Ashburton Acclimatisa tion Society.

The annual meeting of the AahburU.it Acclimatisation Society was held at the Somerset Hotel, Ashburfcon, on Friday last. There was a fair attendance and Mr J. M. Cambridge was voted to the chair. The balance sheet and annual report were read and adopted. Mr Stephens moved the adoption of report and balance xheet as read, seconded by Mr Filbiw and «»med. The following officers were then efcpcted for the ensmnq year:—President, W. .C. Walker Esq.. M H R. ; Vice-Presidentw. Messrs Doml \ iucLean and A. H. Shury ; Hon. Treasurer, E. G. Crisp Esq. ; Hon. Secretary, Mr E. B. Simpson; Committed Messrs t. H. Pilbrow, .1. H, Stephens, J. M. Cambridge, B. Bird,* nnd W. ZmaAav. I 1; was resolved that ladies license* to fish be issued at a fee of «ye shillings. A bonus of £5 was allowed the Society's raugcr, and £2 2s to the Hon. Secretary. After some discussion the ssam of £10 was vnUid for importation ot Osdcfornian quail if ,vi<t|.»foctory arrange ments could be made, £M\ £20 fur expenditure on purchase of fofe *or en" suing year. The Secretary was ir^'Wflted to write to Government, with a vS«w *4 having the proteetwn of hawks removed, as they are considers!.! «ather too nunierous m t!ie district. Mr Sluuy moved, '' That the Secrefesir^ be instructed w.>t> to issue any licenses, except visitors' iicfcsjeps to •«iy oerson residing outside the Couui^ fxcupt hona 'fair, visitors, until utner Ist October." — Carried. The Society decided to pay the sum of one .shilling per head for black shags des troyed within the district. A vote of •thanks to the chair, moved by Mr Simp *vm, terminated the proceedings.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna et Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1890.

The end of the present session of Parliament will be welcomed by nl most every elector m the colony. Neither Government nor Opposition command a working majo rity m the Rouse, and useful legisla tion is therefore out of the question. Parliamentary work has been brought to a standstill, and both parties have adopted a sensible course m corning to an understanding, the object of which is to bring the session to a speedy ter mination. Only pressing measures were to be dealt with, and these wera to be despatched with the utmost speed. Unfortunately, m a disorganised House, m which party lines are ill-defined, the rank and file of both Ministerial and Opposition parties can do as they please ; and this appears to be very much the case at present. On the eve of a new election a few versatile mem bers think it not out of place to bring themselves prominently before the country and their constituents by speaking through the Press reports and the pages of " Hansard." These mem bers are entirely beyond the control of the leader of the Opposition or the acting-Premier, and can do much as they like. They are taking full ad vantage of the liberty thus given, and talk, talk, talk incessantly upon any thing and everything brought forward. Owing to this obstruction on the part of a minority of both parties the com pact between the Government to bring the session to an early close, and go to the country, cannot be carried out. For this obstruction neither Govern ment nor Opposition can be held re sponsible, but the circumstance serves to show the utter disorganisation of parties, and the urgent necessity that exists for an appeal to the country. If the government of the colony is to be conducted on party lines, it is the bounden duty of each member to faith fully carry out the compact entered into by the respective chiefs ; but this is not the case m the present House, and never will be so while the present moribund Parliament is m session. If, on the other hand, Party Govern ment is to be burlesqued m New Zealand, the sooner an im proved system is introduced the better. A few obstructionists can at present bid the country, the Government, and the Opposition alike defiance, and the country will never have good Govern ment while this lasts. Therefore, whatever changes the new election may bring, it is to be hoped one will be the return of men pledged to bring about greater unanimity m the conduct of the public business, either by the return of out-and-out party men or men pledged to abolish party altogether, and who will legislate for the welfare of the colony as a whole. In any case the elections cannot result m the return of a House more at sixes and sevens than the present Assembly.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

La grippe is prevailing amongst th* Fijian natives. Mr H. IT. Champion, the Socialist lead or and lecturer, visits New Zealand early. Mr Spurgeon hs a teetotaller of twenty four years standing. He took the pledge on 13th March ISo'li. Not an island has risen or sunk from sight m the Pacilie Ocean for Hi .years,- and geologists say that Nature is resting for a future mighty effort. When this effort occurs New Zealand is expected to disappear beneath the sea. The Union Company, owing to the in creased cost of running their steamers, have raised the rates of coastal freights f)0 per cent. The intercolonial rates have already been raised. One Chinese grocer m Wellington has made £500 m twelve months. The turnover of the Chinese fruiterers and grocers m that city m one year is said to have been between £'25,000 and £30,000. On Sunday next (the last Sunday of the month) Mass will be celebrated at P.akai ;l by Father Pertuis at eleven a.m, Tjießev Father Chastagnon will celebrate Mass at Ashburton at ten a.m., and Vespers at the usual hoar. ■■ Malcolm's Ostrich Company, whose farm of some 7000 acres of rather dry country is at Port Augusta (S.A.), now possess a flock of 715 birds (an increase of 200 during the year,) which returned over £1100 for feathers. Judge (who is bald-headed):—" If half the witness has testified against you is true, your conscience must be as black as your hair." Prisoner: "If a man's conscience is re gulated by Ins hair, then your honor hasn't any conscience at all." The " Fijian Times " states that whilst at Tonga, Mr Baker held the following appoint ments :—Premier and President of the Court of Appeal, Minister for Foreign Relations, Auditor-General, Minister for Lands and Judge of the Land Court, Minister of Educ ation, Agent-General, and Medical attendant to the King, It is expected that the New Zealand Shipping Company will declare a dividend of 6or 7 per cent, m September, The arrangement of a number of tempting tours to New Zealand during the English winter js m progress. Judicial proceedings have been instituted m Vienna agajnst Professor Bruehl, pre sident of the Institute of Animal Anatomy, for having published a work entitled The Truth m Nature; or, God, His Works and Tradition, Examined from a Scientific Point of View. This, it is alleged, is an outrage on t-hg religion of the empire. Mr Roj/dkouse, proprietor of the Welling ton "Evening Pr^ss," says that he intends to enter an action for libel against the "Lyttelton Times" for publishing a tele yrajn from its Wellington correspondent on Monday last stating that tli3 lirsf-named paper has been practically moribund for some weeks psf, Mr Millar. • * the Maritime Council, told a representative of the " Otago Daily Times " tij't-immediately blacklegs go on board a V;; c officers, cooks, and stewards will v' 'lr Millar further said that it has | lot. <c i a moot question as to the re spective powers held by capital and labor, ajjd this dispute, he says, will settle it. 'Let t'hc-iu c,quui on," he said, "we are prepared for tl;e next throe inontli3, and longer." Mr M, A. >Sala )nad{2 himself ridiculous at a dinner of the Incorporated Authors m the Old Country lately, The tables were ar ranged anyhow, and the gentleman and Jus wife found themselves at what they were were pleased to term one of the lesser tallies. After suggesting that Fergus Hume and one or two others should give up their places, the great G. A. S. withdrew m high dudgeon, and the toast of "The Guests' 1 py^/l to be entrusted to another gentleman. I 'j'ijt; *>niMi«ntati«n of diplomas to graduates of Oaiiwrbwpy if .Allege took, place yesterday afternoon at (Jhi'isfcij.y/'ch, m the presence ■ of a large assemblage, principally ladies. Professor Cook presided, an*l an ;■<]dress, as did Bishop Julius and Mr >J. Via-y. The proceedings were very orderly. The fflltjwt^iig students received diplomas : — M.A.'^, Lilian Harriet Williams, Mary Jane McLean. B.A.s, &rnard Marian Anna ' Kruil, Agnes Elizabeth TuylalJ, Benjamin ftawucl Bull, Thomas Richard Cresawell Ourti«, a»d Uwtfier Vi»»te, ' i

Messrs Chrystall and Co. have advice by cable that'the China Navigation Company's steamer Kwei-Yang, bringing tea for New Zealand, left Foochow en the 22nd inst., via Sydney. The perfection of ventilation is now at tained by electricity. The new United States man-of-war Baltimore is supplied with an electric ventilator which will change the atmosphere of the engine room com pletely m two minutes. Experiments have been recently published on the action of light m ageing new wines. By exposing layers of the young wine m vessels covered with coloured glass to the direct action of sunlight, the flavour and quality of the wine are said to be highly improved. Emile Blanchard, President of the French Academy of Sciences, announces that he can make silk straight from the material of the mulberry leaf without resorting to the silk worm. It is inferior m richness and gloss to the present silk. Bishop Thornton, of Ballarat, has told the Young Men's Christian Association that he would have nothing to do with the Associa tion "if its effect was simply to create young females of the males sex, and though he liked to see the youths put off, as the Scripture said, the old man, he did not wish them put on the old woman." In Heligoland the little dependency which we have just made over to Germany, there are so few houses, and the space for new ones is so restricted, that an engaged couple are obliged to go on courting until a house holder dies, and a house is thus liberated No gentleman must give a lady his arm un less and until he is betrothed to her. No action for breach of promise can be brought j against a man once he is married. The is landers object to keeping prisoners on ac count of the expense, so the gaol is usually empty. A well-known U.P. Minister noted wit* 1 sorrow that his congregation was becoming " small by degrees, and beautifully less ;" s° after much cogitation he hit on a plan which (for once) crowded his church. At the close of his sermon he announced, with a solemn air, that on the following Sunday it would be his painful duty to discussa faimly scandal which directly affected several members of the kirk. On the next Sabbath the sacred edifice was crowded with an expectant crowd, who had the pleasure of listening to an ex cellent sermon, the subject of which was the picking of the apple by Eve, and the eating hereof by herself and Adam The thirty-first annual meeting of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, waß held yesterday. Mr W. Recce was elected Chairman for the ensuing year. Proposals for forming an Employers Association were considered m committee, and were not adopted; but it was decided to appoint a Committee to confer with Industrial and Agricultural and Pastoral Associations and others on the subject. The Chamber ap proved of the proposed deviation of the Midland Railway route to the eastward of Lake Brunner. A member proposed a motion deploring the action of merchants m Christchurch m " boycotting " a local firm of grocers, but it was not seconded. The Russian Government is reported to be about to acquire the network of the South- Western railway, consisting of some 3,000 miles of road. It is this railway which com mands, directly and indirectly, the most important outlets m the Black Sea, and the strategetical points on the Balkan Peninsula, the Auscro-Hungarian, and the German fron tiers. Were hostilities to break out between Russia and one of her western neihgbors, the fact of this enormous network of lines being under the conplete control of the military authorities would be of incalculable impor tance m the quick moving of troops. The last of the Caledonian Society's Ingleside meetings for the season was held last night m the Oddfellows' Hall, and was, as usual, very largely attended. In addition to the usual dance programme, songs were given by Miss Henry, and Messrs Jamirson, Reen, ami Stevenson ; trios by Messrs Kersial and H. and E, Craighcad ; a violin duet,l>y ilr Broadley and his tiny little son ; a recitation by Mr Minn is; ami Highland step dances and reels by the Laghmor Highlanders, and Mr A. M'Kenzie to pipe music played by Mr-->. M'Kay. Mr H. A. Gates played the accompaniments to the songs, and with Mr Martin (violin) also plnycd for the dancing. Being the last meeting, the time was extended for an hour. Papers by the last mail contain full details of what is known as the mutiny of the Grenadier Guards. The accounts show that the men had suih'cicnt cause for dissatisfac tion. For some time they have been com plaining of excessive drills and guards, and they took the occasion to refuse to turn out m heavy marching order for kit inspection m order to bring their grievances promi* nently before the proper authorities. A subsequent examination of the "order" books by a superior oHicer showed that tho amount of guard duty and parade had been excessive, and upon this they were released from confiuQiuont, m which they had been kept since they refused to obey orders. That they were right and their olh'cers wrong, how over, did not prevent their punishment by banishment to the West Indies.

TELEGRAPHIC

HOME AND FOREIGN

[PER PKEBS ASSOCIATION,] London, August 28 to 20, At the half-yearly meeting of the Bank of New Zealand shareholders, Sir I. Ferguson, the president, said the formation of; the New Zealand Estates Company liberated large bal ances which would recoup share holders the sacrifices they had been obliged to make. There was a general improvement m the colony, but Mr Buckley's rash and reckless attacks had impeded a corresponding improve ment m the affairs of the bank, and were suggestive of an intention to destroy it altogether if possible. Twenty mutinous Hussars have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment at Canterbury. Mv Dillon, speaking at a meeting at, Clonmel said hP would quit Ireland if boycotting were abandoned, He was prepared to take his religion from Rome, but not his politics, which must be found at home. The " Financial News," condemning the Victorian railway proposals, de-^ dares that the increase of debts has outpaced the growth of population and ait addition of a dozen more millions, however reproductive, will render taxaj tion m Victoria intolerable. Mr Gossip, the well-known Adelaide chess player, is playing well m the chess tournament at Manchester. Calcutta importers are meeting to consider the crisis caused by the rise m exchange. The majority are against stopping sales at present, Bit.ussET.s, August 2 Foreign agitators are being expelled from Belgium. Washington, August 28. j Owing to the expectation of a re volution, American cruisers have been dispatched to Honolulu. Mahrid, Aug. 28. During the cholera scare, three physicians were murdered by peasants.

AUSTRALIAN

Mblkouknk, Angus* 29. Mr Palmer, a Dtmedin draper, was robbed of a letter of credit for £200 on the Monowai during the passage between here and Hobart. A man named Ledger is " wanted " m connection with the forgery on Mr Grice, shipowner, and his brother avlio is ledger keeper m the Union Bank, has been arrested on the charge of complicity m a conspiracy to defraud the J3ank. i

THE MARKETS.

[PKR PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

London, August 28. Six thousand quarters of New Zealand wheat, to arrive m September, have been sold at 37s 6d. Two hundred and fifty bale 3of New Zea land hemp sold at steady rates. Lamb, 4Jjd ; New Zealand beef, hind quar ters, 3£d. Meat otherwise unchanged.

MAGISTERIAL.

SOUTH RAKAIA—FRIDAY. (Before Messrs C. A. C. Hardy and L. Oxley, J.P's.) TIN KEITLING. James Mead, Arthur Mead, John Harvey, Richard Withell, and Hu«?h O'Connor pleaded guilty to tin kettling and making a general disturbance m a public place on the 14th inst. John Crawford, Henry Johns, and James O'Connor pleaded not guilty to the same charge. Messrs Tucker, Primmer, and D. Bruce gave evidence clearly proving that all were implicated except Johns and H. O'Connor. The occasion was the marriage of Mr D. Bruce and the noise most distracting, the whole township being disturbed and kept awake. The Bench entered up a conviction, and or dered accused to come up for sentence when called on. CIVIL CASBB. G. Jameson v D. Murphy claim £3 0s lOd for goods supplied. Judgment for the amount and costs. H. Primmer v C. Fawcett claim £5 Is Bd, goods supplied. Judgment tor the amount claimed and costs. Defendant stated that he should apply for a rehear ing before the Resident Magistrate.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

LIGHTING OF THE ODDFELLOWS HALL.

TO, THE EDITOR. Sir, —As a rule Ido not care to correspond with a person m the dark, especially when he signs himself "Gas. ' However I would like to inform "Gas" that I did not say one word for or against the light m the Hall, but simply pointed out the reports m the papers. Therefore, I do not see why " Gas " should rush my name before the public, and not sign his own. For orae ten or twelre years 1 have kept halls m this district, and have always tried to satisfy the public to the best of my ability, and although a theatre is not a church, I can safely say that I have always been willing to meet that body financially or otherwise.—l am, etc. Robt. Elston.

MOUNT SOMERS.

An entertainment m aid of the funds of the Mount Somers Sabbath School was given m the schoolroom on Wednesday evening last. The evening was all that could be desired, and as the object was a worthy one the attendance was large, the building being comfortably fill). Tlio entertainment, which took the form of an exhibition of dissolving views, by Mr James Price, commenced at 7.30 p.m. bjr the audience .singing "To the Work" from Saukey s collection, after which the Rev W. Finlayson offered prayer. Mr Price then exhibited a number of views of the principal public and private buildings of London. Mr E. Armstrong, We.sleyan Home Mission, gave di.scri|> live notes of each picture as it cailie" on the screen. The light was excellent, and the notes were interesting, well given, and to tlie point. Mrs Finlayson then rendered a selection on the harmonium,after which Mr Price recited a temperance poem, en titled the " Trial of Sir Jasper," illustrat ing by dissolving views the .different characters represented m the story. The whole was well rendered, and much ap preciated by the audience. More London views, and then a number of objects re presenting animal and vegetable life were exhibited through the microscope^ which Mr Price has affixed to his lantern. The objects were magnified to an extraordinary degree, and parts which were quite invisible to the naked eye were brought out clearly on the screen, f This part of the entertainment was ex ceedingly interesting. Another musical selection rendered by Mrs Finlayson, and Mr Price exhibited on the screen a number of photographs of local identities, producing a considerable amount of mirth among the smaller part of the audience. As the admission was free, a collection was taken up, by which the funds of the Sabbath school will benefit to the extent of about 255, On the motion "of Mr Wat son, seconded by Mr E. Armstrong, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Price for the able manner m which he had entertained the audience, and a similar vote was accorded to Mrs Finlay son for presiding at the harmonium, and to Mr Aimstreng for his descriptive notes. The singing of the Doxology and the pronouncing of the Benediction brought a very pleasant evening to a close.

Farliamentury Grossip.

(BY TELEOEAPH FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, August 29, Mr W. P. Reeves asked the Minister for Education a question upon a matter of much interest to artisan classes, viz., na to whether he was aware that young persons working nominally as apprentices m factories m this colony were m many cases not indentured, and could not get their employers to indenture them ; and whether he would endeavor so to amend law as to provide that all persons working as apprentices should have the right to bo regularly indentured. The Minister replied that Government had not sufficient information for dealing with the question, but promised to consider the matter. A proposal is being considered by West Coast residents under which the proposed deviation of the Midland Railway route at Lake Brunner may be made more pala table, by the company agreeing to put a •steamer on the lake, and forming a road so as to give iLumara and Greenstone people connection with the line, though at a greater distance thai} was proposed m the original plans, Mr Joyce intends to ask m the House whether it is true th:it Government officials iv various branches of the public service m Wellington who f profess to be competent to prepare plans and specifications for erection of buildings, are permitted to augment their salaries by acting as private architects m relation to buildings erected or being erected for commercial enterprise or private use, A compromise has been arranged be tween Government and Opposition m regard to the primage duty. A bill was brought down this afternoon and passed through a}\ its stages at one sitting to lega lise tl|e cpljectiou of duty up to the end of the present month on the understanding that it will then cease altogether, In reference to the School Committee Bill, providing for the abolition of the cumulative vote which Government have promised to take up, they will m Com mittee, it is staled, move that three votes be allowed, but will acgept the decision of the Houee if one vote is agreed, on,

Corn Exchange Report.

+_ — - —— i The following is the Corn Exchange Report for the week ending August / 29th :— Trade is entirely paralyzed by the strike on the intercolonial steamers, and prices are purely nominal. The freight ques tion absorbs the universal attention of those m the trade, and even when ordi nary relations are again restored, there will probably be such a glut m the Aus tralian market that prices may not re cover for some time. The only cereal that has not suffered proportionately is wheat, and this is owing to the strike not having interfered with homeward bound vessels. Sales of wheat have been made at prices quoted. Last week s quotations are repeated (except as to wheat and potatoes), as under the circumstances it is impossible to give more reliable infor mation, and even the figures given are only nominal. Our quotations for the week are as follows :—Wheat—Tuscan, 3s 5d to 3s 6d ; Pearl, 3s 3d to 3b 4d ; Hunter's, 3s 2d to 3s 3d. Oats—Milling, Is 7d ; short heavy feed, Is 5d to Is 6d ; long and inferior, Is 3d to Is 4d. Barley—Prime malting, 3s 3d ; feed, Is 6d to Is 9d. Beans, 2s 6d. Peas—Prussian Blues, 3s to 3s 6d ; feed, 2s 4d to 2s 6d. Ryegrass — Machine dressed, ss. Cocksfoot — Bright heavy seed, 4jd to 4£d ; Potatoes —Derwents, 40s to 48s 6d at country stations. Dairy Produce, unaltered. The above prices (potatoes excepted), are those paid to farmers for delivery, .0.b., Lyttelton; sacks extra.

Live Stock Market.

TINWALD Mr D. Thomas (late of Matson, Cox, and Co.) reports upon the Live Stock Market for the Ashburton District for the week ending August 26th as follows :—. On Tuesday, at the Tinwald Yards, I held my usual weekly sale of sheep, cattle, and pigs. The total entry for the day consisted of 2942 sheep and 42 cattle, of which I had for sale 1930 sheep and 20 head of cattle. The attendance was a small one, and bidding slack, resulting m a drop of Is to Is 6d a head on the better class of sheep. In store sheep most of the merinos and crossbred ewes were m very poor condition. The following were the prices :—ln Fat Sheep—Merino wethers, 12s Bd, 12s lid, to 14s Id; crossbred ewes, 13s sd, 13s lOd, 15s, 15s 2d. In j Stores—Crossbred ewes m lamb, 11s Bd, 13s 9d, and 8s; merino ewes, 4s 7d, 6s lOd, to 7s Id; crossbred hoggets, 8s Bd. In Cattle —Fab heifer, £9 ; store cows, £1 10s, £3 2s 6d; two year old, £1 10s; yearlings, 10s. Messrs Miles and Co., per George Jameson, report :—The entry for the day comprised about 2932 shetp and 43 cattle. There was a good attendance of local buyers, and all lots of store sheep were well competed for—particularly crossbred and merino ewes m lamb. We sold as follows :—159 fat merino wethers, lls Id ; 30 crossbreds at 13s ; 30 at 12s lid ; 43 at 14s 6d; 119 crossbred ewes m lamb at 10s 6d ; 297 crossbred hoggets at lls 6d ; 213 merino ewes m lamb at 8s 6d ; some at 5s 3d ; privately during che week a line of Lincoln wethers at 19s ; also a line of crossbred and merino wethers at 15s. Cattle-—One heifer, £4 17s 6d ; one cow, £4 15s ; two steers at £5 ; four steers at £4 5s ; four heifers, £2 10s 6d ; four cows at £2 4s ; one cow, £3 15s ; two old cows for £3 10s. Mr George Jameson reports as follows : —At the Skin Sale on Friday, August 2!) th, the entry comprised 829 skins of various sorts, and all lots were well com peted fur, and every .skin sold at satisfac tory prices. Butchers' skins realised up to 4s lid : farmers' lots from Is up to is (id.

THE STRIKE.

■*■-•■ ■ It is unquestionably a calamitous thing that there should have fallen upon tliis colony the misfortune of ex periencing, m the most acute- form, the evils attendant upon a severe struggle between labor and capital; and the more so that, as regards the Union Steamship Company and employees, the latter do not urge any serious griev ance, and have only been dragged into the present dispute out of loyalty to the cause of Unionism, and m sym pathy with their brethren m Australia. In so far as the action of Labor Unions m this colony is concerned, it is clear, therefore, that the action is of a self sacrificing character, and m that re spect does them honor; but we do think that it is a mistaken policy which renders it necessary for men m New Zealand to "go out" on account of trouble arising outside of the bounds of the colony. Why should not the Union organisations of New Zealand be self-contained, or that, if there be need to have recourse to the ultimate weapon of a "strike," that resort should only be taken m connection with any grievance arising within New Zealand. It this were the cfefee, then we feel persuaded that it would be quite possible to obviate the possibility of such an occurrence. Certainly, it would not have occurred m the pre sent instance. Then, again, the Unions m New Zealand would be m a better position to further the cause of Unionists at Home or m Anstralia, under such circumstunces, inasmuch as they would be the more able to provide assistance m the shape of money; because now, themselves thrown out of employment, and neces sarily deprived of income, they will not be able to assist their fellows. This is ;i view of the matter which we commend to the heads of the labor organisations, being persuaded that m this, as m other things, the more in dependent the colony is the better.

COURSING CLUB.

Work was resumed on Thursday morn ing m a paddock below the Winchmore Homestead, and the Club were more fortunate m finding puss m greater numbers than the day before. In the early part of the day there was a rather nasty north west blow, which, however, fell off towards afternoon, and was suc ceeded by a cold temperature and slight rain. The arrangements were the same as on the previous day, and quite as satis factory. In the All-aged Stakes the [ second round was got through, and the first round of the Sapling Stakes left in complete on Wednesday was finished, and the second round got through. The following are the results :— ALL-AGED STAKES. 11. Pride of Erin beat Magic 11. Smoko beat Flying Spur. Aime'e beat Bishop Julius. Zara beat Strike a Light. Plato 11.a bye. Many pinned their faith on Bishop Julius, but he was put out by Mr McCann's clever little bitch, and Magic II. 1 also somewhat of a favorite, had to lower colors to Pride of Erin. The Dunedin crack Smoko was coming through his dogs with a run, and bade fair to land his backers' money, while Zara had a good chance to see the final. Sapling Stakes. I. (Continuation.) Mr •>• Dineen's brd d John L. (Three Springs —Minnie), beat MrW. Patching's blk and, w*b Jubilee (Ringwood—No

Name), Mr Lewis' blk and w d Sou' wester (Ringwood—Seabreeze) beat Mr H. Lee's blk and w b Countess (Forest Lad—Tell Tale II.) The meeting was continued yesterday m fine coursing weather, and the results were quite unexpected to many. The Christchurch bitch Pride of Erin, which had run a good dog m both first and second rounds, but had not attracted much attention, was not to be denied m the third round, putting out Smoko all the way. Plato 11. leashed with the local slut Aime'e, proved too heavy metal for her, and Zara ran a bye. In the fourth round Zara was drawn, and Plato 11. and Pride of Erin both ran byes. Then came the final; m which Plato 11. beat Pride of Erin and won the stake. Recapitulating, the card is as under :— All-Aged Stakes. 111. Pride of Erin beat Smoko. Plato 11. beat Aime'e. Zara a bye. IV. Zara withdrawn. Plato 11. an accidental bye. Pride of Erin a bye. FINAL. Mr J. Holland's f d Plato 11. (Sala mandor—Fly) beat Mr A. Hamill's blk b Pride of Erin,(Bolero—Mftid of Erin), and won the stake. Sapling Stakes. H. John L. beat Subscription. J. L. Sullivan beat Sou-wester FINAL. Mr J. Dineen's brd d John L. (Three Springs—Minnie) beat Mr T. Alexander's f d J. L. Sullivan (Spring—Fly), and won the stake.

Second Edition Latest Cable News.

HOME AND FOREIGN. [per prhss association.] (Received August 30, 12.10 p.m.) CABLE CHARGES. Sydney, August 30. A private letter received by a resi dent m Sydney from Mr Dawson, of the Pacific Cable Company, states that he has been much concerned to find that Sir J. Pender, on behalf of the Eastern Extension Cable Company, had entered into arrangements with certain Australian colonies by which the Company were to reduce the rates of cable messages to 4s per word, pro vided that'those colonies bore half the loss, if any. He mentioned that Queensland has stood out, and with regard to New Zealand it was somewhat doubtful if they had accepted the ar rangement ; but he thinks they have assisted. This, he asserts, practically means that Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand jointly may have to bear an annual charge of £40,000, which is just about the amount of interest on capital required to construct a cable from Queensland, via Tanning's Islands, Fiji, and Hawaii to Vancouver. This latter expenditure, instead of falling on two or three colo nies, would be willingly shared by Canada, Queensland, and Tasmania, as well as other colonies, and probably by the Imperial Government, inasmuch as that the latter's refusal to contribute to the scheme propounded by Sir J. Pender was based on the fact that they would not subsidise cables unless for political and strategical reasons.

LABOR QUESTIONS.

[per press association] I EFFORTS TO CONCLUDE THE j STRIKES. { (Received August 30, 1.15 p.mi) Sydney, August 30. The Mayor commenced negotiations for bringing the strike to a conclusion. Non-Union laborers are m excess of demand. Newcastle, August 30. The miners are dissatisfied at the action of the Trades and Labor Council, and they think that since they have been callled out they ought to have received better support from the Council. i A meeting is to be held to-day to consider the matter. Brisbane, August 30. Affairs m connection with the strikes are quiet. Melbourne, August 30. The city was left without gas last night, the Gas Company being desirous of saving what gas they had for to night. Government have issued a pro clamation forbidding unlawful assem blies m the Trades Hall. The Trades and Labor Council re j fused to hold a conference with ship owners owing to the latter's stipulation I that officers should withdraw from affiliation. Adelaide, August 30. The Chamber of Commerce tele graphed to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane Chambers asking them to take united action m urging respective Governments to establish Boards of Conciliation. j The Sydney Chambers have replied deprecating undue haste m the matter. Auckland, August 30. The Pukaki's crew, who struck, were replaced by eight firemen and two deck hands. The vessel left for Russell and Fiji early this morning, she will however be blocked at Russell, for die Buy of Islands coal miners have refused to work coal for any vessel manned by non-Union or blackleg labor. The first and second officer of the Pukaki, who left, state they did not do so because of any Unionist call, but be cause they consider the non-Union crews shipped were not competent, and the ship was not fit to proceed to. sea, manned as she was. Officers of the Waihora and Pukaki state they did not wire a declara tion to remain m vessels to Dunedin, but informed the local agent that they would take ships to head-quarters, provided they had competent crews. The Waihora's crew struck m a body this morning, and left the vessel at Queen street wharf. A non-Union crew were being shipped to-day. The steamer leaves for the south at five this evening if practicable. There has been no disturb ance. Things pass off very quietly. Christchurch, August 30. The officers of the Wakatipu, Colac, Tekapo, Dingadee, and Takapuna left the vessels at 1 p.m. to-day. The Union Company state they can at once fill the places. A meeting of farmers resolved to supply continuous labor while the trouble lasts.

Id the Legislative Council yesterday, the Kihikihi Cemetery Reserves Bill, Todmaii Land Grant Bill, and Administration Amend ment Bill were passed through Committee, read a third time and passed. The Electoral Bill was considered m Committee and re ported with a few verbal amendments The Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill, the Eabbit Nuisance Bill, the Census Bill, and the Truck Bill were read a second j time. Mr Stevens moved the second read ing of the Sheep Bill and the motion wis agreed to on the voices. In the House of Representatives the afternoon setting was principally occupied by a discussion on the Maritime strike,

Labor Questions

[per press association.]

London, August 28 to 29

Shaw Savill have arranged to coal their steamers at the Cape instead of' at Hobart.

The dockers protested against the Union refusing to|pay strike allowance to men who left work m the recent Tilbury strike.

Southampton employers have refused to recognise the officials of the Dockers' Union, though they are willing to grant the men's demands

Great enthusiasm was displayed at a meeting of riverside workmen. Burns says defeat m Australia means defeat m England.

Intense interest is taken m the pro ceedings of the Trades Congress on Monday, when it is expected there will be a struggle between old and new Unionism. The Associated Shipowners are determined to oppose any attempt to compel officers to join the Unions at •ny cost, and will cordially uphold the action of the colonial shipowners.

It is expected that £10,000 to £20,000 will be cabled to the Austra lian strikers during the course of the next fortnight.

An opinion is prevalent that the time is at hand when capitalists must choose between the trade unions and civil war.

Washington, August 28. The chances of a settlement of the Central Railway dispute are improving, and it is asserted that the influence of the Knights of Labor is steadily on the wane.

New York, August 28. Grand Master Workman Powderly has been accused by Barry, a member of the Executive of the Knights of Labor, with privately receiving £2000 from a !New York stockbroker, to supply early news of the settlement of the strike, after the Executive had re fused the offer.

Sydney, August 29. (|The crews of the Tarawera, Hauroto, Taieri, and Ohau remain on the vessels, and decline either to leave or do a hand's turn. The cooks and stewards of these steamers have been subjected to a good deal of pressure by the local Society, but decline to act without in structions from the New Zealand Society. A number of test cases have been instituted by seamen against one or two Companies, claiming wages which owners declined to pay when the men struck. Melbourne, August 29. Government intend to call out 200 mounted riflemen m case of emergency. At seven o'clock to-night no gas was available m the city. The officers of the Company are at the works assisting m making gas.

! Wellington, August 29. The Government are firmly resolved not to interfere m the labor dispute, but are equally determined to prevent any disturbances or violence, and to protect the freedom of all labor, whether Union or non-union. Careful arrangements have been made wiqb this object, and any attempts at intimidation or rough usage will be promptly and sharply dealt with. The Union Company's clerks express willingness to assist m discharging the steamer Wairarapa on her arrival. Applications have been received from all partl! of the colony for portions of the cargo of coal which the steamer Bagley is bringing from Newcastle. None, how ever, have been acceded to, as the ship ment is intended for Nelson Bro.'s freez ing works at Gisborne and Napier. Both the Takapuna, for South, and the Kanieri, for Blenheim, manned with non-Union crews, sailed this afternoon, the non unionists being kept below until the vessels were clear of the wharf. The Doric is keeping her refrigerators working by coal supplied by the Union Company. At noon the work of coaling the Dorki ceased, the Lumpers' Union declining to handle any of the Union Company's" coal. Negotiations proceeded between the agent of Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company and the Lumpers' Union, and the boycott was removed. The Wharf Carters and Expressmen's Unicn decline to handle any goods m connection with the Union Company's vessels. Laery and Co. report prices for the week :—Potatoes, 80s to 90s per ton ; oats, 2s 3d ; pollard, 90s ; bran, 70s; chaff, 85s ; oatmeal, £12 ; wheat, 3s 6d ; flour, roller, £12 10s; wheatmeal, £12 10s ; cheese, 4d ; eggs, 8d to lOd ; onions,. £15 nominal. They express the opinion that there will be no scarcity of the lead ing lines of food m any of the centres of population, as they all have back country to draw from. The Gas Company have only three weeks' supply of coal. They had a very large stock of coke, but m the last three days sold 300 tons, and expected all would be sold to-morrow. The Pbiiguin was to have left at seven for NeAV Plymouth and the passengers were on board ; but, shortly before that honr, all the seamen and firemen on the steamer struck work, without notice, and left. The steamer is stuck up m con sequence. Blenheim, August 29. The Union Company shipped a non- Union crew for the Kanieri last night. They went over to Wellington as pas sengers, and will commence work when the Union crew go out to-day. The agent had no difficulty m getting hands, and has received a large number of applications for employment. Last night the halyards of the Company s flag-pole, at their office, were cut to pieces. Business is depressed, and coal and produce generally are greatly on the rise. Greymouth, August 29. | The Union Company have risen freights for this port 50 per cent. All New Zea land produce is getting very short. It is estimated that the stock of flour and horse feed will be exhausted m a fortnight. Sugar, potatoes, butter, and other lines have considerably increased m price. There is a general rush on the merchants by townspeople and others to lay m as large a stock of supplies as possible, but the merchants decline to execute, trying to eke out their stocks as much as possible m the interests of the general body of customers. If no supplies are received within a fortnight great scarcity of food products must ensue. Efforts were made yesterday to try to clean the market out of horse feed and flour, but met with only limited success. Three different parties are now bringing m coal for sale from Nine Mile ; it is generally considered the best coal ever used here for domestic purposes. Dunedin, August 29. A meeting of the various Trades Unions has been convened by the Trades and Labour Council and Maritime Council for Monday, to consider the difficulty. Kempthorne, Prosscr and Co. have an nounced that the shareholders have de cided to declare no dividend, owing to the unsettled, state of trade. The wharf laborers to-day struck work m discharging the Te Anau's cargo, although it vrna understood last evening that all inward cargo would be discharged. The fruiterers who had fruit on board went down and landed their own material.

The Union Company's clerks turned to aftervvawLj, and did excellent work m turning out cargo. To-morrow eight young fellows, 'menilera of the Otago rlowing Club, take a turn at discharging c-in.ro. Tt is understood that the Union Company couldgetfree "labour,"but they do not want to start that until all their plans are laid.

Nothing is to be got as to the private meeting of employers, which was ad journed to next week, nor as to the meeting of merchants, but it is under stood that the latter will insist on their s foremen leaving the Union or going on strike. There is no excitement at all ab the wharves. Jri view of the possible strike of carter, several merchants who have farms and stations have sent to these for horses and drays. Several brass and iron and woodware factories will only work part time next work. The men employed at the Hillside workshops and m the way and works de partment received notice yesterday that until farther instructions were received their services would be required for only thirty-two hours per week, On 'Monday, .Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Mr Millar, Secretary of the Maritime Council, declines to supply the slightest information as to labour matters. To every question put he replies that he knows nothing. At a meeting of railway servants, half pay was voted to driver Nelson, who was suspended a month ago. It was resolved to start a levy of half a day's pay per man per month, m aid of the seamen on strike at next pay d»y.

Auckland, August 29 The crew of the Pukaki struck work this afternoon while the steamer was loading afc the Sugar Works at Chelsea. A non-union crew was, however, engaged, and the vessel leaves to-night for Russell. The railway traffic on the Auckland line continues as usual, but the men at the Newmarktt workshops are working only four days a week.

It is stated that the food supply at present m Auckland could hardly last longer than a week. This calculation is based upon what is m the city alone. Coal is m brisk demand.

Westport, August 29. A meeting of citizens was numerously attended. Leading merchants said there was only three weeks' supply of food m Westport, and one week's at Denniston, An Association, to be called the Chamber of Commerce, was formed, and a com mittee was appointed to collect informa tion as to the best steps to take to meet the present emergency, and to report to another public meeting. All railway wages men have been given a fortnight's notice. A general strike of railway hands is feared.

The Mawhera will probably succeed m getting loaded by the U.S S. Co.'s office hands, assisted by several townspeople. The.Mahinapua is doubtful. The. Mana watu is expected at 2 o'clock with non- Union labor, and great interest is at tached to her. The town is all excite ment.

At 1 p.m. four railway workshop hands were put on to load theMawhera. At 2 the president of the local Railway Ser vants' Association called them out. They immediately knocked off work, and were suspended. The Mawhera will sail with her present cargo. The seamen refused to trim• coal, while the solitary "free laborer " was employed m the staith, and he was. discharged. The Manawatu is overdue and there is a promise of a de monstration on her arrival. Five shillings per hour are offered for labor.

Chrlstchurch, August 29. At Lyttelton to-day the Rotorua was discharged and loaded by. the railway permanent hands, but the quantity of cargo on her was very small. She left for Dunedin soon after four, taking the crews of the Wakatipu and Tekapo. On the train with "free labour " arriv ing at Lyttelton, sixty who had volun teered for the work were admitted to the Tekapo. A detachment of police pre vented the crowd from going on the steamers' Wharves. An enormous crowd assembled, but 'was perfectly orderly and good humored. The hired laborers were given a day's pay and sent back by the return train. The voluntary men began discharging coal from the Tekapo about two o'clock, and by five had got some eight trucks out.; Their awkwardness caused great amusement. Mucli of the coal was scattered about the wharf, and some dropped overboard. Shortly after two o'clock, thirteen volunteers went to the Wairarapa to discharge general cargo, a task at which they were not more adept than at landing coal. All stuck piuckily to the work, and an improvement was manifest m the evening. The sixty have been divided into reliefs, and have arranged to work all night. Mr G. G. Stead, assisted by several prominent citizens, is directing affairs. The officers of the Tekapo, Wairarapa, Beautiful Star, Rotorua, and Wakatipu held a conference on board the Wairarapa, and decided to take no action, pending the general conference of officers at Dunedin.

The seamen and firemen of the Te kapo left m a body soon after the non- Union labor went aboard.

Large numbers of Chrisfcchurch people went to port to "see the fun." There was no .attempt at disturbance. The sailors leaving the boat were cheered and the nori-Union workers groaned.

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, August 29. In the House this afternoon Mr O'Con nor called attention to a most important matter m connection with the seamen's strike going on at present m the colony. The shipping Company, he believed, were availing themselves of unskilled labor. The law provided that a certain proportion of skilled persons should be carried m vessels, and the Government would be grossly culpable if they stood by, and allowed it to be broken. He was informed that that very day, alongside the Wellington wharf, boys and other persons totally unfit for the positions were nominally put into them m order to enable the boats to pass out of the harbor. He asked the .Government to consider who would bear the responsi bility if any of the people were lost at sea m consequence of this or their properties destroyed. It was said that the Govern ment had even gone further than this, and sent men out of their employ on to the ships at Westport. He appealed to the Government to get the Customs authorities at once to move m the direc tion of putting a stop to what he had mentioned.

Mr Fish said he received a telegram from Dunedin to this effect: "Am in formed that the Government have ordered their platelayers to discharge cargo on a steamer m Westport. Find out at once if correct and reply." He at once spoke to the acting Premier, who told him that so far as the Government were concerned they had done nothing, but that the Commissioners might have. The Com missioners, to whom he went accordingly, informed him that it Was practically as he had been informed. The wharf labourers m the employ of< the Government at Westport had struck that morning, and the platelayers were then called upon to take up their work. The platelayers re fused to do so and were suspended. This showed that the Commissioners were disposed to interfere between labour and capital, and if the Government permitted them to persist t-hey would be to blame for the terrible results which would certainly follow. The Commissioners moreover made no secret of it, and he hoped the Government would do some,

THE ASHBtTKTON OTABDIAN, SAWBPaY,- AfrflMP SO, 1800.



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