THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN.

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The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1888. EDUCATIONAL FRANCHISE.

Major Steward's " Educational Fran chise Bill " recently drafted and sub mitted to the various School Commit tees Conferences, has met with most hearty approval at the hands of the Dunedin and Suburban Schools Commit tees Conference, which wo may say is the strongest Conference of the kind m the colony, not only m the number of schools represented but also m the mental calibre of its delegates. Four teen School Committees were represented at the Conference m Dunedin on Mon day, and 27 delegates were present to take part m the debate on the matter contained m the Bill. Messrs J. Allan, H. S. Fish and W. D. Stewart, M.H.R.'s, were also present by invita tion to discuss the measure, and express an opinion concerning it. Mr M. Cohen, than whom no ono m Dunedin" takes a deeper interest m the Schools question, opened the discussion and stated that he concurred m a very large degree with the provisions of the bill. " A material clause was section 2, which proposed to define the word ''house holder," and m doing so to make the franchise as wide as possible The electoral roll for the House of Repre sentatives was to be taken for that pur pose, and also parentg and guardians of children attending the schools were to be allowed to vote. Another very im portant clause was that which proposed to abolish the cumulative vote. On that matter the Conference had m years past given forth no uncertain pound. Another claneo was to provide for prior nomination of candidates for School Committees ; and the remaining <al#uses dealt with technical matters. The jGon- i ference had on several occasions passed ; resolutions dealing with matters of ad ministration. Among others was that of the inspectors, and Mr Cohen was strongly of opinion that those officers should be travelled round — that their districts Bhould b 8 changed from time to time — but that and other matters might be held over until a general amending Act was brought down., and m th« mean time they should endeavor to get the Amendments, £he desirability of which had been go often, affirmed, and regard ing which there was substantial unani mity of opinion. He considered that for these reasons all pogjsible support phould be given to Major Steward to enable him to carry his Bill, and he trusted that all their members would tmite iv agreeing with the principles." In the remarks which followed one of the speakers said he thought it was a pretty well understood thing that the whole of New Zealand <de#red the abolition of the cumulative vote. SJr Robert Stout was one who was m favor of it, but the speaker failed to under stand how any reasonable man could defend it. There were woeful examples of the wroi'jt m g °f the cumulative vote system to be fcapd throughout the colony, and men who <*&t£s nothing for their institutions, and who had no flesire for the welfare of the colony had been elected for the purpose of making fun i of the election, and to the exclusion of ' men who Imd done good service m the \ cause of education, Mr W. D. Stewart, i

1.H.8. for Dnnedin West, thought the till dealt with many practical objections 3 the present Aot. There was no oubt that the definition of the word householder" was vague and unsatis aCtory, and to its rectification and also he proposed form of nomination he was irepared to assent. The cumulative ote had been the blot m the Act that tad given rise to most discussion } but t was given for the special purpose of souciliatinur a section of the community mown to be hostile to an Act for secular sducation, and it had utterly failed to Accomplish the purpose for which it was lesigned, and had worked mischievously, rhe first question he would ask the Conference was : Should the functions )f school committees be enlarged or not ; 3hould they have a say m the appoint ment and renewal of teachers ? When a member of a school committee, he had fbnud the committee's work to be almost af a mechanical character, and that m matters of moment the Committee had very little influence. The dispute be tween the Kaikorai School Committee and the Education Board had raised for the first time -m a practical way the question of the functions of a Committee with regard to the removal of a teacher. It seemed to him a very important ques tion, and it was one that was likely to come up during the coming or the suc ceeding session of Parliament. It would therefore be reasonable to get the opinion of the Committee upon the question whether the functions of the Committees should be enlarged or re tained as at present. He thought that the theory was that the parents of the ghildren should have the control or management of the school, and it waß. undesirable that teachers who had not the sympathy of the parents of the chil dren nhould not be placed m the schools. Mr H. S. Fish, M.H.R. for Dunedin South, expressed himself as being m favor of a change being made m the definition of a 'householder,' and the abolition of the cumulative vote. Ex perience proved that Roman Catholics would not, with very rare exceptions, take advantage of the secular system of education, and he thought that from their standpoint they were right. Then, as to other sects, such as Jews and Freethinkers, it was not likely that any intelligent body of householders would decline on religious grounds to return them if otherwise they were fitted to act on school committees ; and, indeed, past experience had shown that eligible candidates were elected irrespective of religious questions and opinions. For these reasons he agreed that the cumu lative vote should be swept away. As to a remark about a sweep having been elected, he might say that he was extremely democratic, and he saw no objection to a sweep per si. A sweep was a working man, and what were they all present, with perhaps one or two ex ceptions — and they worked with their brains — but working men ? It was all very well to talk a lot of nonsense about the working man— he often talked about him himself — but the simple fact was that they were all working men. He was not m favor of the clause re defining a householder, and did not think, for in stance, that a man who had been m the colony only six weeks should have a vote. It would be far better to go by the municipal roll, or say that all bona fide residents, householders, or parents of children should have votes. There were, it appeared to him, difficulties m the way ot taking the roll for the House of Representatives as the roll of persons entitled to vote, at a meeting for the election of School Committees, and he would not be prepared, without further consideration, to allow the electoral roll of the district to be used for the purpose. As to the clause re nominations, he was strongly m favor of it, and he was also m accord with the suggestion as to the moving about of the inspectors. r Jhe outcome of the discussion was that the Bill waß remitted to the Execu tive Committee to take such steps as might soem desirable to influence the Legislative Council m its favor. So far the proposed measure is meeting with favor. It is one which will overcome many absurdities m the present style of School Committee elections, and relievo many a school district from unnecessary trouble over its annual elections.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

, — — — <»■ The New Plymouth breakwater rate is sailed, m Hawera, the " Atkinsonian blight." The Prince of Wales intends exhibiting a number of pictures at the Melbourne Exhibi tion. The new Princes Bridge, at Melbourne, which will be 90ft wide, will be ready for trafHo very shortly. Colonel Gorton has shown the editor of the " Bangjtikei Advocate " a sample of splendid copper ore found within three or four miles of Woodvillo. The spooimen was pioked by Mr Soott, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, who says that where ho found it there is a reef 12 feet wide and 7 feet thiok. A South Australian Royal Commission on teohnioßl education, whiah includes three ex* Ministers of Eduoation, is now visiting Victoria and New South Wales, and taking evidence as to the state of teohnioal educa tion m those colonies. One outcome of the Commission will undoubtedly be the estab. lishment of a school of Mines m South Aus tralia. The Auokland correspondent of the "Press" B&jQflj/ropos of the Pope's denunciation of the plan' of campaign, that the Roman Catholic olorgy la 4-U<& la > n d question the truth of the oable measag*. Arohbisnop Redwood says the Church does not interfoyg with, and has nothing to do with political intrigues and politics, and the Holy Sea will only interfere m any matter when jt trenohea upon her province, religion and morals, The Church will not uphold an immoral act, and that is only where she will interfere. There is a Bort of lynoh polios m Indiana (U.S.) known as the White Gaps. When a man has earned public censure tor mißoonduot they rouse him up m the dead of the night, persuade him to be quiet by the sight of two revolvers presented at his head, take him to a tree, tie him up, and give him fifty lashes , $t bjokory and a good deal of advioe, whioh, strange to cay. is invariably aotod upon. The White ( Qaps are r-u^ in 8 the State of objectionable persona with nßijj2J. B °i n 6 rapidity, . An artiole called " Sooial £if Q at the Capital of New Zealand " appears m the Maroh number of " Oassell's Magazine," m whioh the writer makes some remarks about colonial young ladies whioh Wellingtonians will hardly appreciate, although the article on the whole is favourable. "They aeem to me," he says, " to be either too muoh of the "prunyea and prism" order, or else going to iho other extreme j they are distinctly flirty, not to soy flighty. It ip rare to fiud that delightful frankness and abaanoo of reserve whioh, combined with the moßt porfeot modesty and maidenly aolf.reflpeot, go to make the ideal English girl so oharming. The oolonial " young lady," as Bhe prefers to be called, seems to be either looking at you with an air of frigid distrust, or reoklessly growing herself at your head. The English jTrl treau? you with a confidence that m itself iompels re'speat, *. nd when a man thinks of wooing her he does so feeling ;hat it is a pr.Yilogo not rashly tJ n ß P"*d o."

Dr Silvester, magioan and ventriloquist, 1 will appear m the Oddfellows' Hall this even ing, when he will give an entertainment which j has been moat highly spoken of wherever he j haa appeared. We hope to see a full house I present. j Full particulars of the train arrangements for the Ashburton Tradesmen's Eaoes on May 10th, and also of the exoursion to Christ ohuroh on the oooasion of the football matoh — England v Canterbury— -are announced m our advertising columns. Messrs W. Chisnall, C. J. Harper, W. S. I Peter, and John Doyle have been returned aa members of the P.mgitata Eoad Board- There was some interest Bhown m the eloc tion as is shewn by the votes polled, and the running altogether was pretty olose. The " Inveroargill News " says : — " We are informed that the N. Z. Shipping Co. intend to reduce the freights on oheese to London from Id to f d per lb., and also the freight on I mutton to l£d per lb., the latter to take effect during the winter months and the former from the Ist July next, Aa the Company have been shutting out cheese from the steamers' cool chambers at the rate of Id per lb., owing to the insufficient storage spaoe to meet the demand, this action is a proof that they are doing their best to meet the wishes of shippers and encourage the export from the Southland district of oheese and frozen meat." At the Diocesan Synod m Sydney the Primate, m his opening address, announced that, acting under power oonferred upon him by Aot of Parliament, as trustee of the Moor bank Estate, he had under legal advice sold that property for £60,000, with the important reservation of all minerals under the surface. Hitherto this estate has yielded something less than £300 a year. By the original deed a small portion of this estate, valued at £360, belongs as a glebe to Holswortby; another portion, valued at about £23,000, is assigned to the further endowment of the bishopric ; and the largest part, valued at about £36,500, to payment of stipends of clergy -at discretion of the Bishop. The diff erepoebetween intelligent aid to the poor and indiscriminate alms-giving is clearly shown by the report which Buffalo makes of ten years under the Associated Charities system whioh it was the first oity m America to introduoe. During that period the expen diture of the oity for out-door relief has been reduced from 69 oents per capital to 19. The saving to the oity has been more than half a million dollars, yet the really deserving and necessitous poor have been better cared for than ever before. During the first two years of the society's work 458 of the 763 families which at first Bought aid were weeded out through exposure as frauds, or through being enabled to help themselves and have never sinoe made application. A northern exohange says : — lt will be seen that the Waihora, whioh arrived from Sydney, brought fifteen steerage passengers. Perhaps this may be the beginning of the return current, and that the rush whioh threatened to take place to Australia has been ohecked. It is said that many of those who some time ago left for Sydney have found that the plenty of employment and high wages whioh they expeoted were not forthcoming, and have thought that they would do better m New Zealand after all. We understand that a number of men are to be put to work on the Waiorongomai property purchased by the Mount Aroha Company, and if other areas that have been taken up are worked (as they must be), there will soon be a considerable demand for labor. The return matoh between England v Otago on Wednesday was won by the former by four points to three. No soore was made m the first spell, and the Otago men generally had the. best of it. In the seoond spell one of the Otago men had to retire with a strain m the muscles of his shoulder, but Otago managed to score from a run m by Keogh, who played a brilliant game. The goal was kicked by Lynch. Soon' afterwards the Englishmen got across Otago lines and a goal was placed, making the soore equal. Shortly before time was oalled the English team got another try by a fine piece of play, but no addition was made to the score from it. The Otago men played altogether a grand game. The Rugby Union has handed Messrs Lilly white and Shrewsbury a cheque for £538, as the net result of their two day's play. The English team pass through Ashburton this evening. A Bpeoial meeting of the Ashburton Sohool Committee was held last evening. All the members were present ; Mr J. W. Sawle m the ahair. The meeting was held to oon* eider the question of making appointments to the offices of Secretary and Caretaker at a more economical rate than at present. An offer had been received from Mr Gideon Scott, one of the members of the Committee, to do the olerioal work gratis. Messrs Dunoan and Elston advooatsd the acceptance of this offer, as m the straitened state of the finances it behoved the Committee to observe all possible eoonomy. Messrs Craighead, Cook, and Kingston did not think it right to expect to have the work done for nothing, and experience showed that it was to the interest of any particular body that suoh a position should be a paid one. On being put to the vote the motion accepting Mr Scott's services was lost, and after a good deal of desultory disoussion the Committee came back to its former resolution to call tenders for both offioes. The meeting called last evening to con sider what steps should be taken towards the formation of a oyoling olub m ABhburton waa very well attended, about a dozen enthusiasts putting m an. appearance. After some discussion as to the benefits to be derived by the formation of a club, it was unanimously resolved that suoh a olub be formed, to bo called •' The Ashburton Cycling Olub." The following officers were then eleoted :— Captain, Mr J. A. Olliver; Sub- Captain, Mr J. A. Brown ; Hon Secretary and Treasurer, Mr W. G. Murray ; with a Com. mitteo consisting of Messrs Muller, Salok, Ray, and Cambridge. The subscription was fixed at five shillings per annum, with a nomination fee of one shilling. The Club starts with a list of seventeen aotive members, which is considered very satisfactory. After arranging for the Committee to meet next Wednesday evening to draw up rules, etc, tho meeting dosed with a vote of thanks to the chair, and to those gentlemen who had kindly placed their furniture at the convenience of the meeting. From a ciroular issued by Nelson Bros, dated 24th March it appears that a more hopeful tone pervades the London frozen meat trade. During the fortnight, previous to the issue of the circular, oyer 100,000 oar oassea of mutton arrived frpm New Zealand. While America supplies England with far and ' away the largest amount of beef, New Zea? J land and the liiver Plate are the chief souroes | of her mutton supply. Regarding the imports from the latter country, the circular adds : 11 The imports from the Plate are increasing considerably, and as.to the quality, the cargo per Portena, averaging nearly 601bs apieoe, but for the dressing, would easily have passed for good iSjTew Zealand. " It may be mentioned that the principal BftjjS of the mutton from the Plato was sent to Liverpool. I(i is evident that' shippers from here must make up their minds tp find m the River Plate country a serious competitor, arid ona Jha't will prove a great factor m iregulating values of frozen meat. It is significant that as soon as mutton from New Zoaland showed an upward tondenoy dealers turned thoir attention to something qheaper, whioh they found m Plate mutton, which, aooording to the circular, was selling at nearly 6d per stone, of 81bs, under New Zealand, selling at 3s. Unquestionably muoh of the cheaper artiole waa sold as from this country. The best medioine known is SANDER and SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects ia ooughs, colds, irifluenzafeto.-^tng I^* ia instaniansc"!; Thousa'ndsgive the most gjfatifyjpß £C 5$ imon y. His Majesty the I£ing of Italy, and medical Byndioates all over the globe are its patrons. Read the offioial reports that aooompany oaoh bottle. Mosler, M.D., Prof.. University, Greiraw Id, reports :— The Euoalypti Extraot proved magnificently successful m very severe contusions, bruises, sprains, wounds, soald ings, broken ribs, and limbs. (" Medical Journal," Nov., 1881.) In diseases of the kidneys, either aotive congestion or suppres sion, (uroomia) or albuminuria, dropsy, lithiasig, nothing will equal m its aotion Euoalypti Extract. Doses, 5, t0 8 drops. Mosler, M.D., Prof., University, Greifswald, reports :— Diphtheria, Tonsils continually coherent presenting uloers with white exudats. Cured m fourteen days, Surgioal Clinic of Prof. M'lntyre, College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Louia— Soirrhus of BreasU- Excision. Eucalypti Extraot employed. No swelling, hoat, or discoloration* Gurod m fourteen days,— (Advt.) 4

COURSING

Following are the nominations for the oouralng meeting at Longbeaoh on Fri day : — All- Aged Stakes, Mr A. Lae'a bile w b Kitty— Forest Lad -Tell Tale II- meets Me MoGeorge'B rd b Decßptlon — Bordeaux— Banshee ' Mr A. Lee'a f b Little Wonder— Forest Lad — Lurllne, meets 'Mr H. Miloer'a bdl d Tearing Young Fellow— Forest Lad — TiOl Tale 11. Mr Grlgjf'a blk d East Lynn — Orichope 5-ynn — Una, meets Mr McGeorge'a fwb Mlßa Taylor— Taraban—Mlfls Ridley Mr 0. Dawaon'srd d HUvermark — Peti tion—Luce, meets Mr B>, Lancaster's bdl d Pceato — Ncro — Little Wonder Valae All-aged Stakes— Winner, 3J guineas ; runner-up, J-gulnea ; and 1 guinea add id by Me J. 0. N. Grlgg. Poppy Stakes. Mr!A. Lee's f b Yorkshire Lass— Forest Ltd— Tell Tile IE., meeta Mr H. McOonnell'a w b .Whlpatiok — Oriohope Lynn — Uaa Mr^H^MilnerVf b Lady Emma — Forest Lad— Tell Tale 11. / meets Mr H. MoCon nell's f b Una IL — Otlchope Lynn— « Una Mr A. Lee'a ble b Bine Bell— Forest Lad — -Nonpariel, meets Mr" T. Prlor'e b w d Templeton Boy-*-Jim — Fly Mr F. Tasker'a blkd Raven— Review— Vick, meets Mr W. Dawson's b b High land Princess — unknown Mr J. Grlgg's b w b Rosa Lynn—Orlc hope Lynn— Una, meets Mr W. Zander's May Queen — Hollywood — Btnarat Mr J. Grlgg'a b b Jenny Llnd—Crlo hope Lynn— Una, meeta Mr W. Sklllan'a bdl w Lulla — Chester — nnknown Value Papplea — Winner 4J guineas ; runner-up ; and 1 gninea added by Mr J. 0, N. Grlgg ; third, £ -guinea.

RATEPAYERS' MEETING.

— ♦ I RANGITATA.

The annual meeting of ratepayers m the Rangitata distriot was held at the Road Board office, Lismore, at noon yesterday. Mr 0. J. Harper, the Chairman of the Road Board, presided, and there was an unusually large attendance, ratepayers from all parts of the distriot being present. The Chairman having read the minutes of the last annual meeting, expressed his gratifi cation at the large attendance, which he said Bhowed the interest the ratepayers took m Road Board matters, and was very different to another meeting whioh he had had to at tend, and at which a quorum of Bis could not be found. In submitting the aooounts he had to state that they had not been audited, owing to a change m the arrangements as to auditing made by the Government ; and the Board m common with other looal bodies, had received no intimation when their ac counts would be audited. In reviewing the work of the past year the Chairman said that the Board had been as economical as it oould be. They had been able to get through the year without having to levy a rate, and without having to overdraw their aooount; they had now a oredit balance of £100 This was the first ocoasion on whioh the Board had been able to oarry through the year without striking a rate or an overdraft, and he trusted that this would oommend itself to the ratepayers. In referring to the works of the year the Chairman said that the upper portion of the distriot had had spent upon it £100 more than had been allocated to it, on works wbioh were neoessary ones. Although he did not think it possible for the Board to go on for another year without a rate, he desired to impress on the new members the necessity for economy, for when County Oounoil, pro* perty tax, water rates, etc, had to be paid settlers did not want big road rates. After a brief informal discussion Mr E. G k Wright said that as the accounts had not been audited, it would be as well to postpone their adoption. The Chairman said that that was for the meeting to decide. Mr Wright said that if the meeting adopted them now they would have done with them, and would have no further voioe when the Auditor's report was received. Mr Peter said that to adopt the aooonnts would not be an unusual proceeding. For two years m suooession the accounts of that distriot had been adopted without having been audited. Mr Wright: Well, sir, I beg to move— " That the accounts be not adopted till audited." lam quite m order. Mr Morrow aeoonded Mr Wright's motion, Mr Peter moved an amendment — •• That the aooounts as presented be adopted." Mr Goodwin seconded the amendment, Mr Morrow wished to make a few remarks, but before proceeding asked the Chairman if it was his ruling that a ratepayer should not speak more than once. The Chairman said that a speaker could not address the meeting more than once on the same subjeot. Mr Morrow said that the Chairman had stopped discussion m that way once before. The Chairman said that the rules of debate restricted each person to one speech, except the proposer of a motion, who had the right of reply. Mr Morrow : I will aßk for all reoeipts for the year to be produced. I will proceed by asking questions. The Chairman: The question before the meeting is the adoption or otherwise of the aooounts. You are going away from it. Mr Morrow asked if they were not disous sing (he aooounts. The Chairman said that Mr Morrow was not speaking to the motion before the meet ing. Mr Wright said that it was most unusual to refuse permission to see the vouohers. The Chairman said that he must refuse to produce the vouohers until the Auditor had seen them,. It was not right for the Board to give up the oustody till after the audit. Mr Morrow asked what the Aot said on the subject. The Chairman said that personally he had not the slightest objeotion to Bhowing these papers, but he thought that as they had been done up for the Auditor, the Board oould not undo and handle them. Mr Morrow thought that the Aot stated that any ratepayer had a right to see the minute book, aooounts, etc and to save time ; ne would ask to see all contracts and other papers of the Board. The Chairman had meanwhile taken up the Act, and was looking through it, when Mr Wright said that he thought it most extraor dinary for the Chairman to study an Aot of Parliament to find any grounds for refusing to show the dooiujaehtg that had been asked for. . • .... The Chairman said that he had been look ing up the Aot to see what course should be followed when the aooounts had not been audited, and after a perusal of the clause referring to the subject, which he read, he was undoubtedly of opinion that the Board oould not show the documents till after the Auditor had seen them, and he would, there fore, not display them. Mr Morrow : Seoreoy then 1 The Chairman : £tot at all. We can't over ride that otause. ••' '" " iVJr Peter; The Board do not indulge m seoretg. ' ■ ' " The Chairman said that it would be wrong to go on with the matter further m the faoe of that olausa. At first he was prepared to go on and adopt the aoaounts^w forma, but now, after seeing the Aot, he thought Mr Wright's resolution was right. He certainly should not produce anything till after the audit. Mr Wright thought that a question for the meeting. Mr Peter said that it was aj question of 'aw. The CbainilS!) :■ "W$ can't over-rido aa Aot of Parliament. Mr Wright : There is no!Aot of Parliament that oah 'prevent the yeuohera being laid on the table. . " •" " ' " ' A ratepayer : Where do we stand now, Mr Chairman. The Chairman : lam waiting remarks from ratepayers. Mr Morrow said that he had still possession i of the right to speak, not having resumed hia i seat. • The Chairman Bftid that ha was going to put the motion. I A ratepayer thought that if it was the wish | of the meeting the vouohera oould be laid on the table. ~ ' j The Chairman said that oouia only be after the inspection of the Auditor, to tyhom he ] and the Board were responsible, thpee 1 qoouments. 1 Mr Morrow thought it only right that the k Board ehguld have ascertained when, the i

audit oonld take place, bo that the rotepayeil should not have been called together for no purpose. The Chairman thought Mr Morrow wflfl BO oonversant with Aota of Parliament that he would have known that there was no option but to call the ratepayers' meeting during the first week m May. Mr Wrigbt said that the Aoiset forth that the balanoe-aheet should be Considered at that meeting. It was a moßt unleard-of pro ceeding to refuse the ratepayers foe right of seeing any documents they might >ish to see at the meeting. The Chairman said that Mr Wright did not read the whole of the clause, or he would see that those dooumentß werenot to be produoed till after the Auditor haddone with them. Mr Wright said that even if the Aucjtor had not oertified to the aoeounta, that wa&ao reason why the ratepayers should be debarr«J from seeing them. He had beenOhairmai of several Road BoardsJ and he consider^ the Chairman's aotion at the present meeting , was most unwarrantable. The Chairman Baid that he would be failing m his duty if he produoed the dooumentß. As Chairman of several Boad Boards, Mr Wright knew that the Boards never met the ratepayers without having the accounts audited. It was only at two meetings under that Board, oases that were exceptional' in the colony, and when Mr Wright was Chair* man, that the aocounts had not been audited, and he did not know how Mr Wright met the ratepayers. . Mr Wright : The aooounta were audited by the Clerk, and the vouchers were laid on the table. The Chairman : I might as well Bay that these were audited by the Clerk, but' that is not a proper audit, or one recognised by law. All I oan say is that I decline to produce the papers till the Auditor has had them. It is now my duty to keep the books and papera till the Auditor has seen them, after that they will be open for inspection without fee for four weeks. Ido not think that any other Chairman when challenged m that way would have adopted another course. The Chairman; I have given yon my. reasons, and I think I speak the mind of the Board. In reply to MrJGoodwin, the Chairman said that the books were open to the inspec tion of the meeting. - ; ' ! Mr Morrow said that his reasons for press* I ing to see the doouments were that there were rumors abroad of certain works having been done m a queer way, and he would like to see the oontraot m connection with Anderson. An argument here aroso-between Mr Morrow and Messrs Doyle and Goodwin, members of the Board m reference to the engaging of Anderson, who had been engaged by them, under authority from the Board, to do certain stone-pioking. The matter was referred to the Chairman who said that aa the Board worked without a Olerk or other officers, the members looked after matters requiring atton* tion m different localities. With regard to the Btone-pioking, Messrs Doyle and Goodwin had been authorised to get.it done. . >' Mr Wright said that the prooedure was not questioned. What Mr Morrow wanted waa the agreement- : The Chairman said that these were merely matters of detail, and if they were there to oonsider them, they might be kept till mid* night. They were there to disouss broad and general matters, The Board was elected to attend to these details, and if the ratepayers were not satisfiod with their oonduot of affairs, they could put them out. Mr Morrow said that be would oonsider the agreement to be right, bat he wanted to know who superintended. The Chairman said that different members did so. Mr Morrow : Did Anderson go vm the South Hinds Road. Mr Doyle : Yes, jhe pioked both sideß. Mr Morrow : 1 beg your pardon. I deny that. Anderson is here, and he will tett v you the same. ■ •■";"•■ -■ Mr Doyle reiterated his; {former statement, and the Chairman said that it was. no use going into these matters. ■ '•-.. In reply to Mr Morrow t^e Chairman said that the agreement with Anderson in ■ regard to the fords was 11s a day, iaoluding a horse and dray, for the stone-pi jking oontraot it was 6a a day. Mr Wright said it waa wftntad to be known who received the money. The Chairman : AnderHon. He drew the money except what he authorised me to keep baok. Mr Morrow m reply to an enquiry wag allowed to see the book, Bhowing payments to Anderson, ' Mr Peter : If Mr Morrow wants to know these things, he should have sent notioe beforehand. Mr Morrow : This is a ratepayers\Wieting. In reply to Mr Morrow the Chairman oaid that Anderson's money had been paid to orders presented by creditors. The Chairman said that the present dia oussion wsb going beyond bounds. If any ratepaper was dissatisfied, he had his remedy. Mr Morrow pointed out a olerioal error of 5s m Anderson's account. Mr Morrow : I would like to ask Mr Doyle how many days Anderson worked for him on the Board's money. The Chairman : That is a personal quea* tion. Mr Doyle ; I beg to deny—. The Chairman : You can't make a charge of that nature here. We oannot adjudicate m suoh a matter ; that would be for a Court of law. The ratepayers have their rem«dy, if anything wrong has been done. He had allowed the meeting a great deal of latitude, as there had been muoh tattle and muoh exageration outside. He .had gone very carefully into this matter, of .Anderson's, and had bestowed muoh upon it. Anderson had been extravagant, and orders bad come m which he (the Chairman) had paid. There might be a olerioal error of ss, but that could be easily remedied as he had kept baok £1 of Anderson's money, as from former discrepancies he suspected others might arise, Anderson having m one oaae mis-stated the amount to be paid. There were a few shillings to Anderson's'' oredit yet, and the 5s mistake could be easily remedied. Mr Morrow : What does the Act say about members of the Board participating m the ratepayers' money ? The Chairman : I . have explained to you that very heavy penalties are provided. If we have done anything wrong, go at us. We oan't do any good by discussing these matters here. : Mr Morrow : But if we had -them ex* plained now, it may save a Court case. The Chairman further explained the Anderson affair. He Baid that the" man gave orders to be paid out' of what was owing to him, and when his work was finished he took what waß due to him and went away perfectly satisfied. The money did not last long, and he came baok for more. He was tojd thai there waß no more, and he then said that hg had been "done." When asked by whom he replied, " Bomebody." He was then told that if suoh wasi the case, he had a claim against the person who had "done" him. At this stage Anderson came into the room, as if to speak, but the Chairman informing him that he was not a ratepayer, he with* drew. . A ratepayer said that it might satisfy tha meeting if the orders were produoed. The Chairman said that if they could not take his word, then pass - a vote of na-oonfi* denoe m him. He had told them' that he has not paid a shilling except on Anderaoq's, orders, Mr Ooskerie'said the horse Anderson had waß not of muoh value. • The Chairman said that so far as he saw it answered its purpose. Certainly it was not a grand horse. Mr Ooskerie : We have every 5 faith m yoa, but you put power m the hands of a member m whom we have not faith. The Chairman ; I didn't elect him, Mr Coskerie said that Anderson had told him that he had sometimes to travel 16 miles to get one bag of feed. The Chairman prouaulj !?!!? u °fc k kwQ °w this, and tha rate* payere believed him to be m ignortnds of it, The Chairman said that the man had to ba trusted tp a obtain extent—all men similarly employed had— and to'thebest of his knowledgf. the work had been fairly well done. One of the members of the Board had been told oU to look after him and had done so. A great deal had been made out of these things, bat there was nothing, m reality, m them. * Mr Sutherland asked if it could be proved that the man had charged the Board when going for these things. The Chairman said that the man stated that he had not. A disoussion here took place between Mr Morrow and Mr Goodwin m reference to the horse and cart. Mr Morrow said that these had been rented from Mr B/oyle for Qs a 4ay, Anderson to say that they were his own, but m reply to Mr Goodww telling him WflOW

THB ABHBPBTON QUABDIANj THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1888



DIABY. Moonß* Sun Sun Moon Moon ago at April-May Rises. Sets. Rises Sets, noonday p.m. a.m. 20 Monday .. 0.63 5.1 8.32 10.66 18 1 Tuesday .. 6.54 4.59 9.33 11,68 19 J Wednesday.. .56 4.58 10.38 p.m. 20 8 Thursday .. 8.67 4.57 1 .40 0.61 31 ♦ ♦ 1.88 4 Friday.. .. «.B8 4.SQ a.m. 2.12 $2 5 Saturday ... 6.89 4:56 0.41 2.45 23 6 Sunday .. f.O 4.53 1.49 312 24 (Moonlight Evenings. ! The Moon at 3 days old shines till about j 8 o'olook. | The Moon at 6 days old shines till about ! half-past 10 o'olook. The Moon at 8 days old shines till nearly 1 o'clock m the morning. The Moon at 12 days old Bhinea from sundown till about 4 m the morning. The Moon at 15 days old is full, and shines all night. The Moon at 18 days old rises about 9 p.m. and shines till morning, The Moon at 21 days old rises about 11 a.m. and shines till morning. The Moon at 24 days old rises about 2 a.m. and Bhineatill morning The Moon at 27 days old rises about' 4 a.m. and Bhines till sunrise.



POECED SALE. "f TTE regret to announce that owlog to VV the Great Depression and heavy losses sustained daring the past rive years we are compelled to go into Liquidation. THE WHOLE STOCK 18 NOW OFFERED TO THB PUBLIO BOTH AT TIMARU AND ASHBURTON Regardless of Cost, Oar only object being to tarn it Into Oaah. The Balance remaining unsold will be Offered for PUBLIO TENDER. SALE COMMENCES Friday, May 4th # TIMAKU AND~ASHBUfITON. Te rms Cash. 5t32



GABITES&PLiNTEj! ** IN LIQUIDATION ! !



Wanted, WANTED—At the Aahbatton Wool Scouring Works, a good lad, from 18 to 20. WANTED to cell pare Machine- Extracted Honey In any quantity. Apply D. Morris, Hinds. WHERE shell we bay oat Piano ? Why, from H. M. Jones, where the beat value Is to be obtained either for oa,ah or on terms.— H, SI. Jones. ITT ANTED to Soil— AFirat-olaas Piano YY grand action. Cash or torma very liberal. Apply Haybb and Co. BOOTS. — We have reduced our Boot List, and are selling them wonder* folly cheap.- H. 0. Sk«brß, Mcl ford Honeo IF yon want s genuine Aahbarton Twaed Salt to meainre, or ready made, or Boots that will keep yo&r feet dry, at prices matvelloosly low, come to the Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saandtrs' buildings.— Robhbt AIOOBH. WANTED Known.— Melford House is now Bhewlng a Bplendld assortment of Drapery, Millinery, Cloth- ing, Boots, &o, very cheap. WANTED Cash. — Mulr'a Oatmeal . (261 b), 2s 6d ; Candles, 6d ; Vestas, 5i doz. ; Coffee and Milk, Is ; Cocoa and Milk, Is ; Corn Flour, 4d ; Fruits m Syrnp (21b tin*), Is Crockery, Glassware, and Ironmongery* — J. Mo- GRsaoß, Tanored street. ~t \ r AIS TED —Everyone to come and W Bee the nloest lot of Glass, Chins, and Earthenware ever shown m Aehbur- ton, and the Cheapest ever landed m New Zealand. Imported direct from the Mannfaotnrerß.— Robkbt Aloobn, Saun- dera' Bnildings. 3tll WANTED Known.— Cheap Jack has opened a ahop m Compton's Buildings, Moore street, with a large atoek of Fanoy Goods, Crockery, Muslo, &o, which he will sell at Oieap Jack prices, viz., 30 per oent under any other chop m town. WINTER. — We are now shewing a Splendid Assortment of Ladies and Children's Ulsters m all the leading styles, very cheap. — H. 0. Seoeks, Melford House. iroHN VICKBKY CASH BUYER OF PIGS AND A THOROUGHLY PBA.OTIOA.L BUTOHEB AND BACON OUBBR BEGS to announce to the residents of Aahbartou and District that he has suooeeded m procuring a editable cellar for the BACON CURING BUSINESS And Is now prepared to execute orders m that line, and can guarantee satisfaction and despatch , Orders left at the Pork Batohery, East Street will have prompt attention. JOmfVICKERY. 4 157 TRY KIRKPATRICK'S SPECIAL QUALITY FRESH FRUIT "X" -JAM 8 — NOTICE. OUR Special QuTlity "X" brand of New Season's JAM is made from Fresh Fro it, within a few hours after it has been gathered; it thus retains the full flavor of the Fresh Fruit, and is the beet quality it is poisible to make. CAUTION : None is Genuine unices our Name Is stamped on the Tin, and has our regis- tered Tiado Mark, the letter " X," on the Label* S. KIRKPATRICK AND CO., MANUFACTURERS, NELSON. THIS SPACE; is RESERVED FOR THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY'S NEW ADVERTISEMENT. i



SUCCESS." '' GRAND SUCCESS." ■ MITOHELL & TURNER "j*j[ A^B ir&ty rSiieH ptea<inre m thafilring and annonnoiflg to tbeir numerous Friends JHL find Cust-emerS that sneossfi having attended their efforts since removing to Fowler's BftSldiags, especially daring past Season, they are enoouragod to hold oat (toecial fßdaeenieritß for coming Winter Season. Pnrohasers will find a Splendid Aawwttte&t erf Hen's and Boys' Overcoats, Winter Saits, Trousers and Vests, &c, comprising Ashberton, Kaiapoi, and other Colonial Makers. Ladies' and Children's Ulsters, Jaokets, &c. Blanket?, Bugs, and Flannels. *£&> 5.8. — See onr Dress Goods, Homespuns, Serges, acd Tweeds, Fair prioes, excellent qnality. SUrtfogs, LiMeys, Flftin©lette», Quilts, Hosiery, and General Winter Goods BOOTS AND SHOES. /&& WIO WA»$ A fIBBT-OIiAS3AMIOI*E SHODLD PAY U3 A YIBIT, MITCHELL & TTJRKER TANORED STBEET. * ■ ■ JL. SELLING OFF <^ </> £ illi H 15 PBR o^?" disk oiint (/C^lS^ai M " "|3 Tt «"URRAT, Jeweller, having eeenred the Premlsea lately O ipJ Xl»» JLU- oooopled by Mb N«atb, Ohemlst,^ls no if offering his BTOOK tia ' Afl DISCOUNT OF 3a IN THE £ PREVIOUS TO REMOVAL, 3 26 McCallum and Co., PAINTERS, GLAZIERS, PAPERHANGERB, SIGNWRITERB, Etcd. WE desire to Inform our Clients and the Public of Ashburton, that we have com- menced business m all the above Lines, and solicit their patronage. This Department will be nnder the management of Mb GEO. VINOEN L\ late of Ma J. R. Chapmah's, and as we import MATERIALS of the best brands only, and shall employ only FIKST-CLAS3 Worfcmen to do our Work, Clients can rely on obtaining the utmost VALUE, as well as satisfaction, for their MONEY, OILS, PAINTS, VARNISBES, WINDOW GLASS, BRUSHES, Etc., Alwayß m Btcck 4 We have 60,000 pieceß of PAPERHANGINGS due to arrive, of the|very choicest PATTERNS and COLORS obtainable m London. McCallum and Co., TIMBER AND COAL MERCHANTS, PAINTERS, PAPERHANGERS GLAZIERS, Etc., EAST STBE2T, ASHBURTON. W. H. COLLINS, Manager. DIPPING _SEASON, 1888. BROOKE'S "Perfect" Sheep Dip. IS TBE BEST FOR THE WOOL, AS PROVED BY PRACTICAL TESTS. OREPARED m accordance with the latest advancements In chemistry as applied to JL the Woollen Manufacturing Industry. It is a deoided improvement on the old fashioned dips and only requires a trial to prove its superiority. At the late Sheep- dipping Competition, conducted by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Associa- tion,, the K%iapoi Woollen Co., on behalf of the Association, for wool dyeing and general manufacturing purposes, awarded the first place to Brooke's " Perfect" Sheep Dip ; m faot, Brooke's Dip was the only one that actually improved the wool m this important respect, the undipped wool being second, whilst all the others were more or lees discolored. The Association also prosounoad BROOKE'S "PERFECT" SHEEP DIP to be tnperfor to the Zealandla, Little's, Hatch's, Cooper's and McDougall's, and also leave the wool m better condition than Thomas' Dip. Brooke's Dip having con- sequently been proved to bo better than the English Dips, your praotioal support of the colonial article is respectfully solicited. To ensure Brooke s Dip being more thoroughly lasting m its good effects, m future it will be sent ont 20 per cent stronger free of extra charge. Proportions for use. — One Gallon of Dip to 100 Gallons to water. Mixes readily with cold water ; does not require stirring while dipping. Remarkably emollient, leaving the wool m perfect condition, without the ellghtes' stain from the first day of Dipping Concentrated m composition to reduoe cost of carriage, and put up m a portable bandy form for use, it is also one of the cheapest Dips m the Market. i REDUCED PRICE : 14s per tin, to make 200 gallons wash ; 70a per oase, oon« taining 6 tins, to make 1000 Gallons ; Css per ceee for not less tban 5 cases. Packages free. nui F. MAKEIG, Agent, Ashburton THE CHEAPEST PLACE IN TOWN. "ZEALANDIA" BOOT STORE, East Street, ASHBTJRTOISr. •« M 3 S-• S ft t Mo? ~ 3 §V St* liilif iiindJiyi S>J . 1 a; I ; . i if* t gipli-lioii Ii IF i THE STANDARD ' FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND. ? WITH" UNLIMITED LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDEBa I CAPITAL— £I,OO^OOO STERLING. HEAD OFFICE 7 DUNEDIN. T NBURERBSJhate th« most undoubted Security nnder this Company's Policies Itf together with an aaeuranco of Prompt and Liberal Settlement of Claims. FIRE jand MARINE RISKS accepted on all descriptions of Property and Merchandise al»o Crop, Stack, and Machine Bisks at Lowest Kates of Premium, fidelity of Persons holding situations of trust guaranteed. OFFICE t HEREFORD STREET, CBRISTCHURCH. (Opposite Bank of New Zealand.) ARCHIBALD SCOTT, Manager for Canterbury. AGENT, ASHBURTON