amended to fix the School age from seven to fourteen, with a pro vision that children not of school age might attend op payment of a reason*,

able fee, a saving of nearly L.40,«00 would be effected, and if the compul sory clauses were vigorously enforced the sum of public education would not suffer by the change. We repeat that we hail the Minister’s suggestions with satisfaction, but we may at once recog nise that their adoption would entail additional expense, and that that ex pense cannot be provided for by addi tional taxation.

A public meeting will be held at the Saleyacds, Tinwald, to-morrow at 11a.m., to disease the Government proposals in respect to the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway.—A meeting for the same purpose will be held in the Town Hall at 7.30 p.m. to-morrow. A sharp shock of earthquake, lasting for three or four seconds, was felt in Ash burton at 7- 46 o’clock last night. Letters of naturalisation, under the Aliens Act, 1880, have been granted to John Adam Berg, blacksmith, of Ashbur i ton. An advertisement in the current num ber of the Gazette invites applications for the office of Librarian of the General As sembly Library, at a salary of L3OO per annum.

The special orders of the Ashburton County Council, in respect to the Long beach and Coldstream Road Board district, are published in the current number of the Oaaette.

It is with sincere regret we have to re cord the decease of Mr William Harris, late proprietor of the Winslow Hotel. Mr Harris has not enjoyed robust health for some years, and his death, which occurred on Saturday, was not wholly unexpected. The Wellington correspondent of the Press, telegraphing in reference to the railway returns, says :—The Hurunui- Bluff line is responsible for the whole of the falling off in the June quarter. In deed the loss on that section is more by some -L3 000 than that for the whole colony, but the profits on the Auckland and Wellington section make up this much.

The New Zealand exports for the Jane quarter show a large increase in coal, L27>162 against L 21,85 1 There is a de crease in gold of L 171,695, instead of L 179.250; a fair increase in timber and kauri gum, salt beef, butter, hides, lire stock, preserved meat, flour, malt, and leather; a large increase in frozen meat (value L 145.993, against H 06.005); a very large decrease in wheat (L 66.202, against L 223,393) ; bacon and hams, rab bit and sheepskins, tallow (L 61,366, against L 80.405) ; wool (L 488.901, against L 526.121); oats (L 75,586, against L1U,983), &c. Lingard’s Panorama, Views of Scotland and the Soudan War, will be exhibited at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Wills street, on August 11, 12, and 13. The Wyberf Reeves Oompany will appear at the sami hall on August 28. The following is the order paper for the sitting of the Ashburton Parliamentary Union, which takes place at the Orange Hall this evening.—Question: Mr Eeir to ask whether the Government intend tak ing steps towards procuring a steam fire engine for the Borough of Ashburton Motion : Mr Moss to move, “ That in the opinion of the House it is desirable that the East and West Ooast Railway should be constructed by the Government, and not by a syndicate. ” Orders of the day : Bankruptcy Law Amendment Bill, con sideration of Report -Non-political Rail way Boards Bill (Hon. D. H. Brown), Giraing and Lotteries Act Repeal Bill (Hon. E. G. Crisp), Cremation Legalising Bill (Hon. D. H. Brown), second read ings.—Fire Brigades Bill (The Premier), first reading. We understand that it is the intention of the Premier to submit a resolution approving of the proposal made by the Colonial Treasurer “in another place,” for the purpose of carrying out the contract in reference to the West Coast Railway. The handicaps for the hunt Club Steeplechases, declared on Saturday night, are published in another part of this issue. The Ashburton Quadrille Assembly will hold a “long night” on Wednesday next. Owing to the space occupied by our telegraphic summary of San Francisco mail news, “ Southland Notes,” and a quantity of correspoudenoe are held over. The usual monthly meeting of the Upper Ashburton Road Board was held at the Board’s office, Tiuwald, to-day, when all members were present. Correspon dence was received —(1) From the Secre - tary for Mines, asking the Board to send all mineral products collectable within their district to the Indian and Colonial

Exhibition, Loudon. (2) From the Mount Hutt Road >oard re storm water pro posals.—The Clerk’s report was read, and it was resolved to defer striking any rate for the present. Some unimportant busi ness haring been transacted and accounts passed for payment, the Board adjourned. At the Resident Magistrate’s Oou-t this morning, before Mr Thomas Bullock, J.P., Charles Ryal, against whom a pro hibition order was issued soma time ago, was fined 20s and costs for drunkenness.

We take the following from telegrams crowded out of this issue : —The lonic has arrived at Rio Janiero.—A shook of earth quake was experienced on the West Coast of both islands shortly before 8 o’clock last night.—The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce has expressed an opinion that it is not desirable to put an end to the San Francisco mail service, but that the cost is too high. The same body has recorded its strong objection to the concessions to be granted to Messrs Meiggs and 00. in respect to the East and West Coast and Nelson nil way.—The Kaixoura left Capetown for New Zealand on July 25.—A very voluminous telegram from the Blenheim representative of *he Press Association contains nothing of in terest to persona residing beyond the con fines of the much flooded village,— Joseph Moore and Selena Moore have been charged with attempting to poison the parents of the latter in Wellington. Tic-Dolourenx, Toothache, /or any other neuralgic pain speedily yields to Baxter’s Anti- Neuralgic Pills. Flies and Bugs.—Beetles, insects, roaches ants, bed-bugs, rats, mice, gophers, jack-rab bits, cleared out by “ Rough on Rats.” The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents. 3 Obstructions el the kidneys and attend an orgaps will prove fatal if not removed by Hop Bitters. Read.—[Advt.] August F^oWer. —The most miserable beings in the world' are those suffering from dyspepsia and liver complaint. More than 7£ per cent of the people are afflicted with these two diseases and their effects; such as sour stomach, sick headache, habitual costiveness, palpitation of the heart, heartburn, waterbrash, gnawing and burning pains at the pit of the stomach, yellow skin, coated tongue and dis agreeable taste in the mouth, coming up of

food after eating, low spirits, etc, Go to your druggist and get a bottle of august flower. This valuable medicine hag cured thousands and thousands of sufferers, and is known in all civilised countries. Two doses will relieve you. It costs only 3s 6d a bottle. Sample bottles, fid.—fADVT, Holloway’s Pills. —The sudden changes frequent fogs, and pervading dampness sorely impede the vital functions and conduce to ill health. The remedy for these disasters lies in some purifying medicine, like these Fills, which is competent to grapple with the mis* chief at its source, and stamp it out without fretting the nerves or weakening the system, Holloway’s Pills extract from the blood all npjcious matters, regulate the action of every disordered prgan, stimulate the liver and kWheys,'■'and relax toe bp#els. In curing chest complaints these Pills are remarkable effective, especially when aided by- friction of the Ointment on its walls. This double treat ment will ensure a certain, steady, and bene ficent progress, and sound health will soon be re-esUbUsaed,—Advt,

A highly successful entertainment was I held in the Fiemingcon schoolroom on Friday evening under the auspice* of the j Flemington Blue Ribbon Gospel Temper* anbe Sooiety. The Rev A B ake presided, and there was a large and appreciative audience. The choir having contributed two hymns,.and Mr Abbot a recitation, the Chairman briefly introduced Mr U Cape-Williamson, who delivered a lecture on “Alcohol, not a necessity to human existence.’’ The lecturer said bis conclu sions, were based on scientific research and chemical experience, and to demonstrate his theories he conducted several chemical experiments. The lecture was of a. re* markably interesting character, and the apt illustrations made by Mr Williamson were followed with marked attention. The lecturer, on resuming his seat, was loudly applauded. Miss Holland then sang “ Drink from the Well,” and was compelled to respond to an encore. Mr Dunn, who appears to enjoy a good deal of local popularity, sang. “The Tern* perance Crew.” Master Robert Oroy re cited “A Daughter’s Influence” in a very creditable manlier, and Mr Abbott secured an encore for his pleasing render ing of “ The Anchor’s Weighed.” Mr W. Harding then rose and proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Williamson for his able, exhaustive, and instructive lecture. Mr Harding appropriately ex pressed the •'society's appreciation of Mr vVilliamaon’s efforts on its behalf. The vote was carried by acclamation, and Mr Wiiliamson in responding said he wished it to be understood that he did not pose as a total abstainer, he had simply stated 'facts borne oat by science and medical testi mony. Mr fi. Antrobus propbied a vote of thanks to ths performers, to Mrs Hard ing for presiding at the harmonium, to Mrs Williamson for the loan of the instrn ment, and to the Chairman for presiding. Mr Antrobus referred m highly eulogistic terms to the good work done by the Chairman, who bad always shown the most lively interest in the spiritnal, moral and temporal welfare of the people in the district. The vole was carried by accla mation, and several cards of membership having been distributed, the meeting closed with the Benediction. “Staying” Powbe. — It will be interest ing to athletes, and to all whq value the power of . physical endurance,.* to know that at “ home ” and in the ais'er colonies an article has of late years come, into general use, which is very strongly re commended as being an exceedingly plea sant beverage, and which yet imparts, in an unusually large degree, what is expres sively known as “ staying power,"—in other words, nutriment and strength. We refer to Oadbnrv’s “ Cocoa Essence ” Why be sick and ailing when Hop Bitters will surely cure you? Read and knew.— Wells’ “Rough on Corns.”— Ask for Wells’ “ Rough on Corns.” Quick relief complete, permanent cure. Corns, wans bunions. The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents. 3 ,0 —— l —

LOCAL BODIES FINANCE AND POWERS BILL.

The following is the Hansard report of Mr W. 0. Walker’s remarks oh the second reading of the Local Bodies finance and Powers Bill: Mr Walker—l think that some of the opinions expressed by the honorable gentleman who last addressed the House suggest that this B|tl has perhaps other merits than he has mentioned. I think, for instance, the fact that it brings the local bodies and the people face to face with what are legitimate local burdens is a most important feature in favor of this Bill, because 1 think, if we consider local finance, or provincial finance, or whatever we may call it, wo are, in fact, endeavor ing to solve to-nightp in the consideration of this Bill, a question which has been a difficulty for many years in this Assem bly. We must remember that there is a constant tendency on the part of the localities to put their burdens on the Qeneral Government. The inherent de fect of Provincialism was. that it was always endeavoring to place certain of its burdens on the General Go vernment, and it could use such politi cal pressure that the General Govern ment was obliged to take them. It was this difficulty, as far as 1 recollect, which really caused the downfall of the provinces —and it was with a sincere hope that this difficulty would be for ever and ever done away with that 1 and many others in my part of the country cordially supported the abolition of the provinces. I remem ber very well the state of things which prevailed in the provincial days in the dis trict I now represent. The suburban dis tricts around Christchurch wore able to look after themselves, while the districts around Timaru and Gladstone were pro tected and supported by special Acts passed by this Assembly; but the. district to which I belong bad qo such opportun ity of getting what were its rights, and its proper share of the revenues of the province ; and the result was that wo, at all events, if no others, were heartily glad when that state of things came tojan end/ However, that is perhaps wandering away from the question; and I do not want to revive any of those -old difficulties, any more than to say that 1 cordially sup ported the abolition of the provinces at tha 1 . time, first, because I thought it. was going to put an end to difficulties which are facing us now, and which we are trying to meet; and, secondly, for the reasons which I have shown,and reference to which I admit, is out of place on the present occa sion. However, this question of local finance was undoubtedly the cause of those troubles in the days to which 1 refer, and it has been this difficulty that all local government reformera have had to fctrngglq, with ever since. That is the difficulty which has on several occasions been | attempted to be' met and settled in this Parliament, but which, I am bound to say, no one can assert has been satisfac torily settled up to the present time. In fact, there are certain subjects which up to the present time have been absolutely neglected—for instance, especially the subject of hospitals and charitable aid. I venture to say that the proposals of the Government with regard to that question deserve at any rate the moat favorable consideration at the hands of the House, because the Government have certainly endeavored to settle the question In what appears to me to be a fair and equitable manner. I waa sorry indeed to hear the representatives of certain town popula tions say that those proposals are injurious and unfair to them. Ido not thinly they , will work unfairly to the towns'; and, at , any rate, I see this merit in the proposals , of the Government : that these institu- ( tions will be in the hands of the people , and in the hands of local bodies, and will ,

be satisfactorily and economically man* I, aged. ff these institutions are treated in I; the manner' in which they ought to be ■ treated, they will be worked muck mot * economically, and those who are unfortu nate enough to require assistance will feel they are reclving it from those who are unfortunate enough to require assistance will feel they are receiving it front those whose duty and right it la to administer to their necessities ; and in many other ways 1 think that the administration of these institutions under * the new sys tem will be satisfactory. Of all the measures which have been devised for the settlement of local finance on a satisfac tory basis, I must say that 1 think that the o!d principle of devoting a certain per centage of Land Fund for opening up the country as settlement advanced is the most satisfactory and the most justifiable- This house for a short time gave us the benefit of that system, and it was tbor odgbiy satisfactory-as long as it lasted; but, unfortunately for the douatry, the Souse assented to the projposltion of the

Government to take IromAhe local tames that which was their life and bm. Since then they have been obliged tdpa* pend upon their u : And what little aatiafaotion could hi, srkracted from the Roads and Bridges ConstrnotionAct. L maintain that, by means of thoae sdt#tl which are proposed to be siren, we are reverting to a certain extent to the old principle of assisting the -local bodies put of the Land Fond, because I contend that, as the General Government is re* ceiringthe .Land Fond, and ha* taken to itself that which the local bodies had, it is now, by giving these snbeldies, only giving them what they would have re* oelved from the Land Fund. I consider that this .House is only doing an iaot of justice to those who have been deprived of what waa justly theirs by their proper right. Therefore I cannot agree with the honorable member for Egmont, who seems to object to the principle of giving’anything out of the consolidated re* venue for the maintenance of these roads. He seams tp think that the proper ope of the consolidated revenue is not to assist in the work of settlement, but I do not see how, the pro* sent population will ever have leas taxa tion upon their shoulders unless they as sist to pnt upon the land mote settlers who will help to bear a share of the har dens. That Is a true and fair principle which we most have regard to in dealing with this question, and I think it is good policy that present settlers should devote a part of tbair taxes to assisting to pnt other settlers on the land to help to share present hardens. Ido not like to say mash about the Roads and Bridges Con struction Act, because I believe that even those gentlemen on (he opposite side of the House will admit that it was to a cer tain extent a tentative meaanre, and, like everything human, was hardly perfect At all events, there is ,no doubt that, whatever its merits, it was'‘intended to be and was actually adapted rather for dis tricts which were young and in their in fancy than lor more advanced districts. Bat, in addition to those districts, dis tricts such as I represent require assist ance for works of a kind which did not come within the meaning of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, and which that Act was not intended to assist. In the district I represent, although our roads are fairly well made, still there are other works equally necessary, to which the County Council haa devoted a great deal of time and money. I speak of water-races, bridges, and other works which would enable the country to be settled.

Major Atkinson—Yon coaid have got money for them under the Act. Mr Walker—Well, it is my opinion that the Act was not intended for districts! such as 1 represent, and, if any confirms- 1 tion is needed that 1 speak the opinion generally entertained in that part of the Middle Island, it will be found in the re plies sent from the local bodies in that locality to the circular which was issued by the Government in IBS2, which were pretty well unanimous in condemning the Act as useless for their But to return to the principle of subsidies, i would point out that it is a principle of f, of distribution which was admitted I in 1876 to be valuable, though, it I was departed from in favor of the pro vision which gave the local bodies 20 pet * cent of the Land Fund. As long,as the * Land Fnnd was available, no doubt that 1 was preferable even to the snbaidifis; but ' as the Land Fund no longer exists, I > think I have shown that the subsidy * system is perfectly fair and perfectly > justifiable. I would also point oat that 1 it is a provision which has existed for a 1 considerable time ia thd colony of Vio- I toria, where for years past they have bwn ■ dependent upon a like method of distri ' buti m. After many years* trial the sys -1 tom has not been abandoned, but it is L still in force, and seems to give every ’ satisfaction. The system here proposed 1 is similar to that in force In Victoria, * and the only detail on which it differs is * one in which 1 think aif improve ’ ment has been effected in this 1 Bill. Under the Victorian Act the shixss 1 all receive pound for pound, irrespeo ' tive of their position and their wants, ‘ irrespective of whether |they are olose to ' large towns or whether they ate in out -1 lying districts; whereas, by this BUI, it ia 1 proposed to recognise that there is a great 1 difference between districts, and that 1 those which are settled do not require so * much aid as those which are not. There ' fore, I think that the proposal of this Bill 1 in this detail is an improvement cm that ' coptained in the Victorian Act One 1 sentiment expressed during this debate ’ has rather astonished me, and that Is that ’ the local bodies are not to be trusted in 1 the matter of borrowing. astonished 1 me because my experience of local bodies and their borrowing ia that, whenever you 1 attempt to borrow, when that borrowing will place additional burdens on the rates you find the people extremely chary of the proposal; and, as one who has had 1 some experience in patting the machinery of local Acts into force, I can assure the House tha* there is no proposal more diffi cult to get the ratepayers to assent to than that of raisin? a loan, even for the. pmst necessary purposes, andl am satisfied it was only the extremely large proportion which was given by, the Government to what had to be raised locally by the people that made borrowing so general under the Hoads and lsridgee Construc tion Act Had money been granted on less favorable terms the ratepayers would not have borrowed such large same. However, as far as this BUI Is concerned, the (government have promised to take out the borrowing powers, so. that I need .not refer to that further. I only wish to say, further, that: I hope i the Government will yield, a point with regard to districts where there are both Road Boards and Counties. It would be extremely unfair that the Road Boards should get 20s in the pound and that the counties should get nothing. 1 trust the Government will agree to a proposal to divide the amount between Road Boards and County Connells. There is another point: I should like to see, ia any local government measure passed by this Honse every inducement offered to districts to amalgamate, because, although 1 do not wish to attempt .to deprive ratepayers of any possible opportunity of representa tion on Road Boards and otherwise if they think them necessary, still, in their own interests, and for the economy of work ing, I should always be inolined to let Road Boards and County Councils, or a number of Road Boards, merge as much as pjssible into one another. I trust, therefore, that every inducement wUI be offered to districts to amalgamate. I trust that this Bill will be read a second time, and that it will be passed In a shape that wjll make it a useful measure for the regulation of local government in New Zealand. *

CORRESPONDENCE.

Wdo not hold ooftelvet cecpcndble lot tht jKpmloiu by oor gangi|i<iiiiifi^

CHORAL SOCIETY.

To in Knm. Sim, —Now that th» election and School in h lo I tt?Sbana Society. Tide Society mw started not* ih-m i t~it ritfr mil Hi mnnstnisiliiilrflMl. I beUm, about sixty. Ini} »>—«pi* x ,^s^ss^arsS v Th« i *j of th« B«n ” ' siah”—neither 0f.., which wee , ■oeoflw. “H.M.B. Pinafore* maaft pat on tK# board*, ud toe laimil ww crowded hooMMib pertains line ü Bo . for, so good,” say? the onlooker. Bat «M . the Society itaHad t» a money-making . ipsculstom, nr aserh frSi'pSßplrijS'llilU vats their mnsloaliaoaltiaa—toreheeresand lawn good argument «u pat forth that opens ware ths oajrjnodao* * tioas becwisl t»*£(*fplo "■ who wonid patronue'hlgh-otaaa raiuio tyn not sufficient to warrant the perform vice - of ssered oratorios, andthe oxtstaoceyof the Society dependsd oo - the pnMio. ▲boat tkree-foartbs of the Society do olioed to take part ia opens: seam of them on ooooaat of religious Dceiodiees. nod tome thinking they were unfitted for open ringing, end tbe ekege lJUbto to lower their dignity. When these wood people found. that lending numbers olthe Society were determined to pat forth nothing hat opens,they qaiflty refrained frometteodlng rehearsals. The Society hna to pay a conductor—Mr Sidney this gentleman's wage depends <9l the proceeds of the concerts. It is to his Interest to produce the jooet profitable work. Opens suit Ur Wolf ■' better then snored music; he does not enter into the spirit of toe them* of the letter. Perhaps a leading tenor or ben could take a principal l per* in aa opera, . where acting is mostly needed*, and Jd fail utterly in a solo in an, -oeatortn. Nearly everything potato iat'wvr jot opens; bat why should the sobScdptitoe . of n large number of people. toAteesmA'-' and their interests be not studied! ‘'One way out of the difficulty is torasanatraok the Society, nod work it on entirely dif* ferent principles. Wby should the Society pay n professions! man to do what it has been proved could be done without hie bought aasiaknnoe- We have several gen tlemen in Ashburton who an quite coin* potent to control toe rehearsals of (he Society, if it kept to oratorios, motetts, and muaio of each kind, bat who |re quite oat of .their element in . operas —one is to be found in the AngtU can Oharoh. one in toe Presbyterian Church, one in the . Wesleyan, and there might be others, hot it would be a difficult thing to persuade theta to accept the position on account of Mr Wolfe prestige. The Sooiety ie composed of people who wooid get on well enough with a patient conductor. If cue of thee# gentlemen were kind enough to take the position one expense Would be saved. Another question—Why shouldthe So-' doty depend on the general poblk’elmost entirely for support I Sixty rtsmbon- at halfa-crown a quarter, would, keep ’the Society afloat The entertainments eodld be free, with a collection for a charitable purpose perhaps, after expenses, which need not be heavy, w«# pW4 , If the Society were to practise every week motfo that voeallsts oonld enjoy, and not burry them before the public, toeir nil ofatem bers wooid soon contain' more than a bnadrvdnamee. Many people would join the Society then for thelovC ofmneio.. The next meeting of .the Society Ml not be held for a fortnight, so therru plsnty olAjmefiwLeaßsMaiitotoß. „,It.fro r ataga-straok members insist In operas let them organise an opera Society. * - rmoi -atc,, ’V-'Bun.

SPORTING.

ASHBURTON HDHT.CLUB^ ' " STEEPLECHASES. "' T ; i The following weights hare been do. dated lor the Ashburton Hunt Ohtb Steeplechases to be ton oq August 7 ; SAtfDIOAP BWBSUt BI.CS. ' at Ih j ' si 1b- Oaptain ...18 7 Teaser *,,.10 7 . 831 Allen ‘l2 7 Boomerang 10 7 Bqbtnn ... U 7 Danp’Brisn 10 0 Robinson Wuahul ... 10 0 Crusoe ... 11 0 Sir Jolias.., 10 0 Wrangler ... 10 7 J Darkey ' 10 0 HUHT djBA OOP, j, . Otinidale ...13 7 Trust * .» 111$ Victor ... 13 7 Jester ; ... 11. A Doverfdge Lsgkyr • 0 (late Sefton 13 3 Jasper ; ... 11 0 ■ Coryphee ... 13 0 Boomerang ’H 0 Captain ...,12 0: i/.v , j HWJMBS’ fUX SACS. . „ Life ■ Buoy Panic ... 12 0 (late Bally) Id 0 Bnbina ll 10 Victor ...13 3 Robinson-<t Premier ... 13 0 Crusoe IT S Ormidale ... 13 Q Boomerang 11 3 Coryphee ... 13 0 Ruby ... 11 0 Dove ridge Starling ...11 0 (late Befton 13 3 Sir Julius U 0 Bin OHJ^3TOHUBOiSST*3|uB STBSPLBOHABBS- ‘ . The following nominctlonir'vare re ceived on Saturday night Cor the meeting which Utc&s place on Aqgnat 12j— ' { THS BUST CLUB «AXI>IOAF StTSariJtOHiSa. Madge Coryphee Dovoridge (late Encore Sefton) Netherby Reindeer Ormidale Cardinal Medico (lata Black Liberty Doctor) Bredon Hill (late Royalty Dandy) Victor TBS TlltY-HO PUT* &TSRPLtOaA9a. Doverldge (lata Wild Flower Sefton) Ada Chance The Joker Banker Pater Captain Presto (late Ton'll Rataplan Do) Trust Liberty Jasper Colleen Dawn Charlie Cook Robin *} Bredon Hill (late Pantaloon » Dandy) ■ Liberty m om hakdiolp nruruosAsu. Madge Unwood Liberty Ravaaswood Polly . King Arthur Loch Lomond Moody ‘ ihb ammcßa' hobdps um, Orescent WiMlJwwer - Madge The Joker Fairy Cordage Idle Buoy (lata Hedioo (late Black Bally) Doctor) Doveridga (late Presto OateToull /• Befton) Do) jm Reindeer- Royalty Chance Victor Trust Cook Robin Premier PiliHn ; - Peter Osbeck Bataloos I thb lomnß* tux uon 1 Zoo Mistake^ Boflkrd Derrisfard LadySnearwell Übstto Chance Pstar^«abodt Banker Nsthasby . ~ - Cardinal

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, JULY 27, 1886



*VTT ANTED Known—Wertheim Sew ; y\ r • jog. Machines be had on Tune . Payments at tbs'. New Zealand Clothing JfoctorVs Branch, Bast atreet, Ashburton. . 2 276 STRAVTtn into onr paddock at Tin mld a Bed Heifer. Owner can bare came by paying expenses. Olabk 7 251 H. J. Wood & Co., WHOLESALE AND RETAIL STATIONERS, iMzect Importers cl Books, Magazines, Newspapers and Fancy Goods, Engravers, Lithographers, Printers and Bookbinders. W"„ „ have much- pleasure in informing onr valued customers and the public wnn»»«Hy that we have opened a Branch of onr well-known Christchurch badness. Temporary premises and office in the XqwH W«» Buildings, Ashburton, under •’ management of Mr L. F. Andrewes Hate Andrewes Bros). Orders for Books, Stationery, Magazines and Newspapers xaoeived by Mr Andrewes and executed nbmptly from out Christchurch stock, which is the lairgest of it kind in the colony. ' Store* and Schools supplied at onr ' . Wholesale Prices. Jbllmktea given for Printing and Book, binding, H. J. WOOD & CO., _ ' Stationers'Ball, ,'ikh Bigh street, and 9 Cathedral Square, Cnilatchuroh ; and Town Hall, Ashburton. ■■ '■ ■ ' h Having purchased the Stookfof Books, Fancy Goods from the uarignee in the estate of Mr L. F. iwec, we propose bolding adesring and a quantity of other -"• V^fddt' at -.Less than Half Coat for fourteen days, jgfrfflW 2d per quite; Music tWlor'Sß pieces; Toys at any price to ' -All linw not dispos'd of in this riJl bepol| l?y Ano.ion. ioeounts to th paid to Mr L- F. B-Si collecior for the Assignee. HiJ«WOOD & 00, m



Wanted VX7ANTED Known—New Music; New * * Sene* ; large Pie and good Coffee at Davis’s Coffee Rooms this week. 7 261 rSTAKTED—A •» App’y to' Winter’s road. . good General Servant. Mrs- White, Larkbeare, 7 241 VKT ANTED TO L=.T A good Six • » roomed House, with good garden ; rent 10s per week, Apply, W. O. Page, Grocer, East street. 7 248 WANTED Known that I am not the Reynel summoned by Orr and Alcorn in the. Resident Magistrate’s Court.— Alexander Reynel, North-east Belt. 7 258 WANTED — A steady young Man as Ploughman where no other handa aie kept. Apply, John Emerson, Epper ston Farm, Hindu. 7 237 \\ WANTED Known—That I am selling W Venus nailroad, 6a 6d per lb; Venus navy twist, 5a 6d per lb ; Venus twist, 5a 6d per lb.— P. Clare, Hair dresser and Tobacconist, Bast street. , __ 7 97 CX7ANTED Known—That I am selling * * Concertinas and Accordians at greatly reduced prices.— F. Clare, Hairdresser and Tobacconist, East street. 7 98 WANTED Known—That I have a very large assortment of QBD's, Meer schaum and other pipes, in cases, at greatly reduced prices.— F Glare, Hair dresser and Tobacconist, East street. 7 99 TJS7 ANTED Known—l am selling large * * boxes of Bryant and May’s vestas at 8d per box.— F. Clare, Hairdresser and Tobacconist, Bast street. 7 100 WANTED Known —24 men’s sac coats, 12s 6d; 16 youths’ aac suits, 21s 6d ; 100 men’s Kaiapoi trousers, 11s 6d ; Brussels carpets at 3a lid.— Andrew Obr’s cheap sale. 7 96 WANTED Known—Ladies’ hose 6d, girl’s 4d per pair; 12 doz dress button, la ; towels, 4d ; stays, la lid ; fur caps, la. A. Obr’s cheap sale. 645 WANTED Known—Boys’ cloth tarn o’shanters, la 6d ; boys and girla’ boots, 3a 9d ; men's boots, 6s 9d; women’s kid, 6s ; men’s hats, Is lid ; braces, Is ; men’s Kaiapoi trousers, 11s 9d per pair. A. Orb’s cheap sale. 6 46



WANTED Known—Fingering wool, 2s 6d per lb ; black cashmere, Is 4d ; white calico, 2s lid per doz; ribbons, 4d per yard ; four-button silk gloves, Is ; new flowers, 3d per spray ; ladies' ulsters, 5s 6d; umbrellas, Is lid each. A. Orb’s cheap sale. 6 47 WANTED Known that B. Lancaster's Pork Sausages at 6d per lb excels any other in the Canterbury province. Gash buyer of bacon pigs. R Lancaster Ready-money Meat Mart, Bullock’s Ar cade. S 774 TXT"ANTED Known—That Hates and » » Co. has bought 1009 yards superior Velveteen, all shades, from 1s; dress goods grand value, worth 2s, now Is; ladies’ jackets, coat 29a 6d, now 4a 6d ; hats and bonnets half-pricej winceys, 1 yard wide, 6d ; ladies* ulsters, 2a lid. 687 WANTED Known—That T. Hocit has commenced Bacon Oaring, and having purchased a first-class sausage machine, he will be able to supply the wants of the inhabitants of Ashburton with a real good Pork Sausage. Fresh every day. Only good corn fed pigs bought. 5 711 WANTED Known— Jones and Brad shaw are offering a superior blend of Nelson, Moate and Go’s Tea, at 20s per box ; Flour, 18s per sack ; Chaff, 35s per ton; Wheat, seconds and crushed, equally cheap, for Cash. WANTED Known—We are offering our whole stock of first-class Dra pery, Millinery, Jackets, etc, at greatly reduced prices to .clear out stock before moving into new premises. If you want good value for your money give us a trial. Dress Staffs, B£d and Is (under wholesale prices). H. 0. Skqkrs, East street



Special Advertisements. MISS STEANE'S School will bo post poned until further notice, on ac count of illness, 7 240 J-JOMESTIO PATTERN DEPOT. Mrs Hodge, DRAPER AND DRESSMAKER, Saundeia’s Buildings, East street, Begs to intimate to the Ladies of Ashbur ton that she baa removed to the above Buildings, and that she has received a consignment of Orewel and other Wools. Ladies’ and Vhildreo’s Underclothing made at the shortest notice. REGISTRY OFFICE . For Female Servants nUPPORT LOCAL EXCELLENCE. U T. A. GATES’S SPECIALITIES T. A. Gates, Cabinet sc Pictuhb-fkame Makes, PETER STREET.



gPEOIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. MUSIC, PIANOS, AMERICAN ORGANS, Etc, T. F. FARLEY AGENT FOB SALE OF ABOVE. All instruments «an be bought on the deferred payment system, from 30s per month. Ali instruments guaranteed to be the manufacture of the firm whuse name is upon the instrument. Price from £35. Harmoniums and Organa from £lO 10s, Thomas F. Farley, BOOKSELLER, STATIONER AND MUSIC AGENT, Saukdbks’ Buildings, East St., Ashburton.



Special Advertisements* Groceries CHEAPER THAN EVER 4F AT JAMES McGREGOR’S, Tanobbd Street (opposite the Arcade). Best White Crystal Sugar, 3d per lb by the mat Best English Cut Loaf Sugar, 44d per lb Box Tea, from 12s 6d per box A grand assortment of new tin Fish— Herrings in Shrimp, Tomato or Tennel Sauce; Kippered, Spiced or Devil’d Herrings; Digby Chicks or Findon Haddocks, at Is per tin Fresh Herrings, 7d. Best Oysters, 6d Muir's Oatmeal, 3s 9d per bag Salmon, 8d Best Gutting Brand, 9d Mackerel, lOd Sardines, 6d Full sizes new Figs, 9d per box Cadbury’s Cocoa, Is per tin Fry’s Ooooa, tin or packet, Is 6d per lb Biscuits, 3d Cheese, fid Best Rice, Sago and Tapioca, 3d per lb JAMBS McOREGOR, Tanored Street. 12 2342 W. H. Zouch BEOS to notify that he has taken an Office in BAKER’S BRICK BUILDINGS, Havelock street,' and is now prepared to undertake all kinds of Commissions which may be en trusted to him at extremely favorable rates.



FOR SALB—2SO acres of fair quality Land near Ashburton, at L2 per acre. Terms the easiest. AGENT for the Phcenix Fire Insurance Company and the Mutual Life Assurance Society of Victoria, and for various large Manufao torers and Importers in Dunedin " and Christchurch. 7 206 FOR Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis,' Asthma, Coryza, Influenza, Con sumption, etc. KAf’S Compound of Linseed, Ani seed, Senega, Squill, Tolu, etc with Chlcrodyne. KAY’S Compound, a demulcent ex pectorant, for Coughs, Colds and Chest Complaints. KAY’S Compound, for Coughs and Colds, is equally serviceable for Horses and Cattle. RAY’S Tic Pills, a specific in Neu ralgia, Face Ache, etc. Contains Quinine. Iron, etc. CO AG OLIVE Cement for Broken Articles. Sold everywhere. Sole makers— KAY BROS., 101 Stockport, England, Extraordinary Sale OF A WAREHOUSEMAW’SiSTOCK OF SILKS, VELVETEENS, CRETONNES, CASHMERE MITTS, &o. Colored Silks Colored Velveteens Costume Tweeds Bought at 70 per Scent discount. Do you realise what this means, viz that silks 6s yard cost us Is 6d 1 , Bought at J dis | count, and will be I offered to the public London prices. Knockabout Tweeds j Goods in the usual ... f way costing say 2/6 } the yaH, we only J paid 1/8 for. , Bought also at J dis count, which will enable us to .sell at less than invoice price. It is a won derful reduction on regular safe goods of everyday demand ) 114 doz, bought at j 40 per cent discount Bought at 60 per cent discount, 10/9 Goods for 3/9 Bought at 76 per cent discount, and sold at 6Jd. —Pull sized cotton shirts. } Bought at 90 per cent discount, and sold at 9d for 12doz or Id the ooz. Black Goods Cretonnes .. Skirtings .. Silesias Men’s Moles Cashmere Mitts ... Infants’ Polkas ... Blue Wool Repps... Cotton Shirts



All perfectly New Goode, The Purchase only effected last week. The whole will be shown on Tables in the Centre of the Shop, aud not in any way mixed with our ordinary Stock. SALE NOW ON. H. E. May & Co., THE HALL, CHRISTCHURCH. H B NEW ZEAL ND Clothing Factory 0 O N T rTo TORS To 'ha New Zealand Government Bail* ways. Post Offices, Volunteer Corps, &c. &c. &o. Are now prepared to enter into contracts for the supply of NAVAL AND MILITARY UNIFORMS in any quantities, the organisation of the Factory being specially adapted for turning out large supplies in the most inexpensive and expeditious manner. ARMY AND NAVY CONTRACTORS Estimates and drawings supplied on the shortest notice. Head Offices and Factory— DOWLING STREET, DUNEDIN. NOTE -Measures for all uniforms may be entrusted to the Manager of the N.Z. Clothing Factory branches in the follow ing centres, viz:— Dunedin Nelson Palmerston N. Invercargill Hokitika New Plymouth Camara Greymoath Napier Waimate Beefton Waipawa Timaru Wellington Hastings Ashburton Masterton Gisborne Christchurch Wanganui Thames Lyttelton Hawera Auckland



Victoria House. TjXJIv the Convenience of all whom it may Concern— A BABB OPPOBTDMTY 1 LASTING FOUR WEEKS ONLY ! REDUCING STOCK Prior to arrival of Spring Goods. TO EFFECT A CLEARANCE, REDUCTIONS IN PRICES Have Been Made UPON ALL GOODS Equal to THREE SHILLIaGs, in the Pound. For Convincing Proofs- see Windows. ALL FINE ART GOODS Ten per Cent over Coat. Dimant and Coe. DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, &0,. Silt wad Tauowd Streets, Ashburton Victoria House.



Special Advertisements. DO you want cheap Pipes? Then go to R. SEVAN Do yon want cheap Books f Well, pay a vle.it to U. SEVAN la it cheap Stationery yon want? Get it from R. SEVAN Do you want cheap Toys and Fancy Goods? Go to B. SEVAN Do you want cheap Outlery ? Well, why don’t yon visit R. SEVAN Do you want cheap Jewel* ler? In Sterling Silver or Plated goods ? Goto B. SEVAN Do you want cheap Accordi* ans or cheap Ooncertlnas? Well, give a call to R. SEVAN I There is a very large Stock ►. g g of NEW GOODS to be "g gS £ sold wholesale and retail, ,£ g g and if you want anything .a 3 in this line really cheap 0 «* ” yon’should call and see R. SEVAN BOOKSELLER, STATIONER, Em, Saunders’ Bdiumno, (The next shop to Quill’s Hotel )



Pompous Highland laird to strange policeman, who had dared to pats the great man without touching hia bit; “ A constable ought to be the very pink of politeness, and should touch his hat to hia superiors. lam the Maotactan of Mao tartan, and all these mountains belong to me, sir!” Policeman : “ They’re nae In my beat, though.' 1 Now money is so scarce it behoves every one I to be on the alert and endeavor to make.their twenty shillings go as far as posable. One I glance at H. E. May and Co.’s advertise ment, which appears in oar columns this even ing* should convince one and all that the pro prietors of The Hall, High street, Christ church, are determined to do their part The {(rices quoted for the various items are, we be ieve, lower than on any previous occasion, and should Induce all buyers f Drapery and Cloth iogto give them .1 ,



Catarrh of Hl* Buldtab, , T .rotation, inflammation, all »nd TOmpUunte, cored by N><Si Gwnl Agcdis, -A