The Ashburton Guardian. Magna et Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1890. PARLIAMENTARY LARRIKINS

We regret to see by the proceedings m the House of Representatives on Wednesday and Thurcky evening that the Commons of New Zealand is on the way towards losing altogether that reputation for orderly conduct which for many years favorably distin guished it among Australian legis latures. On Wednesday, at 11 p.m., a Bill to provide for the reduction of the charge for the registration of shepherd's dogs to half-a-crown per dog arrived at the stage of committee, and being sent to Committee was fought on all sorts of grounds other than the real one until half-past twelve, after which hour no new business can be taken, the object being, not to throw out the Dog Bill, but to prevent a Bill of Sir George Grey's, which stood next on the order paper, having a chance of being moved. This was shown by the fact that the hour of 12.30 once reached, the Bill, which was the ostensible sub ject of discussion, was passed through? Committee m2O minutes. The follow ing night the same Bill stood first on the order paper for the third reading, but, practically, next after it another of Sir George's Bills, followed by Mr Walker's Hos pital and Charitable Act Amend ment Bills, the object of which was to secure separate districts for Ashburton, Manawatu and Waimate. Against this last Bill the city members formed a combination, and had arranged to talk against time on the Dog Bill and the Elective Governors' Bill so as to prevent Mr Walker's Bill having a hearing. Members were so disgusted at the prospect of a second innings, and talking against time, that a " count j out" resulted, this however, being accomplished through a trick which was highly discreditable to all concerned, a number of members being locked m the Whips' room so as to prevent their attending at the summons of the bell. It is high time the present House should be sent about its business if the J public business is to be played with m this larrikin fashion. More than this it should be the first duty of the new House, after assembly, to amend the standing orders, so as to prevent the abuse of the forms of the House, which has become a public scandal.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The planet Venus, which is now shining with such brilliaucy m the evening m the western heavens, is visible to the naked eye (hiring the day time. If its position with regard to the moon is observed at night time, it can be easily found during the day, if due allowance is made for the increasing distance between the two bodies, owing to the moon being later each day. An example of how fertility is restored to the earth ia found m the pure snow, which yields on analysis a considerable amount of ammonia. On one occasion snow collected from an elevated point m Shropshire, by J)r Thursfield, was found to yield a quantity which, with a fall of snow equi valent to an inch of rain, would very nearly amount to one-third of a pound of ammonia per acre. A fire occurred last night m a two-roomed cottage on the North Belt. The alxrm be]l was rung at about ten o'clock, and a number of the Fire Brigade, with the curricle engine turned out. When the scene of the fire was reached, however, it was found that but little could be done ns the fire bad got too strong a hold on the building, The house was a detached one belonging to Mr Win. Patterson, and h:ul not been occupied for a fortnight, so that no cause can be assigned for tiie fire. The building was insured for £40 m the Union Office. The Baby Ogden Dramatic Company will open at the Oddfellows' Hall. Ashburtou, on Tuesday evening next m "Bleak House," Baby Ogden sustaining her wouo'erful im personation of "Jo." The merits of the drama and the ability of the lilliputian " star " who undertakes the title role are too well known to our readers to require additional comment to that given when the company visited Ashburton on a former occasion. In addition to "Bleak House," the comedy of "Stella and Festus" will form part of the programme. The " Auckland Star" says :■ —Legislation must be framed so at to stop this tendency to the accumulation of princely fortunes, if we wish to avoid the undesirable and unfail ing concomitant of dire distress and pauper ism. A plutocracy more insolent, proud, and haughty than the old aristocracy of England is securing itself m the country by the acquisition of ducal possessions. It must have its growth and pretensions nipped m the bud, if we would avoid the painful experience of older lands. A land tax is at present the most effective'and practicable method that presents itself of securing a more general diffusion of vast wealth pro duced annually by the fertile, soil and climate of How Zealand. The liquidators of the Commercial Bank of South Ajjistfrtlsaeia havg decided to pay the balance of tljeir liability as regards the principal to the uredjlors,, Sj-f] w t))9 <late on which the first instalment of £1 per sjjare was due (June IS) an amount of £7f5,Q77 has been received from the shareholders. It has how been decided to pay a seventh dividend rjf J,, f b"d In the £on July 7, and this will aniWJ.it m ftbcmt £58,000. Since June 18 the Kquida'itws kavt, yaid off the balance of the liability, with iiiicnest, fo the. Government, anioiuitwg to £6620 14s Id. l!lu; Jrustecs of the late RoWfc lAWnf)}}, w^l'e successful m obtaining a v<ji!edi£t against the bank, bare already been paid 18s (?d ii;. the £ (£21,043), and out of the first instalment qf the call they will be paid the balance, amounting to £1706, ss, but this item is in cluded m the above amount of £58,000. The foHowiiig remarks appear m a recent number of the ■■ I/tyulon. Standard":— " N«w Zealand shippers" of pro- Aam 'have acquired a reputation iqi djs honcit iiitfks Which they will find it feard to get rid of. 17.t-.ter rubbish has been found inside their tnu<m ■(& hay shipped to Australia, and loose b&H i#. .their kegs,of butter sent to England, and now jt-h.eir new flax industry has been seriously injured through the packing of inferior fibre inside the 'Vales, No doubt the young people of New Zealand, as those of other countries, write ' HoificsT.y is the best policy' m their copybooks, aud \ye shou ,«Jtye sorry to believe that our fellow coimtr.ymen m ihe colony, as a body, are less mindful ,of that $.dage than other people ; but * few rogues have power to do an enormous amount of mischief to the export trade, and unless the Colonial fJovorum'eiit adopt special measures for stuping their malpractices, tho commercial re.p\ita,fcU*. rf the colony throughout the world will be' iw^arably injured." Holloway's Puax. -- indigestion and fiver Complaints—The digestion' t^#not be lorifc <W seriously disordered without the, doriUigerneiii being prcccptiably on the count ance. These piljj? nrcvent. liotli unpleasant i consequences.; they mu^m'a the appetite,' and with the increase desire for food, they: ■a-ugajfitit the powers of tu,id amimi-: lation m Hit) stomach. Holloway's Pills deal moat satisfactorily witli deranged or deceased condition wf the many organs engaged m extracting Moui<i>shment for our' fbodies twin our various diets-^-as t!^ Jjver, [ stomach, Miil'bpwels, over all of which they exercise tihe .Hiost salutary control. By rwort ing at an early stage of this malady to these pm-ifying and laxatiTe pil|!s, the dyspeptic is speedily restored to health and strength, jul his sallowness gradually vanishes.

Mr C. B. Eichbaum, chemist, of Timaru, has filed a declaration of insolvency. Bank rupt's statement shows a deficiency of £1710 lls lOd, with no unsecured assets whatever. Debts to secured creditors are put down at £2061 9s 4d, and securities are mainly bills of sale to bankrnpt's father. The Depiuiy- Official Assignee has requested the Official Assignee to conduct an inquiry. The recent departure of Arthur Clampett, alias Sullivan, from Wellington to Sydney by the s.s. Wakatipu was marked by a some what amusing incident. The wharf at the time was fairly*crowded with friends of the passeugers, together with a large number of men who had been working on board the steamer. As the boat moved away the i quondam'evangelist, who stood hi a prominent position upon the upper deck, suddenly put his hand into his pocket and took therefrom a, half-sovereigo, which he threw amongst the crowd, who, not nnnaturally, scrambled for the coin, and then showed an eagerness for other favours of a like kind. Be that as it may, Clampett smiled benignly, and draw ing forth several pieces of silver, he threw them m their direction, and then stood watching the scramble, until the boat liad carried him out of distance for repeating the experiment.—"Post." .^ Sir Bartle Frere, the late ffirican ex plorer, had a troublesome supper one night off ears, human ears, and even » few of them Christian. He was travelling m the interior from Zanzibar, and lost his escort, had no food, and sought shelter m a native; hut. An old woman, who was m charge, gave them some eggs, with which Sir Bartle made an omelet. Then, noticing some little bhtek balls hanging from the roof, he added them to the dish, under the impression that they were mushrooms, m spite of the old woman's remonstrance. And those black balls which had been gobbled up by the only representa tive of civilisation present m the hut at the time were the trophies of a lifetime, being the testimony of the prowess of the warrior who owned tne hut. When that! worthy returned and found the ebony knobs which had adorned his ceiling all gone lie gyrated, and Sir Bartle sheered off quick. W&a it after this or before that the English were massacaed at Isandula ? The Public Works estimates include the following items:—Road to the Upper Ashley over Kuku Pass; road to Mount Cook and the glaciers ; Ohau bridge, £1 for £1 ; the village and deferred payment blocks, miscell aneous and engineering comprise Te Aro extension, £6000; Lincoln-Little River, drainage of Akaroa endowment lands (to be recouped out of sale), £3000; land claims and old liabilities, £700 ; surveys, £1500 ; total, £12,500. Railways—Part 2, comprise Mar ton-Te Awamatu, north end, £10,000; ditto south end, £12,000; Burveys, £2500 ; total, J27,500. Railways—Part 3, comprlfe new works, construction, £170,460, viz., Helens ville Northward, Grahamstown, TeAroha, £2000; Woodville-Pahnerston, £31,3lO; Mungamahoe-Woodville, £2711 x Blenheim- Awatere, £2000; Greymouth-Hokitika, £10,000; Otago Central, £29,930; Catlin's River, £20,000; Wyndham-Fortrose, £2500. Additions to open lines, £12,928 ; the largest items being -Foxton-New Plymouth, £8811; Hurunui-Bluff, £2136; permanent way, sleepers, rolling stock, £49,000.

Corn Exchange Report

The following is the Corn Exchange Report for the week ending Friday, July 25 : The bit,tch of cables to hand and late reports have been of a more encouraging nature. Wheat m the London market continues steadily to increase m value, m consequence of which numerous transactions have come under notice. Oats still show a decided weakness, and sales are difficult to effect. Baulky—Prime malting barley is m fair request at quotations, whilst medium and feed are almost neglected. Beans can be placed where freight for London can be obtained. i Prussian Blue Peas—A firmer tone exists ! for hand threshed. j Grass Sked for spring sowing is now meeting with fair enquiry. Potatoes for immediate delivery command ready sales at a slight advance on quotations. Dairy Produce shows no material change. The following are our quotations for the week ■ — V neat—Tuscan, 3s 3d; Pearl, 3s to 3s Id T,inter's, 2s lid to 3s. Oats—Nominally Is 7d for milling, and Is 5d to Is 6d for short heavy feed, others Is 3d to Is4d according to quality. Barley—Prime malting, 3s 3d; feed, Is'ij to Is 9d. Beans, 2d f>d to 2s fid. Peas—Hand threshed blue boilers, 3s 3d; feed, 2s 4d to *2s 6d. Kyegrass—Machine dressed, 4s 9d to ss, Cocksfoot—For heavy seed up to lfilbs 4|d can be obtained ; light sorts, 2^d to 3Jd, Potatoes—Derwcnts, 42s 6d to 45s ab country stations. The above prices are those paid to fanners for delivery f.o.b. at Lyttelton. Sacks extra (potatoes excepted).

The Markets.

j (PKR. KRKNS ASSOCIATION.

London, July 24. Quotations for .New Zealand hemp and oats .ire unchanged. New Zealand mutton, 4|d per lb, lamb 5d ; New Zealand beef, hindquarters 4d, forequar£erß 2|c|. The recent sever© storms have mostly injured the barley crops. Irakis, -July 2§. Severe storms have damaged the French crop;?, chiefly "wheat The New Zealand Loan arid Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, have received the following cable message, datpd Lon don. 24th July, 1890:- Wool —The sales closed this day. Since the close of last sales superior greasy and scoured merino, medium and inferior grgasy nierjno.,»nd coarse greasy crossbred liave advanced M per ]lj f cjonibing washed has advanced |d to M per Ib, njiedium crossbred and crossbred lambs have der dined 'd to Id per lb ; other descriptions unchanged. The total quantity sold during the past sales is 292,000 bales, of which 140,000 bales have been taken for ,the;"Canti<;e;?.t and 10,000 bales for America 1. It "is' estij/iiited that 110,000 bales have been held over for future dis posal. New Zealand Hemp—Market steady. Quotations unchanged. The same .Company Jiave also received the folloAving message, dated London, July 24th:— ' ' parley—The market :f,or English barley lis unfavorable. New Zealand arriving liere frorai October to December, m goo,(i 1 condition, wiil probably "all to m d advantage.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The Minister of Public Works (the Hon Mr Fergus) delivered the Public Works Statement on the House re-assembling last evening. The following is a sum mary :— Mb Speaker—The interest attached to the Public Works Statement was gener ally m proportion to the atnount of funds for new works at the disposal of the Government. As the funds decreased, i however, greater care had been exer cised m disposing of them, and the ques tion assumes more than ordinary impor tance at the present juncture, when we are endeavoring to meet' the ordinary demands of settlement without the aid of borrowed money. In dealing with the subject I shall explain the present posi tion of the funds and works and then submit our proposals for the future. PUBLIC WORKS FUND. The amount standing to the credit of the Public Works fund m the Treasurer's books on the 31st March last was £959,492, but there is a further sum of £87,974 due to Part'l for advances under the Government Loan to Local Bodies Act. The debentures of the local bodies are negotiable at any time, so the amount to the credit of the Public Works funds is really £1,047,466. Against this there are outstanding liabilities to the amount of £314,933, leaving a balance of £732,533. Hon members are aware the Public Works fnnd has been divided into three parts. Part 1 com prises miscellaneous items of expen diture chargeable to loans. Part 2 deals with the North Island Main Trunk Railway, and Part 3 with railway works generally. The amounts to the credit of each of these are as follows : —Part 1, balances on 31st March, 1890, £233,675 ; liabilities, 31st March, 1890, £114,309 ; net balance £119,366. Part 2, balance £386,985 ;. liabilities £.9694 ; net balance £377,291 Part 3, balance £426,806; liabilities £190,930; net balance £235,876. Totals, £1,047,466, £314,933, £732,533. EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS- The expenditure during the past year, has been, on Part 1, £167,513 ; Part 2 £48,832 ; and Part 3 (exclusive of credit on account of previous years), £194,385, making a total of £410,730. The amount voted for actual expenditure was £635,721. Consequently we are within our votes to the extent of £224,991. The additional authorisation for further liabilities amounted to £280,816, so the Government had altogether £916,537 at its disposajl for expenditure and commitments. The expenditure and liabilities amounted to £725,633 ; so here we are within our authorised expenditure to the extent of £190,874. Particulars of the year's expenditure are given m tables attached to the Statement, The annual expenditure for the last seven years has decreased steadily from £1,419,000 m 1883-84 to £410,700 m 1889-90. It was confidently expected by a large section of the community that any considerable diminution of the Public Works expen diture would eutail serious results on the commerce and industries of the colony, but, happily, these forebodings have not been realised. As shown by my hon. col league, the Premier, our Jpower of pro duction is increasing at an extraordinary rate, and the "unemployed" who, m 1880, numbered 1300, have ceased as a body to exist. The enterprise and energy which m former years were devoted to the prosecution of public works, have found fresh outlets m other directions equally profitable to the country, includ ing the purchase of Provincial and Dis trict railways. The total expenditure to the 31st March, 1890, on Avorks and ser vices throughout the colony chargeable to loan, whs £27,774,930, the principal items being" — Railways, £15,028,353 ; Roads, £3,552,999: Water Races, £510,280; Tele graphs, £E9D,356; 8ui1ding5,£1,757,966; Lighthouses and Harbor Works and Harbor defence, £879,152 ; immigra tion, £2,143,327; purchase of Native lands, £1,178,554 ; cost of raising loans, .£1,021,472 ; defence, £429,719 ; and de partmental, £341,905. Railways, Harbor Works, and Harbor Defences may be considered works of a special character beyond the ordinary operations of settle ment, and which cannot well be carried out without borrowed capital; and the purchase of Native lands and the con struction of roads m connection there with are fair charges on the land revenue; but the cost of ordinary roads, telegraphs, public buildings, lighthouses, and other less important works hitheito charged to loan must m future be charged to the Consolidated Fund. This is an aspect of the question that I would like to im press on the attention of hon members, for m the natural desire to lighten the burdens of taxation it is frequently over looked. With regard to the balance of the Public Works Fund still available it is our intention to expend it for the pur poses for which it was borrowed, making it carry us on to the end of next year, m accordance with the policy of economy which the Government has systematically pursued. It is proposed to proceed with all classes of public works m a very can* tious manner, compared with the higher rate of speed to which we have been accustomed, and which as already shown by the experience, of the last year or two, prove that the " slowing-down" process is not retarding the progress of the country. We propose to expend all the available funds for railways m completing lines to convenient terrains. Proposals with reference to the individual lines and other works Aviil be stated further on, under their respective heads. The following is an abstract of the state of the Public Works Fund on the 31st March lafit, and an estimate of what it will be on the 31st March next :—Cash balances on 31st March, 1890 -.—Part 1, £233,675 ; Part 2, £386,985; Part 3, £426,806. Total, £1,047,466. Amount proposed for actual expenditure during 1890-91, £184,284, £108,800, £230,888 ; t0ta1,£523,972. Estimated cash balances on 31st March, 1891, available for expenditure at that date, £49,391, £278,185, £195,918 ; £523,494. Cash balances on 31st March, 1890,| £233,675, £386,985, £426,808 ; tohil, £1,047,466. Total appropriation proposed for expenditure during 189,0.-91, and to cover liabilities at end of year, £242,275, £191,544, £310,719^ total, £744,538. Estimated balance on 31st March, 1891. available for future appropriation :—Dr. £8600, £195,441, £116,087 ; total, £312,728. Part 1 of the fund will apparently be overdrawn at the end of the year to the extent of £8,600, but the credits that will come tq the account during the year under "The Ellesmcre Lake Lands Act, 1888, wjll, it is esti mated, more than coyer the apparent deficiency. WORKING RAILWAYS (Including the district lines purchased.) There were 1813 miles of Government ' railways m operation throughout the colony on the 31st March last—6B4 miles m the North Isjand and 1129 miles m the South Island. Forty-three miles have been opened during the year. The total expenditure on railways, including pro vincial and district lines, has been £15,028,353. Of this £774,214 was for sections under construction, and £203,404 for surveys of new lines ; permanent way materials m stock and minor charges. The balance of £14,050,735, gives £7750 as the average cost per mile of the New Zealand railways made and equipped. Cost of other lines £13,999,955, £150,780 less than the "amount just given. The report of the Railway Commissioners shows a Very satisfactory result for the working of the railways during the past year, the earnings have been £1,095,569,

and the working expenses £682,787, showing a profit of £412,782, which is equal to £2 19s scl per cent on £13,999,955, the total cost of the open lines. Out of a total of 1813 miles, 1193 miles show a return of 4& per cent on cost of £8,888,733, and of those again 124 miles pay over 4 per cent on £1,082,798. The best paying is the Napier-Woodville section, 97 miles, which returns £5 4s 3d per cent, then the Hurunui-Blnff section, 1069 miles, with £310s 9d per cent. The traffic on the railways has increased con j siderably during the past year. The passengers have increased from 3,132,803 to 3,376,459, and goods from 1,920,431 tons to 2,073,955 tons. Among the lines which pay less than 3 per cent, the most noticeable instances of improvement are the Foxton-New Plymouth line, which paid £1 lls 7d per cent m 1889-90, as against 17s 9d m 1888-89, and the Wel lington -Ekatahuna line, which slioavs anin crease from £2 2s 6d to £2 8s lOd per cent. The district railways generally are much improved. The three more important lines, Rakaia-Ashbur ton Forks, Duntroon- Hokataramea, and Waimea Plains are now returning a considerable surplus over working expenses. The increase m the traffic last year is to a considerable extent due to the Exhibition at Dunedin. The tourist traffic increased last year m a marked degree, and promises considerable expansion m the future. During four ! months, from November to February | 6350 tourists were landed m this colony from Australia. Some of these acquired ! a permanent stake m the country. | After referring to the attractiveness of the colony as a visiting place for tourists, the Minister continued :—'The Railway Commissioners have applied for the £54,000 for necessary works on open lines during the year. As the balance on the loan allocation for this class of works was only £12,928, we have been unable to see our way to propose a vote for more than that sum—that is the amount neces sary to cover liabilities already incurred, the re-arrangement of the Palmerston North station and minor works over all the lines of railway under construction. Helensville northwards—A contract en tered into inMarchlastforthe construction Makarau section, three miles of the line north of Hellensville, commencing at Knaboi m the Kaukapakapa valley. Working surveys at the line have been carried for seven miles beyond the Makarau section, and a contract is m preparation for the Te Aroha section. A contract has also been entered into for the construction of a wharf at Mount Rix, two miles below Helensville. After providing for liabilities the balance on the allocation for this railway is £21,042. This will be absorbed by an extension of 5 miles and the continuation of the sur veys. It is proposed to let a contract for the Takekora section during the year. Grahamstown-Te Aroha. — The only works m progress during the year are the Grahamstown-Te Aroha culverts. The small vote proposed to cover liabilities, land claims, and other contingencies. It is not intended this year to put any new works m hand. Putaruru-Rotorua. — A contract was entered into m February last for the construction of the Kapanga section, 1014 miles, which brings the line to Koofto, Okohiriki, a point about twelve miles from the Rotorua township. North Island Trunk Railway.—With exception of the Porotaro Tunnel, the works on the North Island Trunk Rail way are at present at a standstill. The Waitaki sections were handed to the Railway Commissioners m May last. The tunnel is just approaching com pletion. The cash balance on the North Island Trunk Railway fund on the 31st March last was £386,985, against which there were liabilities to the amount of £9694. There is also a further sum of £97,744, .set apart for purchase of Native Lands under North Island Trunk Loan Acts. The balance, therefore, at our dis posal for fresh undertakings is £279,547. Of this ifc is proposed to devote a further sum of £40,056 for construction of road to an-J through the Native lands recently purchased. " This loaves £239,491 at present available for the extension of the railways, but lands bought and expendi ture on their improvement are. simply an investment of railway funds, which can be drawn upon from time to time as re quired. Total expenditure on the North Island Trunk Railway to 31st March last has been £122,541. Of this amount £89,247 has been paid for 630,283 acres, of which purchases are complete, and £33,294 on account of blocks under negotiation. We propose to complete 5f miles between Rangitira and Mohine. It is also proposed to carry on a complete system of roads m connection with the North Island Trunk Railway. . Woodville-Palmerston—Contract pro gressing, expected to be finished about November ; £7C,000 will be required to supplement funds for finishing line. Wellington-Woodville-—Line opened at Eketahuna at beginning of financial year. £3000 is required to complete. It is proposed to extend the line at the Wellington end, from Thordon to Te Aro, at a cost of £13,000. Blenheim-Awatera—Contract let for 2| miles formation between the end of Dash wood and Dashwood Pass, and surveys made on Vernon and Dashwood sections. Westport-Ngkawa—A Bill will be intro duced during the session to authorise extension to Mohikinui river, seven miles, out of the Westport Harbor Works. It is not intended to allow this line to be constructed as a private enterprise. It is absolutely necessary this line should be made at once. Greymouth - Hokitika — Teremakau bridge was completed early m the year. Mount Somers Branch—The railway to Springburn having been completed it is not proposed to extend the line any further for the present. Otago Central—First section from Chain Hills to Hindon handed over to Commissioners, and opened for traffic m October 1889. Rails are laid for twenty nine miles, and formation complete to Middlemarsh, forty-eight miles from Dunedin. It is expected the line will be open to Middlemarsh by Christmas. Catlin's River—Contract has been let for completion of line from Romohapa to McDonald's Saddle, It is proposed to extond the line to Owake. Edendale-Fortrose. — Section between Wyndham and Glenham road crossing is open for traffic. Midland Railway.—Section between Brunner and Ngahere open for traffic ; remaining 18 miles to Reefton under construction ; section between Stillwater Junction and Kaimate completed, 'I and one and a-half miles m progress ; "con tract let for six miles at Springfield end. An application from the Midland Coin parry to divert the line from the. west to cast side of Lake Brunner will be referred to Parliament, Government refused to entertain a proposal from the Company to substitute a rack railway on the Abt system for ordinary locomotive line over the Spooner range at Nelson end. Grey mouth-Point Elizabeth. —Arrange ments completed for railway from Grey mouth to coalfields, near Point Elizabeth, six miles. HARBOURS' The Minister referred at length to the affairs of the West Coast coal harbours. SPECIAL WORKS. Exploration surveys have been made for a road to Milford Sound. A special Vfite for roads north of Auckland will not be required. Main Roads.—The amount voted last year was £14,000, and the expenditure included £12,799 and liabilities L 2856. It is propospd to. ask for a vote of £12,630 for this year to cover these liabilities As loan funds for main roads

will be exhausted afc the end of March next, maintenance of these roads must thereafter be otherwise provided for. £28,912 was voted last session for miscellaneous roads and bridges, and £19,988 expended, and liabilities incurred to the further amount of £10,015. For the current year we shall ask for a vote of £17,096 to cover liabilities, and to aid m continuing some of the works. Should the whole of the expenditure proposed come to account during the current year the loan allocation for this class of work will also be exhausted. ROADS AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION" ACT. Transactions under Roads and Bridges Construction Act during the past year were limited to payment of a sum of £227 m respect of outstanding grants. The 1 lia bilities under the Act on 31st March last amounted to £273. During the year a sum of £1871 was spent out of the £8000 voted for work for the unemployed. It is propesed to ask for £2000 this year to provide for further work of this kind, should the necessity arise. ROADS TO'OPEN CROWN LANDS BEFORE SALE For these purposes Parliament voted last year £47,502, out of which £28,160 was spent, and liabilities incurred amount ing to £18,698. In addition to cover these liabilities, and to provide for the extension of works m hand and others necessary to facilitate the settlement of Crown Lands, we shall ask for a total authorisation of £42,370, of which £35,000 is proposed to be expended dur ing the current year. VILLAGE SETTLBMENTS. Last year the sum voted under the head of Tillage settlements for actual expenditure was £48,177. The expendi ture has only amounted to £7345. It is estimated that about £8032 will be suffi cient to meet the requirements of the current year, and it is therefore proposed to ask for a vote for that sum. A further amount of £21,881 will be probably sufficient to cover the lia bilities under the arrangements made with the village settlers for advances on their bush-felling and houses, not withstanding that the liabilities are returned as nominally amounting to £44,661, thus making a total required of £30,913, and it is therefore proposed to transfer the remainder of the loan alloca tion for Village Settlements to the different classes of road works. ROADS TO GIVE ACCESS TO THE MARTON" TE-AWAMUTU RAILWAY. A sum of £1692 was voted last year for three items, and of this amount £248 was expended during the year, and liabilities incurred amounting to £666. We propose to ask Parliament to make a material ad dition to the vote this year. We shall ask for a further allocation of £40,056 for these roadworks, some of which have been partially made either as cart or bridle roads. It is deemed advisable to provide roads which, though not following the railway line, will afford a means of direct travel between Wellington and Auckland. This will be accomplished by continuing the Hunfcerville Tururangere road by the east side of Tongariro and Ruapehu, and effecting adjunction with the existing road near Tokoanu by bridging the Tongariro river. All the roads nothwards extending to Lichfield, Oxford, and Tauranga, will be connected with the proposed road from Turangariri, the point where the main road comes m from Napier. From this same point it is proposed to continue the cart road en to Korori, and to open the Waimariro block. A road will be opened I to connect with the one already formed between Korori and Taumarumu. A through road is to be made to the Waikato suitable for riding and for driving stock. By opening these lands settlement will be stimulated, and a return obtained for the money expended. The vote proposed for expenditure within the year is £31,500, with an authorisation to incur liabilities to the further amount of £10,000. ROADS ON GOLDFIELDS. The expenditure-oil roads and tracks on goldfields last year, including subsidies to local bodies, amounted to £13,290, and on ! the 31st March last the liabilities amounted to £16,524. For the present year we ask for a total authorisation of £27,000 to cover the existing liabilities and to complete roads on which large sums have been expended. This amount will absorb the balance of the loan allo cation for works of this class. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The amount voted for public buildings out of loan last year was £48,351, of which £35,473 was expended, and lia bilities existed at the end of the year to the amount of £10,086 m addition. Out of the Consolidated Fund £34,075 was also voted for public buildings and domains, and' £25,000 for school build ings, the expenditure being £32,182 and £24,434 respectively, while liabilities existed at the end of the year to the amount of L 3,976 and L 1,031,031 m addition. The total votes from both funds last year was L 107,426, and the total expenditure L 92,089. Contracts have been entered into for the new sanatorium at Rotorua, a Customhonse at Greymouth, a stamp printing office iv connection with the Government Printing Office m Wel lington, and for a central police sta tion at Dunedin. The more important works proposed to be proceeded with this year for which provision has been made on the Estimates are as follows :—Out of loan funds: New Lunatic Asylum at Porirua, and further works at the asylums at Sunnyside and Seacliff, and gaols m Auckland and Wellington. Out of con solidated fund, £4.0,000 is provided for school-buildings, also £2000 for Native schools, and £8000 for an institution for deaf mutes. Besides these amounts £34,000 is also provided for ordinary addi tions, repairs, fittings and furniture. HARBOR DEFENCES. | Considerable progress has been made m the erection of several of the more impor tant works, and there yet remains a good deal to do. The amount voted out of loan fund last year for works of this class was £6552, but the expenditure has amounted |to £7293. The excess has been caused by a compensation claim for land taken (and which it was hoped would have been settled by an exchange of land without any money payment) having to be settled, by a payment of over £1500. The total ex penditure on harbor defences to the end of last financial year has been m round numbers £458,000, of which £238,000 represents the cost of material from Eng land, and £120,000 the cost of works m the colony. Of this latter sum £34,000 has been paid for land, the remaining £186,000 representing the cost of forts, batteries, submarine defences, and general charges. The delence works proposed to be executed during the year are the com pletion of armament of the batteries al ready m hand. The cost of these works is estimated at £13,000, of which £3000 is proposed to be charged to loaii, and the balance to the consolidated fund. Beyond this year's appropriations it is estimated that somewhat more than a similar further 1 further amount will be required to make our harbor defences thoroughly efficient. MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES ON LOAN FUNDS — PURCHASE OF NATIVE LANDS. The balance of the loan allocation under Part 1 of the Public Works Fund available on the 31st March, 1889, for the purchase of Native lands m the North Island generally, as disthict from purchases out of the North Island Trunk Railway Loan, was £9396, but by the passing of the North W«»d Main Trunk Railway Loan Application Act Amendment Act 1880, this amount was increased' by £20,205, being a refund out of the North Island Trunk Railway loan to the general fund of moneys previously provided for the purchase of land within the railway area. The total amount available m the general fund was thereby increased' to £29,(581. Of this amount £21,42!) has been expended during the last financial year, leaving a balance of £.5,252 still.

available. The transactions include the purchase of the Pukeroa vdiata (Rotorua township) block, on which £3,064 has l>oen expended. Tiie total area of land of which f;he purchase was completed dur ing the year is 33,600 acres. In part 11 of the fund, there was available on 31st March, 1890, for native lands pru chase within the railway area the sum of £1509, but as further allocation of £100,000 out of the North Island Trunk Railway loan was made last session for new purchase m addition to the allocation of £12,285 already referred to, the total amount available for new purchases under part 1 of the fund therefore was £101,509 ; and of this amount £3,765 was expended during the year. Considerable progress has been made with the necessary surveys, and also m the matter of placing the lands m a position to be dealt with. Some legislation will be necesaary to remove difficulties which have impeded negotiations m the past, and the Government has a Bill prepared • dealing with the matter, which will be introduced shortly. . BATES ON NATIVE LANDS. ! The amount voted lasiu year to Cover claims for rates on Native Lands for the year ended the 31st March, 1889, was £8595, the amount expended being £5874, to cover which the balances for 1888-89 not claimed up to the 31st March last, and the claims tor 1889-90, which fall due during the current financial year, and a sum of £6000 will require to be authorised, but probably not more than about £14,000 of this amount will be required for actual expenditure within the year. Of this sum, LSOOO is proposed to be charged to the Public Works Fund, and the balance to the Consolidated Fund. After the rates for 1889-90 have been paid, no further sums will be payable, the Act; having been repealed. IMMIGRATION. Immigration is still restricted to excep tional cases of separated families, and near relatives who are more or less de pendent upon their friends m the colony for existence. The number of immigrants introduced under the regulations of the Department during last year was 82, the total cost of their passages being £1035, of which amount £560 was paid by the nominators m the colony, and £85 by the immigrants themselves m London. Since the Ist May last, 24 persons have been provided with passages, and the number of nominations now on the books of the Department is 133. The balance of the loan allocation for immigration purposes at 31st March, 1889, was £3813, and the expenditure during the year was £867, thus leaving a balance available, 3 on the 31st March last, of £2963, against which there are liabilities to the extent of £2200. WOEKS ON GOLDFIELDS. The balance remaining on the allocation for this class of works at the 31st March, 1889, was £929. Of this amount L 284 was expended during the year, leaving a balance availrtile of L 645, against which were liabilities of L 241, LIGHTHOUSES. Cuvier Island lighthouse has been com pleted. Total cost L 7407. A lighthouse is proposed on Stephen's Island, Cook Strait, where, for some time past, it has been recognised that a light was required. A vote of L 3500 from the Consolidated Fund has been placed on this ■ year's estimates towards the cost of this work, estimated at about LBOOO. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The expenditure on account of telegraph construction, and for the extension of the telephone exchanges m the colony, amounted during last financial year to L 16,346, and of this sum L 3,785 was ex pended on the telephone exchanges, mak ing their capital cost L 63,466, including the value of the. material m hand. The most important new lines are those to Lichfield, to Otahanga, to Mokikinui, to Greendale, and from Onganoga to Tiko kino, from Riversdale to Balfour, from Cardrona to Pembroke, and from Pal merston South to Nenthorne. Provision has been made for the extension of the lines from Talogri Bay to Waipiro, Lich field to Morrmsville, Marton to Hunter ville, and for the completion of the line from Mongonui to Kaitaki. conclusion.. '';' ; "'■ In conclusion, I would again direct the attention of lion, members' to the necessity of realising our position. Prac tically we are this {session dealing] with the last part of one of the loan funds, and this is the source.from which we have hitherto paid for a number of works and services that must m future be charged to the. Consolidated Fund. Part 1 embraces roads of all classes, public buildings, tele graph extension, immigration, purchase of native lands, harbor defences, and other works. The expenditure on the purchase of native, land eand making roads to open tip Crown Lands before sale are legitimate charges on the land fund, but the problem of dealing with the other items on the. list is a very difficult one to solve. Per haps the readiest way of showing its bear ing is to give the expenditure under each head for the last seven years. It has been as follows:—Class of works : Roads (other than roads to open up Crown Lands) 1883-84, 1,24,401 ; 1884-85, L 267,729 ; 1885-86, L 27,410; 1886-87 L 221,460; 1887-88, L 15,803 ; 1888-89, L 84,486 ; 1889-90, L 55,966 : Total for seven years, LI, 305,793. Average per annum, L 186,542. Public build ings, 1883-84, L 164,376 ; 1884-85, L 117,361; 1885-86, L 86,859; 1886-87, L 89,598 ; 1887-88, L 90,529 ; 1888-89, L 34.502 ; 1889-90, L 35.473 ; total, L 638,788. Average, L 88,308. Telegraph extension, 1883-84, L 19,532; 1884-85, L 25,799; 1885-86, L 36,010; 1886-87, L 18,952; 1887-88, L 22,984; 1888-89, L 12,047 ; 1889-90, L 16,346. Total L 151,670. Average, L 21,667. Immigra tion, 1883-84, L 107.041 ; 1884-85, I L 57,148 ; 1885-86, L 11,675 ; 1886-87, L 12,454; 1887-88, L 15,598 ; 1888-89, L 879 1; 1889-90, L 867. Total L 213,574 ; Average, L 31,511. Harbor defences, 1883-84, L 7292 ; 1884-85, L 960 1; 1885-86, !L127,167; 1886-87, L 139,429; 1887-88, L 73.459; 1888-89, L 50,089; 1889-90, L 7293, Total, L 414,251 ; average, L 59,179. Other items, 1883-84. L 52,917; 1884-85, L 32,461; 1885-86, L 40.840; 1886-87, L 70,290; 1887-88, L 21,916 ; 1888-89, L 20,256 ; 1889-90, L 7710, Total, L 2,146,390,146,390 ; average, L 35,199. Totals : L 595,090, L 510.099, L 57666, L 552,183, L 382,517, L 210,261, L 123,655; total, L 2,950,466,950,466 ; showing an average annual expenditure on works of the classes named of L 421,496. Add to this L 856,748, the average expenditure t for works on open lines for the same period; and we have a total annual expenditure of L 507,143. Although the average expen diture for the seven years on the works named m the table is £420,496, it will be seen that the amount for last year is only £123,655, as against £ 95,590 m 1883-84, £552,183 m 1886-87. The works on open lines are due to the spread of settlement and trade. Urgent demands for increased railway station accommodaton and addi tions to rolling stock are constantly made on the Railway Commissioners by settlers and the public generally, and; the. demands are, m many oases, so reasonable that they cannot be refused. As there is no capital account m connection with this, expenditure must m future come out of revenue. In addition to the cost of new works and extensions which will fall on the Consolidated Fund, the ■; charges already on it for maintenance will be con siderably augumented, particularly as re gards public huildings, I;have had re turns made, showing the, history 'and con dition of each of these buildings,'; from which I find that many of the. older, wood .structures are urgently m need of exten sive repairs, not only have they arrived afc theagc when decay f^ce^ds rapidkr, but apparently they have not been efficiently maintained, probably from mistaken,

THI ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1890.



The best medicine known is SANDER and SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects m coughs, colds, influenza, etc.—the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying, testfc mony. His Majesty the King of Italy, and medical syndicates all over the globe are its patrons, head the official reports that accom pany each bottle. Mosler, M.1)., Professor University, Griefswald, ' reports :—The Eucalypti Extract proved magnificently suc cessful m very severe contusions, bruises, sprains, wounds, scaldings, broken ribs, and limbs. ("Medical Journal," Nov., 1881.) In diseases of the kidneys, either active con gestion or suppression, (urcomai) or albumi nui'ia, dropsy, Hthargy, nothing will equal m its action Eucalypti Extract. Doses, live to six drops, Mosler, M.D., Professor, University, Griefswald, reports :—Diphthe ric. Tonsils continually coherent presenting ulcers with white exudats. Cured m four teen days. Surgical Clinic of Prof. M'lntyre, College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Louis —Soirrhus of Breast—Excision Euca ypti Extract employed. No swelling, heat, or discoloration. ' Cured m fourreen days. • Advt.) _ 4 There is now to be soon m the Hhop window of Messrs .1. Scaly and Co , E;ist street, a collection of apples showing some of the sorts grown at the Nurseries, Riverbank, that will repay inspection by any one who contemplates planting fruit plants. There are upwards of fifty dif ferent kinds flunvn, all valuable, long keeping sorts. For size, color, and general excellence they are by far the finest that have been shown m Ashburton this season. —(Advt)



__ * Wanted. __ CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be loft afc this Office. "VI fESLEYAN CHURCH.—Memorial \ V Service m connection with death of the late Joseph Good, next Sunday evening. 7 156 i \ / ANTED KNOWN—The Strong v V Wear Boot for Men, Women and Children can only bo had at W. H. Collier's. BOOTS, BOOTS I.—" Keep your feat Dry and save Doctor's Bills. I have a splendid Stock m now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcobn, Ashbur ton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. UST~~opened, a few ladies plush jackets, newest shapes, very cheap H. C. Skgkrh, Melford House. WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburto Tweeds. —Robert Alcorn, Ash burton Clothing Mart, Satmder's Buildings. -"TUST Received—Oyer one ton Engli^i eJ and Continental Confectionery. Own make as usual fresh daily.—H.G. Flowbr, Confectioner, East street. WANTED KNOWN.—The Cheapest House m Ashburtcn to buy Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc., is H. C. Seders, Melford House. HINTED "KNOWN.— A lotTof Ladies Cloth and Tweed Jackets, considerably under usual cost price,— W. H. Collier, "The Corner." ANl*ED~~Known — One hundred and fifty Ladies' and Children's Ulsters bought a great bargain (good qualities), now selling very cheap—H. C. Segers. Melford House. "ANTED"Known—The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashburton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A ai'ge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with dcs patch Public Notices. LOST. — A LEATHER POCKET BOOK, containing NINE One POUND NOTES. Finder liberally re warded on returning same to JAMES McCANN, 7 157 Ashton, "XTOTICE is hereby given- that all JJN BOROUGH RATES now due, rnusfc be paid before the 4th August prox. Rates remaining unpaid after that date will be sued for without further notice. By order, CHAS. E. FOOKS, Town Clerk. Borough Council Offices, Ashburton, July 23rd, 1890. 7 134 BOOKS— Thousands of Books of every kind, including books on History, Travels, Science, Religion, Fiction, <fee, &c. Account Books and Stationery of every discription. A cheap line of En velopes at 5s per thousand. Fancy Go ods, including Albums, Photo Frames, Writing Cases, Work Boxes, Purses, Ladies' Hand Bags, Games and Puzzles. Music—A largo Stock. Pianos, Accordians, Violins, Coiicetinas, &c. All Goods reduced for Cash. L. F. ANDREWES & CO. Stationers' Hall IST the Z NEW ZEALAND CLOTHM FACTORY Half Yearly STOCK-TAKING ;,1S TOW ON. •HEDU'GTIONS IN JEVERY DEPARTMENT. The Celebrated Werfchein New High arm Sewing Machines on easy Time *;iy- montv (~\ W H. WEBBER, TF \ / Manager X 1 WITHOUT* TE£"f!* WJTJi-TEETH THE CHIUSTCHUROft DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets. j S. M YE¥i AND O°'; SURGEON DENTISTS. Am at Dunedin and Westport. WE have gainejlUM FIRST AWARD at the Duuedin Exhibition for Artificial Denture/5 and Meeh*H|icaJ Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is wj.t%. jthe rentes t confidence that we guarantee ,the j hi#-6«f, class work and perfect fit at the most •i^ti^rate cost A Singie Artificial Tooth, JOs. ( Comi>?!:fe Set — itJpjicr and Lower— tom\tuvm'y und ; p6ri>\ai^nt, £10 10.-. Natceal, Durable, .Co^ortable Artificial Teeth Tprnpovt^ily al most immediately after •the .extraction ( of decayed teeth ov atmyps without extra, cc or charge. I ArniHgctiKaits enn be made for p?url »tv monthly payments.. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE' ..IS AS several times daily for the past ten, years, Are feiirlesßiy assert that extraction of tooth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively tfiife ! Fee for Administration, ss. : Extraction, 2s 6d. j Artificial Teeth and Dentures made other dentists repaired or remodelled small cost. Hwur.-j of tteudance—9 a.m. to 6 p.m



VTOTICK— Anyone found Tres jlS passing m pursuit of game or therwise on the Riversdale Estate on nd after this date Trill be prosecuted. J. P. WILLIAMS. RiversdaJe, 24th May. 5 1.76 SEALY 7STTRtjIT TREES "fNLUDIN Apples, Pears, Plums, tax _jl Cherries, Peaches, Apricots, Necs of ines, and all other fruits. The merits of all the Tarieties have been subjected to ■©▼ere testa during the last 15 years, and the Rtock is now admitted to be the Largest and Choicest m Canterbury, probably m the colony, to select from, all warranted, avd at your own prices. SEALY'S FOREST TREES Of all kinds, innmncrahlt m quantity, well-grown and hardy—all kinds, all sizes, all prices. SEALY'S ORNAMENTAL TREES, &c Choice m quality, numerous m quantity. SEALY'S MACROCARPA. Tent of thousands m number. A large quantity specially jrown fer fencing at Tery loir prices. SEALY'S ROSES', Endless m Tariety and choicest m quality. SEALY'S CATALOGUES Forwarded fre« to any addres* «n application. Kotb. —I will only be responsible for Trees ordered direct from the Nuratry or through Mwisrs J. Sbaly and Co. THOS. SEALY, Nurseryman, Riverbank, Ashburton. JOHN ORR & Co. ARE OFFERING GRAND VALUE m the Following Leading Lines OF GENERAL IRONMONGERY, ETC Ex "Rimutaka." And Other Late Arrivals. 4 Casks Saucepans, Boilers and Kettles 4 Casks Lamps, Globes and Chimneys 1 Ca^s Table Knives, Forks, Spoons 3 Casks Plough and Trace Chains. 83 Tins« White Lead. 40 Tins Red Lead. 120 Drums Raw and Roiled Oil. Paints and Varnishes of all kinds. 5 Bales Wall Papers. 60 Register Grates from 14s 6d to £5. Ranges, Stoves, at all prices. 8 Cases Wringers and Mangles. j 50 Sets Fire Irons from 5s to 3Cs. ! 60 Fenders from 6s to £5* 2i3 Tons Bar and Sheet Iron. 1 Ton Bolts and Nuts, all sizes. Leather Portmanteaus and Trunks. Leather Belting, 14 to Gin. Manilla and Flax Rope, l£ to Sin. 35 Coils Plough Lines. 2 Cases Mould Board?, 5 Casks Hornsby's Plough Shares (new pattern.) 3 Casks Ransom's Plough Shares. ,3 Casks Buggy Springs and Axles. 1 Cask Carriage Lamps. 20 Kegs Blue Stone. 10 Cases New Iron Bedsteads. 10 TONS CLOVER SEEDS. 100 Kegs Wire Nails. 20 Kegs Fencing Staples. 200 Coils Steel Fencing Wire, 80 Coils Barb Wire. 1 Bale Seaming Twine. 2 Cwt Biibett Metal. 25 Bundles Spades and Forks. 3 Packages Screws, Locks and Hinges. 2 Crises Saws, Chisels and Planes. 10 Cases Axes and Picks. 4 Cases Gorse Knives. ■ 10 Cases Pick Axe and Hammer Handles. 2 Cases Hammers. 2 Bales Door Mats. JLO Crates China and Earthenware, includ- New Toilet Dinner, Tea and Dessert Ware. Some of these are .really beautiful goods. 150 Casea Oils, including Valvoline, Lubrolinc, Caster, Colza, Olive Lard and Neatsfoot—this can all had m any quantity. 150 Cases KEROSENE, Light of th] j Age ; the very best. j GROCERY DEPARTMENT WILL Always be found STOCKED with GOODS of First Class QUALITY, —Including— Indian' Ceylon and China TEAS, Mauritius Sugar, Crushed Loaf Svgar t Pure Coffee, Candles, Oatmeal, Rollitt and Cos. Flour, Butter from Mr John Grigg s Famous Dairy. JOHN 088 AND CO., IMPORTERS. \ NDREW ARR^S X.I.NDREW V/RR S w . GREAT m £ ANNUAL SALE j PRAPERY ra ! pi > H CLO7HING \ )» i AND j 4 BOOTS fi ' m Will Commence *" m Saturday, July sth •^ The greatest BARGAINS ,^fj ever seen m Ashburon. Nj m ; SEE HANDBILLS. P , | ANDREW ORR. *