RAILWAY TIME TABLE.

Trains Arrive at Ashburton —From Christ church and the North, at 10.15 a.iu. (express), 4.35 p.m., and 7-10 p.m. From iimavu, 10.45 a.m. From Dunedin and South, o-A p.m. '(express). From Mount Somers, 10.5 a.m. . , Trains Leave Ashburton —For _ Cnnst huroh and North, at 7.10 a.m., 10.55 a.m., end 5.37 p.m. (express). For Dunedin and aouth, 10.25 a.m. (express). For iTmaru, 545 p.m. For Mount Somers, 5.5 p.m

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office For Christchurch and North at 6 a.m 10.30 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10.30 a.m and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a. m. daih*' For Temuka, at 10 a.ra. and'4.3o p m for Timazn and South, at 10 a. m., ana 4.30 p.m., daily. For Greenatreet, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10.4.5 a.m. „ c ~ For Wakanui, Elgin, Seaview, oeabeld, nd Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6.30 a. m. _ For Mount Somers, daily at 4.30 p.m For Mayfield and Buapuna, on Mon days and Thursdays, at 4.30 p.m. For Ashton, Watcrton and Longbeacn, »t 4.30 p.m. daily. For Flemington, on Mondays, W ednea days, and Fridays, at 4.30 p.m. For Newlands, on Tuesdays and in at 10.30 a.m..

Mails arrive *1 the, Ashburton Post 0 From Cliristchurch and Rakaia at 10. lo .m., 4,35 p.m., and 7.20 p.nu From Chertsey, &c. at 10. io t and 4.36 p.m. daily. , From Dunedin »nd Intermediate places at daily. __ , n From Temnka andTimaru at 10.40 a.m up 5.30 p.m daily. , , From Greenatreet, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10 a.m. ... From Mount Somers, daily at J-U.o

* From Mayfield and Ruapuna, on Wed oeadays and Saturdays, at 10.5 a.m. From Ashton, Watort.on, and Long each at 10 a.m. daily. , ~ . From Newlands, on Tuesdays and In days, at 2.30 p.m. From Flemington on Tuesdays, Thur*

days, and Saturdays, at l° ;t - ,n -

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1886. HAKATERE TOWN BOARD.

School,

A poll for the election of five persons to serve as Commissioners on the Hakatcre Town Board will be taken at the Hampstead Schoolroom on Satur day next between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Seven candidates for seats on the Board have been nominated, and a considerable amount of interest is already displayed in the approaching contest. A majority of the candidates have no public career to which they can refer, but they are all tolerably well known to the ratepayers, and, without drawing any invidious distinctions, we may urge upon those interested the desirableness of selecting representa tives who will give earnest and con scientious attention to the important duties they will be called upon to dis charge. Too often, in local elections, a number of voters give their support to particular candidates on purely personal considerations, without any serious regard to the qualifications of the aspirants for office. It is almost unnecessary to point out the dangers and unfairness of such a course of pro cedure, and we trust the electors of the new Town District will be guided in their clioice of representatives by the business capacity and general fitness of the candidates, and not, in this par ticular case, by the social geniality or plausible professions of Mr Smith or Mr Jones or Mr Robinson or any other pe son who Jmay have a special and personal interest in the result. ' The Town Districts Acts, ISSI, furnishes the following definition of persons en titled to vote at the election; —

“Section 17 —Every person whose name shall appear on the Electoral Roll for any riding cf the county within which the district is included and who shall own or occupy property situate within the district shall be entitled to vote at the first election of Commis sioners prior to any rate being levied under this Act.”

The number of votes each ratepayer is entitled to is set out in Section xS as follows: —One vote for a rateable valua tion less than LSO; not less than' JLSO but less than Lroo, two votes; not less than Lxoo, but less than Lxso, three votes; not less than Ll5O, but less than L3SO, four votes; five votes for a rate able valuation of L 350 and upwards. The voting will be regulated by the same conditions as applied to municipal elections; i.e., an elector may votegfor one or five or any intermediate number of candidates. As the boundaries of the Hakatere Town District are of a somewhat irregular and ill-defined de scription we have had a plan prepared showing clearly the limits of the dis trict. The plan is now open for in spection at the office of this paper.

Mails for the Australian Colonies only, via Melbourne, close at the Bluff, per Tarawera, Noon on Friday. The second day’s racing of the Heathcote Racing Club’s May meeting was held yester day, The programme was made up entirely of trotting events, and was gone through very satisfactorily. A numrer of sporting gentlemen hold a very enjoyable coursing meeting at South Kakaia on the Queen’s Birthday. Mr John Irwin as judge, Mr Magson as slipper, and Mr H. Heard as flag steward, discharged their respective duties most satisfactorily. It will be noticed from a communication by our Wellington correspondent, appearing in issue (which was also published in our second edition yesterday), that the members of the House of Representatives especially interested in the “ cheap money ” question have reccorn mended the Colonial Land Association to abandon the Land Association Bill and assist in the passage of a draft Bill pre pared by Mr Maoandrew the member for Fort Chalmers. The authorities entrusted with the adminis tration of The Sheep Act have stationed Mr Sutton, an Inspector from the North Island, in Ashburton. Mr Sutton is intrusted with the supervision of the district lying between the Rakaia and Opihi rivers, and is instructed to vigorously enforce the penal clauses of The Sheep Act, 1878, Amendment Act, 1881, with regard to owners Dejecting to dip sheep infested with lice.

While making his Financial Statement in in House of Representatives last night the lolonial Treasurer said it is proposed that the Hit Exhibition shall take place in Dunedin

or Cliristchurch, about the end of 1887, in time to forward the exhibits, if it be so de cided, to the Centennial Celebration Exhi bition to bo held in Sydney in 1888.

We are informed by our Mount Somers correspondent that the Inspector has not yet paid his promised visit to the Mount Somers

The Contractor for the extension of the

railway from Cavendish to Mount Somers is making good progress with the work. A large number of men, horses, and drays are em ployed in forming the road-way, and the pretty little township of Mount Somers boars quite an animated appearance. Several dwellings have recently been erected in 'ho locality.

The annual concert in aid of the Presby terian Church Fund for the united districts of Methven, Alford Forest, Mount Somers. Rangitata and Springburn was held at Springburn on Friday last, may 21st. The Hev. D. McNeil presided. He called upon the Secretary, Mr T. E. Tomlinson, to road the annual report, which, after touching upon the chaotic state of things 5 years back, reflected with pleasure upon the order and kindliness

exhibited at the present time, all the districts concerned contributing a fair share towards the minister’s stipend, now no longer dopend-

ing upon spasmodic “ cheques on account” from various well disposed supporters. The report was passed with acclamation. The programme of the concert was then gone on with, Messrs Buochler (organ), Price (violin), Voalo and Vinton (Ist and ‘2nd cornet), and Brough (Euphonium), performing an overture in good time. The llnvs A. M. Beattie, J. Stewart, and A. Blake, each gave a short address. Perhaps the best received item in the entertainment was an an original poem, read by Mr Tomlinson, comparing the so-called “ good old time” with the present settled social aspect of affairs. Mr Vinton’s recita tion, “ The Firemans Wedding,” was rendered with considerable force and pathos. Mr Kneen of Ashburton received the lions share of applause in the musical selections played and sung by him. Miss Dick, of Ashburton, gave the “ Scottish Blue Bell and “ Killarney ” in excellent style. Miss Ollivier was also heartily applauded, as was Miss Price, whoso assistance is always to bo relied upon when a good cause ia in hand. Votes of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who had contributed to the evenings amuse ment, and to the Chairman for officiating brought the entertainment to n close. The amount realised will be about £lO. It will be noticed from a j/n'ri* we publish in this issue of the Financial Statement de livered in the House of Representatives last evening by the Colonial Treasurer that the Government propose to set aside £II,OOO for the extension of the railway from Mount Somers to Alford Forest. At the Resident Magistrate Court this morning, before Mr D. Williamson, J.P. and Mr D. Thomas J.P., Mary Cunningham was charged with having been drunk at the Rail way Station on the 25th inst, and also with having made use of obscene language on the same date. On the first charge the accused was fined 10s and costs, with the alternative of 18 hours imprisonment, and on the second, ordered to bo imprisonment tor three months with hard labor. A first offender for drunken ness was lined 5a and costs. The Directors of the Ashburton Saleyards Co. met yesterday to consider the suggestion made in respect to the removal of the yards to a ' site within the borough. The Directors arrived at a determination upon the subject, and communicate the same to the Borough Council at its next meeting. In the mean time the decision of the Directors has not been allowed to transpire.

CHEAP ADVANCES UPON LAND.

[from our own correspondent ] Wellington, May 25.

A meeting of members favorable to the above was hold this morning Present— Mr Itoss (in the chair), Messrs Macan drew, Turnbull, Bathgate, Sutter, Hatch, Holmes, O’Callaghau and Steward. Apologies were received from Messrs Walker and J. McKenzie. The Draft Bill, under the auspices of the Colonial Land Association, on the line of Nr Newlyn’s schema was read, as also a much shorter Bill prepared by Mr Macandrew. The masting was unani mous in considering tno first-named Bill too complicated and that the Bill pre pared by Mr Macandrew would better servo the object in view. After discuss ing the whola matter, it was moved by Major Steward, a-.conded by Mr Hatch, and carried—“ That this meeting is of opinion that the object of the Land Association Bill, viz., the cheapness of m mey advances on land, would be better achieved by the draft Bill prepared by Mr Macuidrew, which is at once of wide scope and much more simple in its de rails, and that the Colonial Laud Aasooi atlon be strongly recommended to adopt the latter in preference to the Bill for warded to Mr Ivess.”

SSjThe folowing is the text of Mr Macan drew’a Bid :—Whereas the development of the agricultural and pastoral resources of New Zealand is greatly crippled by the high rate of interest on loans, and whereas it is expedient to make provision whereby advances on the security of land may be obtained on moderate terms, be it there fore enacted, etc. (1) The Bho't title of this Act shall be the Public Advances on Land Act, 1880. (2) Any individual or co partnership owning land registered under the provision of the Land Transfer Act shall, on application at the Land Transfer Orifice of the district within which the land is situated, be entitled to receive by way of first mortgage, for any period not exceeding years, an advance on the security of the said land ; each advance shall not exceed in amount (one half) the value of such land as fixed under the provisions of “The Property Assess ment Act.” 1885 or any other Act that may bejiassed in that behalf, and shall in no case exceed the sum of L2OOJ to aoy one individual or c'-partnership ; the interest on such advance shall be at the sum of 4£ per cent, per annum, (3) The land m respect of such advance shall bo conveyed to and vested in the Crown until principal and interest are duly paid, and thereby such conveyance shall be effected free of cost to the m rtgagor, or by endorsation thereof on the certificate of title and registration of the same in the Land Transfer Office books. (4) The interest on every such mortgage us aforesaid shall be payable half-yearly to the Land Regis trar in the district in which the land la situated, or to such other person as the Ueceivor may appoint. (5) In the event

of the pay meat of such interest being at any time in arrear for six months, the District Land Registrar, or other person to whom the same shall be payable, shall forthwith dispose of the land in 1 respect of which such interest has not been paid, such disposal to be by public auction to the highest bidder, and the proceeds, after deducting principal and arrears of interest, together with costs of sale, shall be pa d to the mortgagor. (6) Every adv moe on land as hereinbefore mentioned shall be paid in Now Zealand Government deben urea of not less than LSO each, having a currency of years, bearing interest at the rate of per cent, per annum, with coupons attached Principal and interest shall be payable at the Colonial Treasury or in London. (7) Every deben ture issued sa aforesaid shall, together

with the interest thereon, on presentation | at the Colonial JTreasury, at any time, be convertible into -State promUoory notes oi one to five pounds each, which uot '8 shall not bear interest, but shall he legal lender throughout Now Zealand. The holders of such notes shall be entitled at any time to have them re-converted to intoree! bearing debenture! as aforesaid cn application at the Colonial Treasury (8) It shall bo lawful for the Governor in Council from time to tine to make such rales ant regulations as m>y be deemed necessary to give effect to this Act, an' for the riue administra'ion thereof. -Such rules and regulations shall bo published in the New Zealand Governnlaui “ Gozatto," ami shall have the sain- 1 force and < ffe.it before any Court of Law in th • colony, as if embodied in this Ac y . Members gen rally are now of opvMor that in Committee the proportion of a ■ vanca to value might bo raised to two thirds, and that the maximum of indi vidual advances might be increased.

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Wellington, May 25.

The Colonial Treasurer, Sir Judas Vogel, delivered his Financial Statemen in Committee of Supply in the House this evening. The following ia a precis of the Statement Revenue ano Expenditure of 1885 6.

ir Julius V-gel, having referred to the fact that this is his tenth Budget, said :

Tho last fin-nci 1 year commenced will; a surp us of £l9 891, and it closed with a surplus of £37,859 Tho balance of cash and of advances ia tho hands of officers at the end of the year was £ll2 859 and there were £75 000 of deficiency bills out standing Deducing tho onr. from th other you have the surplus I have men tioned. When I made the Supplement ary Statement last year tho surplus estimated was £19,000, but increased supplementary votes and an over estimate of £SBOO of the accretions of the sicking fund dissipated the surplus, and left, according to tho estimate of expenditure and revenue, a deficiency o' £O2 The estimated revenue has proved less than was estimated by £1954. and the expenditure leas by £39.875, deduc ting tho £O2 and the £1954 from th; saved expenditure, you have the same result of a surplus of £37,859 ihe principal reduction m the estimated ex peiiditure was ia the item of subsidies for local bodies. A great deal of it, however, will come in for payment during tho pre sent quarter. There wis a saving in the defend expenditure of £lO 446 and various reductions in other depar'merits, bringing the total savings up t) £109,240 ; bu 1 , on the other hand, were i here excises of expenditure amouuting ia all to £60,365 The principal items contributing to this amount were interest and sinking fund, under-estimaled £21,473 ; charitable ail, £13,984 ; printing and stationery, £1622 ; property tax on account of triennial vauiaiion,| £2545 ; posal and telegraph, £2278 for repairs aid £4743 nonuses earned by mail steamers in excess of estimate, and services not provided for, £9238 The revenue, as i have said, falls short of the estimate by £1954 The Custom? duties were £15,175 sturr, the stamps £4891 ; the railways, £5695 ; the Marine, £1876; and tho D (pasturing Licenses, £13,166. On the other hand, there was au exce-a on the item Registra tion Fees of £l6 >O, and £37,8i9 on the

item Miscellaneous. Of the latter increase

£25/0.) ia duo to the Sinking Fund, r leased under the Public Debts Sinking Fund Act, 1808, on account M excessive accumulation, and £19,000 to i tarest re ceived on public m mays. Tne total amount of revenue under the estimates is £41,509, and over the estimate £ <9,585 ; the difference between the two gives the net under-estimate of the revenue £1954, to which reference has before been made. LIND FUND The land fund account had a balance at the commencement of the year of £11,931, and at the end of the year there was a de ficit of £29.384. This evidently unsatis factory result ia but the consummation of a series of diminithed receipts, not com pensated sclii fientdy by reduced expendi ture. I find that besides the Crown Laud Department and survey expenditure charged on the laud fund, there is debited to it the amounts paid for Crown and Native land rates. Increase of these rates, and delays in the receipt of amounts falling due under the deferred payment system, have lessened the revenue of, and increased the charges on, the land fund.

It was frun this fund that the Roads and Bridges Construction Act was to be sup plied wit'! m ans, and it seems to me the ct fall thr-ugh when alt chance of moneys being available for its pu r p >ses from the land fund ceased to be poss bla. The item of Native rates charged to the fund is a very disturbing one. These payments aro made on account of Native owners, and tre recoverable as the land is sold. To make them a charge on the current revenue is, neither in spirit nor letter, consistent with the principles to which effect is designed to be given. The best r< medy 1 can propose la that the total amount of these payments shall be treated as advances from the public works fund, reducible by receipts from time to time recovered from the Natives, and an item that may fairly be recovered is the coat of the survey and expenses attending the sales of land put apart for the Little River and Akaroa Railway. Undoub ledly it never was contemplated that the proceeds of the reserves should be freed from the ordinary payments of sut -.73 and the expenses of disposing of the land. PUBLIC WOK KS FUND, 1885 86

There have not been any new loans negotiated since the House was last in session, but an instalment of the third million of the Three Million Loan, and the proceeds of the Million and a Half Loan have passed to the credit of the fund. Since the end of the financial year i f 1884 85, including the balance at the end of that period, the total receipts of the fund amounted to £2,840,166 An amount of £600,000, representing tem porary advances of the previous year, was repaid during last year, and £IBB 300, districts railways, appears on both sides of the account, the purchase price and the value of the debentures representing it having passed through the fund. sho ex penditure out of the fund during the year was £1,287,086. This, and the other two amounts mentioned, from which shillings and pence have been eliminated, deaucte.i from the total, will leave a balance to credit at the end ox March last ot £768.780, which includes advances in the hands of imprestees. As pointed out on previous occasions, there is always because of these advances less money really avail able for expenditure than appears from the gross balance. The obligations which remain to be fulfilled make it necessary that fresh means should be promptly pro vided. At present the only other means existent is the North Island Trunk Rail way Loan. The early meeting of Parlia ment will enable a decision to be more promptly arrived at regarding a n- w loan. I should like to send Home the necessary authorities for raising such loan in tim - to enable it to be raised at an early date. The nominal effect only which is given to the purposes for which the money is borrowed is mischievous to the colony and unfair to the lenders. The Government think that the proceeds of ■ future loans, and the loan for the North Island Trank Railway, should bs tied 1 down for the purposes for which they are 1 borrowed, and provision to give eff ct to 1 this restriction will be proposed to the I Assembly, >

THE PUBLIC DEBT AND LOAN CONVERSIONS

The amount of the public debt on the 31st March was, as nearly as can be eati mated without an exact analysis of the lata coqvenuWß, 1431,865,2221 The

v <uiu if of the accrued sinking fund was

L3,27d,H7 !, and the net debt was therefore L 31,058 349 It ia to be remembered thac

die tendency of the conversions which have be in going on so Urgly is t-

increase the nominal amount of the deb l , bu; to decrease the annua: charge Con version operations have proceeded on a largo scale, since the meeting of Parlia ment, cf bonds tn the amount of £lO,l-53,600, for which terms of conversion were offered ; £4,137,700 hum been brought in. We are rapidly bringing our securities intojearrying « lower rate of in terest. Soon there will be no part of the debt bearing interest at more than 4 per cent., and the grateful task will fall on a future Treasurer, I venture to pred’et, or converting the 4 per cents, into 3 or 3|

par con 5 Tup: Deficit of 1883 4

The House last session did not appear to have any desire to see tlie deficit of 1883-4 speedily extinguished out of the current revenue. Viewing the present condition of industrial occupations within the colouy, it may be well to follow the example the others are setting, and to hold the amount in suspense It is not desirable to take £150,000 from the imme modiate necessities of the colonists, but 1 am aveise to permanently funding the deficit, and I propose to provide for it by transferring it to five years’ debentures to bo held within the colony. They can bo taken up and extin guished as circumstances justify such a course.

Finance of Local Bodies. Sir Julius Vogel having referred at length to the provisions and effects of the Hoads and Bridges Construction Act said : —The present Government approve of

none of tiiese points. They doubt the necessity or expediency of drawing so broad a line between main and district

works They think it unwise to protide funds for local bodies out of loans raised for colonial purposes. They disapprove of the responsibility cast on the Public Works Department, or of requiring Par liament to determine the main roads. They do not see sufficient reason for applying to the two classes of works dif ferent plans of obtaining money, and they think a system of finance of a more liberal character should be accorded to the local bodies. Shortly their prop isal is, that on tlie ratepayers shall depend the responsibility of determining and accepting or of refusing works, and that when the ratepayers approve money should be pro vided to the local bodies ou very liberal terms. These terms are a payment of 3 per cent per annum for twenty-six years, secured on spec'al rates, the colony to be responsible for the payment of the principal sum, and to meet it by setting aside yearly a sinking fund of two per cent to redeem the debentures at maturity It is proposed'hat Parliament should determine from year to year the limits of the amounts to be available to the local bodies, but t’>at in the absence of any other provision the amount will stand authorised at not exceeding £200,000 annually. It is intended that these loans shall be only for country dis tricts, and that the storage of water for irrigation and mining purposes shall be amongst the objects that local bodies I may carry out. I have thus ex- I plained to you the substitute for the Hoads and Bridges Construction Act

I It is evident, however, that, with this I prospective charge, the Government can not recommend the subsides proposed last year, which in large' part were meant to provide a substitute for the repealed .-vet, bat thsy are reluctant to do away with the subsides altogether. It was, in a measure, on theatrengihof them that the Cbarrable Aid .\ct was passed. With regard to that Act, I must interpolate a few words. The object of the Act was not so much to save thaOulonial Governmentfrom expenditure as to relieve It from the duties it could ill discharge and to cast them on the local bodies and private individuals, who where well able to fulfil them. The Act has answered on the whole. The management of all the institutions will be improved, whilst a great many have attained to the highest degree of development in the shape of separate iic >rporation. The feature least satisfactory is the disposition to raise special rates instead of leaning on voluntary donations Reluctantly the Government yielded to the pressure exerted to give the same amount of subsidy on account of money raised by rates as on account of voluntary doaotions. They will propose now to slightly increase the subsidy on voluntary donations, to arrest the tendency to which t have referred of raising by specie! rates the money required. To return now to the subsidies, the Government propose to limit the annual sum to £150,000, of which half

shall come out of the loan money for the present. It is not intended to make the appropriation permanent, although it is believed that Government should each year make a little provision. This amount it is estimated will provide, besides the liabilities, the same subsides as granted last year, namely, half the schedule rates included in the Local Bodies' Finance and Powers Act, but only three-quarters to be payable within tbe financial year, and the fourth quarter during the three following mouths.

0 LOANS XO FARMERS ON MORTGAGE. 3 The Government have not overlooked f the report of the Select Committee last 5 year-on the subject of reducing the rates 1 of interest farmers have to pay for loans on mortgage. Interesting information > relating to the course of procedure in some 1 European countries will ba presented to i Parliament. I regret to say lam not able . to make proposals on the subject, if the Government were to enter the held as a s lender of money, it must obtain that i money somewhere. In European coun -1 tries where Governments do this sort of I business, there is a sufficient market for f he securities that provide the meney, but i n the colony there is not, at present, hough I do not think that it will be long i o. There is no sale for 4 per cent securi ies at even large discounts, and 5 per ent bonds hardly command par in small uamities, whilst considerable quantities ould not te placed. To lend by giving o the borrower debentures, which he would have to sell at a discount, would mean to give him less money than the loan purposes, Take an example—Suppose that a person on a propertv worth £2OOO borrows £ISOO, and that he is paid by debentures current in the colony only. I take dadentures of this kind because, if they are negotiable in Great Britain, they would come under remarks I shall pre sently make. I need only now say, t arenthetic dly, that If payments were made in English debentures it would be better in every way that the Government should negotiate them in bulk and pay in money. To return to local debentures Supposing they bore 4 pec cent, interest and were current for fifteen years, as pro-

posed by the Select Committee, I am sure they would not realise as much aa £9O per £IOO, and that they would be only saleable in small parcels, whilst if they bore five pot cent, interest they will not realise much, if anything, over £95 per £IOO A larger currency might make the Five per Cento more valuable, but it would make the Four per Cento less so. Sit Julios Vogel adduced several i lustra tions in suoport of his contentions, and addecf :—Within the last two years only there has been a fall all r uud in the rate of such interest of about 2 per cent., and that fall is c mtinuiug. Doubtless it may not felt so much by borrowers of small amounts, and were the Government to di any hing they should confine there opera tions to small loans, but even then they are not Imeiy to be able safely to mnci mt rove on what private competition wil be able to do, and their entry into th fiold would drive away private oompetitio; to an extent that might ultimately prove mote iojurtoT# tq bonowen thro would

be repaid by any temporary advantages they gained. The stand the Government now take is that at present the colony's credi 1 : would suffer by their entering into Uio business, and they are hopeful prtvajfs rntertjris: will give such relief to the small farmers as will render Government interf recce unnecesfary, They recog nise, however, that the subject should be watched and further consideration given o it.

Estimated Exsenditure 1886-87. The estimated expenditure during the present financial year amounts to £4,070,208. which is £49,155 in excess of the estimates of vote-, and £89,030 in excess of the expenditure of last year. The exc ss is fully accounted for by three items, viz. ; —On Education, £20,978 is estimated to be required more than last year; on subsidies to local bodies, £39,368 ; and on working railways, £07,225. The first of these increases is the representation of the yearly growing educational demands. The second has been already explained. Tim third is consequent upon tho larger mileage being

worked. The net profit on railways is estimated at £38,471, in excess of last year. When the increases which I have explained on the three items are deducted, tha balance of the estimates shows a leas total anticipated expenditure during the yeaf than the actual one of last year of £38,540. There have been the usual additions to salaries under £l2O. The proposed increase of salaries above that amount are very few. Each case of the kind has been most carefully considered

by the Government, and they are prepared with the necessary explanations. I en treat hoc members not to do old and tried officers the injustice m coming to a deci sion before Hearing the reasons for the few increases submitted. I confidently ask all the gentlemen who within the last few years have heln office to look into the additions, and say if they consider them undeserved. As I have stated, there are very few real increases. Some of the seaming ones are co - sequent on the removal of officers from one part of the country to another, and others are merely due to ‘he promotion of officers to fill the place of those retiring from the service. I a these instances we invariably endeavor to retrain from bringing in new officers. We save part of the money, give other officers promotion, and end with the appointment of a cadet. Thus, although the operation is slow, the officers r se, and the expenditure is kept down. Iso Government coul 1 be more anxious to reduce expenditure when they see it can be safely done. Whenever there is an opportunity of amalgamating offic s we are glad to seize it, and no effort has been, or shall be, wanting on our part to to take advantage of it. This process ia also slow, but on it depends the best hope of reduced expenditure. Sir Julius then referred in detail to the expenditure in each Department.

LIND FUND, 1886-87. The expenditure for the current year ia estimated at £l6B 752 This includes the usual charges under special Acts, sauo as the thirds of the sa'es of land on deferred payments, New Plymouth Harbor Board Endowment, and other charges ; also the Land and Survey Departments, and rates ou Crown Lands. The revenue for the year from land salos is estimated at £143,800

FUTURE REVENUE. The Customs revenue showed a de ficiency on the estimate, as I have said, of £10,170. The estimate last year was a low one, amounting to about £19,000 only in excess of tbe actual receipts of the previous year. Hon. gentleman wiil recollect that Parlia > ent authorised last session a considerable increase in the duties chargeable on wine and spirits. Notwithstanding those increased duties, the whole Customs revenue only exceeded the revenue of the previous year by £3723. Judging from the first month's return, and rrom the continued operation of the chief causes that tend to reduce the Customs receipts, I do not feal myself justified so large a enstomea re venu as that of last year by about £5060. If there had bean no excptional influence to keep down the Customs revenue, it should by natural increases during the last few years yield considerably more than £l, 500 000 per annum, whereas I am unable lo istimate more than £1,410,000 for the current year The diminished consumption of spirits and the diminished value of goods both leave the people bettor able to Veep up the gross yield of duties, and financially the Government consider it unwise to allow this great branch of revenue to lose its elasticity. The reception, however last year of the proporals to increase the Customs duties was not of a nature to indnee the Govern ment to again submit similar proposals to the same House, and with great regret they feel themselves debared from doing so. I cannot say that additional taxation is necassery this year, for it is not. On the contrary, 1 can do with lees, and I pro pose to take off one-sixteenth of a penny of the property tax, making it ihirteen sixteeatha this year, instead of seven eights This is equal to a redaction of £24,000, or oven 7 per cent of the es timated yield of the tax. 1 should have liked to take off more, and I am convinced that In every way the colony would benefit if the House were to sanction the reduc tion of the proderty tax to five-eights, and substitute a moderate increase of duty on articles (other than sugar and tea and such like necessaries of life) than can wall bear the taxation.

Eshmated Be venue for the Year 1886-1887.

The estimated revenue of the year the reduction of the property tax wIA I have described, is as follows :

Sir Jalius Vogel congratulated members upon the prospect of the early construction of the Midland Railway, and referred to other public works, and read to the Com* mittes a list of the railways to which it is proposed to devote the million and a half loan :

£ Extension north of Auckland 70,000 For doubling railway line out of Aack land southwards 33,000 Thames-Te-Aroha .. 80,000 Auckland-Eotorna .. ~ 120,000 Napier-Palmerston .. .. 100,000 Maurioeville-Woodvilla ~ 125,000 Blemheim-Awatere ~ ~ 50,000 Hokitika-Greymouth .. .. 100,000 Livingtone branch .. 150,000 Catlin’s river .. 50*000 Seaward Bush extension ~ .. 30,000 Edendale, towards Fortrose .. .. 40,000 Mossburn 51,000 Kiversdale-Switzers 41,000 Otago Central 200,000 Mount Somers-Alford Forest .. 14,000 Blenheim-Tophouse 100,000 Weatport-Inangahua . 75,000 Open lines .. .. .. .. 200,300 Raising loan and contingencies .. 93,000 Total £1,500,000 SETTLEMENT AND INDUSTRIES Sir Julius Vogel then referred «c settle ment Industries, and the general condition of the colony* end concluded by layiug

THE At>H BURTON GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1886



1886-87. IS35-S6. Esti- Esti- ! j mated. mated. 1 Actual. Customs .. 1,410,000 1,430,000 1 1,414,825 Stamps, including Post and Telegraph (cash) .. 617.500 611,900 607,000 Property Xa.\ .. 312.000 327,000 326,276 Peer duty Railways Registration, and I 1,500,000 55,006 1,050,000 55.165 1*044,305 other Fees Marine .. .. j Miscellaneous 36,00c 34,000 33,606 44,000 M.wo 32,000 69,819 Total 0-637,500 i S-S'Si.n: IJc|j.i>turiug Licenses, Rents, &c. 186,328 1 9S»ooo 181,834 Debentures for in- creases of Sinking fund .. 051,100 258,000 252,200 Total Revenue ,, 4.074,928 4,006,900 3,999,046



Wanted. W ANTED Housekeeper for a bachelor J. Fostfk. 5 .1 WANTED —Board and residence by three gentlemen. Apply, statim; terms, to XY Z , “Guardian” cilice 5 ft WANTED KNOWN —Direct Cable - Ire. h Fish and Babbits Daily, also Pig’s Heads. Smoked Fish and Oys'e-s always on hand. Geokob Gates 5 6 AN T ED SHEEP FEED for about 500 Sheep. Apply William Ivory, Hinds. VS7ANTED at once a respectable young VV Gl'dti as House-parlour Maid ; must bo willing and active ; experience not necessary. Address, A. 4) . 8., Boat Olhoe, Geraldine.



A. Harrison. Alfred Harrison, AUCTIONEER, STOCK AND r STATE AGENT AND VALUATOR. SATURDAY SALE at 12 o’clock sharp. —Horses, Cattle, Pigs, Produce and Merchandise. Agent Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company. FOR S ALE— For Sale— Double Furrow Plough by Ried and Gray, nearly new. For Sale— Light Spring Cart, cheap. Light Express Cart, in good order ; very cheap , , ™ For Sale—Cheese Press, bv J. and T. Young ( For Sale— Merry-go-round ; a heap oi money to be made at Ba.'es, School Treats, etc ; on view at rooms ; cheap. RED HARRISON.



[A Gaud.] R. M. Cuthbertson, BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR. Offices—H A VELOC K STREET (lately occupied by Mr Branson). 287 . NOTICE. Mr f, brookk-smith, a.s.a, will give Lessons in Drawing and Painting, both Oil and Water Colors. Pupils received at the Studio, or waited on at their own houses. Evening Classes will also be formed for tuition in Sepia, Indigo, and Indian Ink Painting, Drawing, Bookkeeping, and Shorthand. All particulars 'and prospectuses to be obtained from Mr T. F. Farley Stationer. Paintings on view at the shops of Messrs Farley and J ones, M 10 JgLACK, BEaTTIE & COMPANY^ Criterion House, 201, 203, 205, High street, CHRISTCHURCH. We have the pleasure to advise our Customers and the residents generally in the Ashburton District that we have "itow received Tofy large Shipments of NEWEST DRAPERY GOODS for the Present Season. The advantages which we possess in being able to bay in the Best British Markets, and the thorough experience of car buyer, enables ns to supply all Goods under OUR CASH SYSTEM of business AT LOWEST PRICES. We endeavour to give our Customers best value procurable, whatever Prices they may wish to purchase Goods at, and °"'If 4 RGE AND WELL-ASSORTED that the moat vared wants can be sup plied. We append a list of onr Depart ments, In each of which an immense Variety of most Novel and Fashionable Goods will be found DRESS DEPARTMENT HOSIERY DEPARTMENT MANTLE DEPARTMENT DRESSMAKING DEPARTMENT MILLINERY DEPARTMENT DReSS DEPARTMENT



HOSIERY DEPARTMENT MANTLE DERARTMENT dressmaking""DEPARTMENT millinery department CLOTHING DEPARTMENT UNDERCLOTHING DEPARTMENT TAILORING”DEPARTMENT HOUCEHOLD FURNIHING DEPT. olonial Manufacture from various mils. Including BLANKETS, FLANNELS & TWEEDS OP ASHBURTON MANUFACTURE. Cash System and Cash Prices. black, BEATTIE & CO. GENERAL DRAPERY WARE HOUSE, TAILOHS, DRESSMAKERS, and MILLINERS



Special advertisements. 1 /'fill MWsS fe .. 'T’i Kl RO W N Kl O N WOR K S ARMAGH STREET, Christchurch. Portable ilanges Burn Wood and Coal—ln Four Sizes, PAINTED CORRUGATED IB ON IN Five, Six and Seven Feet Lengths 40 pee cent. Cheaper than Galvanised Iron. 10 198



WANTED Known—Hayes and Co i have bought the samples of an j English Umbrella manufacturer, at a large : cdscouut. Also, a splendid lot of new Dress Materials, very cheap. Come and see them, at Hayes and Co. s, Arcade W r ANTED Known—The Gospel will be preached every Lord’s Day I evening in the Arcicle Chambers at 6,30 n.m. (l> v.) Free for all. No collection. 1 5 C 97 JAOU CASH. White Rugar, 2W ; j While Crystal, 3d ; Sperm Candles; 5(1; Lingfish, 4d ; best Lobsters, Gd ; Plaid Yestas. 5d per doz. ; Tea, Is per lb; Sago, 2id; Tapioca, 2i-d; Cutting Salmon, 8d ; Venus Nailrod, 5a Gd ; Groats, ‘.ld. McGregor, Tancred Street. \\J ANTED KNOWN—Long looked ior come at last. T. lionlt, having commenced bacon curing, ho is able to supply a real good Fork Sausage at Gi per lb at the Factory, Moure at, Ashburton. Figs cured in any quantity dried, smoked and delivered home at One Penny per lb. f, Hoult. PRESENTS 1 Presents ! We are now giving Presents to the value of 4* in the £ to every purchaser of One Shilling and upwarda on Drapery and Millinery, etc. For description of Presents see Window. Dressmaking on ihe premises. Perfect fit guaranteed. — H. C. fcEGERS, Melford House. ONTHLY ADVERTISER, issued _ by Robert Elston, Theatrical Agent and Hill Poster ; terms—4o inch apace 5s per month, centre spaces 10s ; for longer terms special arrangements can bo made ; advertisements should not bo later than the 26th ef each month. 700



W r ANTED Known— Vverthehn Wow ing Machines can be had on Time Payments at the New Zealand Clothing factory's Branch, East street, Ashburton. 2 276 STOWAGE at Tlnwald at lowest current Ratos, apply, 4 653 i-TUnDLANDER BROS. special Advertisements.



CANTERBURY MILLS, ASHBURTON. I WILL be a BUYER of UPWARDS OF 800,000 Bushels MILLING WHEAT THIS SEASON. Also some Large Lines of OATS AND OTHER PRODUCE. CORN SACKS, Fall Size and Weight, at 5a 6d per dozen. 0. W. TURNER. 340 PerD. H. BROWN. A USTRALIAN MERCANTILE UNION INSURANCE COMPANY. The onl\ Company in Canterbury WHICH DID NOT RAISE RATES 331 PER cent on Country Risks. We aru vow, as we have been for THE PAST THREE YEARS, ACCEPTING RISKS PER CENT. OFF TARIFF. W. B. MOSS, Agent roi Ashburton District. September 22, 1885. 9 615 fTIO the Ashburton Guards and Volnn- JL teers.—THE VOLUNTEER RED BOOK, containing the whole o the Exercises in Battalion Drill, Squac. —/ill, Bayonet Drill, Infantry Dnli, Etc, NOW IN. The above should be perused by all Volunteers and will be found useful to those intending to compete for Govern ment appointments. This book being difficult to procure all intending purchasers had better apply at once to T. F. FARLEY. School Committees will do well to con sider the many advantages to be derived from purchasing their prize books from me, as I am now offering prize books at very reasonable prices, in fact, at Christ church prices, and no carriage to pay, whilst my stock consists of about 3,50 d volumes. School requisites of every description kept in stock. Thomas F. Farley, Bookseller, Stationer, Printer, and Newsagent, Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ashburton. Branch Shop ; Town Hall, Ashburton.



Changed Hands 1 BRANCH SHOP, TOWN HALL, Ashburton. THE BOOK A STATIONERY Business lately carried on by Messrs H. J. Wood and Go, of Christchurch, has been purchased by rao, and at a price con aiderably below original cost; this will give my many patrons an opportunity of ob taining a number of requisites at GREATLY REDUCED PRICES. STATIONERY. —Special care is given to all orders. Promptitude guaranteed. MANUFACTURE of ACCOUNT BOOKS Having made arrangements with a first data firm for the execution of all Com missions as described above, clients may rely upon receiving PROMPT ATTENTION, first class work being made a specialty. LITERATURE, Any book net in stock will be procured without delay. Orders taken for all news papers British and Foreign included), Public Committees receiving liberal con cessions. . ' PHI -TING. Phis branch is King fostered, and every attention paid to accuracy, neatness, and promptitude in the execution of all orders, ill work receiving personal auperinteud sneo. —— delivery of newspapers. Customers may roly upon receiving thotr Morning and Evening Papers safely de livered at their doors, and not upon the front lawn. The same romarK applies to Homo Papers, Journals, and Periodicals ; also, purchasers may have their Parcels delivered promptly. Wholesale Lines Always in Stock. Brown Paper, Grocer’s Bags, lea Papers, Twine, and i'radesmen’sgeueral requisites. Bookbinding Orders Received. ,T. F. Farley, BOOKSELLER. STATIONER, PRINTER & NEWSAGENT, Saunders’ Buildings and Town Hall, Ashburton. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY. The new goods for the WINTER SEASON ARE NOW OPENED OUT. The Stock is THE LARGEST & BEST SELECTED IN THE T WN, And the variety of Stylo and Patterns in Mon’s, Youths’, and Bo\s’Clothing leaves nothing to be desired. Thousands of Men’s and Boys_ Suits, newest styles. Trousers and Trousers and Vests manufactured of New Zealand Tweeds. Every garment warranted shrunk Overcoats, Waterproof Coats and l eggings in great variety Hats, cosnpris ng every now stylo worn Children s Jersey Suits, Children’s Men of-VVar Suits Gentlemen’s Hosiery, -Scarves ; Oxford, Regatta and W hite Shirts Rugs. Portmanteaus, and Travelling Bags, The celebrated WERT HEIM SEWING MACHINE. Time Payments. N.Z. CLOTHING FACTORY, East Street,



Victorian Steam Carriage Works. J. R. STEEL & SON WISH to Intimate to the Public of Ashburton and surrounding districts that, having obtained STEAM POWER and other Machinery requisite for the carrying on their work etiiciently, are now in a position to meet the demands of the public with a fir *-olaas article at prices to suit the times. Every C. Option of Carriages and Traps made, Painted and Repaired. Spring Traps from £2O. Whitechapels from £25. Buggies from £3O. P.S.—Special attention paid to Repainting and Retrimming. VICTORIAN STEAM IRON WORKS AND GENERAL SHOEING FORGE. J. R. S. & SON, while thanking the public for their past liberal support In this department, beg to intimate tha<q having procured first-class Machinery, they are now In a position to undertake all kinds of Engineering work. Special attention is given to Turning, Boring and the Repairing of all kinds of Machinery, Including Combines, Engines, Reaper and Binders and every description of Agricultural Implements. ESTIMATES given for Contractors and Builders Ironwork, HORSES CAREFULLY HOD—Draughts, 7s ; Hacks, 6a. 8 416 Victoria House. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. SHOWING, a Splendid Assortment of the famous “ LION ” brand _l3( (Victorian) GOODS, in Men’s Plain and Fancy Tweed Suits, Trousers Trousers and Vests, Waterproof and Overcoats, Cord Hiding Pants, Printed and White Moles, Boy’s Rnicker and Beaconefield Sac Suits, etc., etc. These Goods, amounting in value to over £4OO, are Manufacturers’ Samples, cut and finished in the most perfect style. Purchase! at a heavy Discount, and are offered at a slight advance upon MELBOURNE WHOLESALE PBIOES. Our Stock of General Draperv, Boots, etc., is unsurpassed for Value. DIMANT AND COE, DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, & BOOT IMPORTERS, East and Tencred Streets, Ashburton.



0 OH TIN U ATI ON UNPARALLELED 0 F T If V CHEAP SALE U£ Mosers Friediandor Eros’ stock of Drapery, Clothing, AND Boots AMOUNTING TO ABOUT £sooq ANDUI'iW ORK having purchased tin •ibovo STOCK at a large reduction from Coat Price, is still giving it away at Unheard-of prices, Hla great object being to turn it _ into cash, no matter at what sacrifice ANDREW ORB



NOTI 0 E. IT is requested that all ACCOLNT.*- owinj' “ Tho A-offiurt >n Ouahhian Company, Limited,” up to 30lh April, be I’aid at once to Mr B. lU:ohes, whi'BO receipt alone will be a sufficient discharge. CHAS. W. PURNELL, m 11 Chairman.