The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Vertas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1891. THE PRIVATE SCHOOL BILL.

The question of giving Roman Catholic schools a capitation grant— for that was practically the intention of Mr George Hutchison's Private Schools Bill—has been disposed of for another session. Ihe result was a foregone conclusion, but the majority, 33 to 18, against tl • second leading was scarcely expected. Yet the Bill hacl the support of the Premier and several influential members on both sides of the House. The Minister for Education, however, was against it,, and his following showed the great strength of the secular party m the House. Mr Ballance pronounced the opinion that. the Bill might safely be passed without endangering the present National system, while Mr Reeves held the equally strong opinion that to admitthe Roman Catholic claims would be the death of the present system. The Bill asked only for a capitation of 37s 6d, while the present co-;t of the Government schools is £4 os a head— a wide difference, though other mat ters than the mere figures milst be taken into account m making a fair comparison. The large majority against the Bill will not deter its supporters from renewing their claims at the next opportunity, and their importunity will ultimately have itsreward. Wejareiold that the extension of the Parliamentary franchise to women will lead to the establishment of a denominational system of education Perhaps it may. In that case there will be a complete revolution m the system, and the Roman Catholic Schools will share with those of other religions. Female suffrage may after all be the solution of this and other knotty questions ; and one thing is certain that where a mat ter of sentiment or justice is involved the women voters will allow no ques tion of economy to stop the way—as it often does with harder-hearted male electors and Members of Parliament.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A petition is m course of signature m Ashburton praying that the bcrvices of Constable Smart be retained for the Ash burtoti district. Mr Herbert Gilford Moore, solicitor, has cjmmeuced the practice of his profession m Ashburton, and lias taken offices m the Arcade. We wiah him every success. The man Walter Grieve, who disappeared from his home m the North Taieri on July 12, was discovered at the top ef the -Silver stream Spur on Friday night last. He had one of his legs broken. At Auckland on Monday Frederick Pollen was fined £10 and costs, £fj odd, for cross ing the railway line m front of an approaching train The engine caught the dry and knockned down the horse. Barnuin during his lifetime had constructed a bronze memorial statue seven feet high, to be placed over his grave. He gave°striot orders that no one should be allowed tc see the statue until after his death—and then, we presume, a small charge will be made. Mr Keith the travelling agent of the New Zealand Bible Tract and Book Society has arrived m Ashburton on one of his periodical trips and opened up a large stock of evangelical literature m the shops at the corner of the arcade opposite the "Mail" Office. . Dr Seiler, who is a well-known specialist, declares it to be his firm belief, after years of investigation, that la grippe is an abso lutely new disease, m no way akin to in fluenza, and is, m all probability, a nervous affection or disease of the brain primarily. Sii3i, well-known as the faithful Servant of Dr Livingston, who durvig the last years 'of the great man's jjaiurf*■»■£»-«* , H (-•—- **■»» ij^r.ww^nwiy™™ ahU: and l<v whose fidelity and devotion Livingston pays .more than one eloquent tribute m his " Last Journals," died at Zanzibar on May 6, No better proof of thft recent .severe weather m Wellington could be afforded than the fact that for the past week or ten days numbers of quail have presented themselves m the gardens attached to private dwellings m the ci«y picking lip seeds as unconcernedly as tiie familiar robin redbreast is wont to pick up crumbs m the gardens m England during winter. Petitions signed by 112 fruit growers m the Christchurch district, representing 93,000 fruit trees, have been sent to the Hons E. C. J. Stevens and W. P. Reeves, praying for the introduction of measures against the further spread of the codlin moth. Since the petitions were sent eight additional names were sent m represent ing 2000 fruit trees. Kaiapoi as a port, is threatened with a silt question. The river Waimakariri i« being rapidly silted up and its navagation seriously interfered with, the cause of the more rapid deposit being, it is supposed, the im proved drainage of the country, which per mits the rains to cany more silt into the river than formerly. The silting of ti>c river also threatens inundation of the town m heavy flood*. The effects of the shipping strike m this colony are still felt on the coalfields of the West Coast. To avoid the risk of delays says a Westport contemporary, the New ■ Zealand and the Shaw Savill and Albion Companies decided that their direct steamers should either carry enough coal from Eng land for the round trip or to take m a supply at some port outside New Zealand, and as the arrangement was made for a term ; there is but little demand for New Zealand coal. The " Temuka Leader" writing of the coming grain season, says—" We are told j that certain Christcliurch merchants have already made offers to cortain farmers m this district to buy all their grain next season at 3s Od per bushel. We do not think anyone ought to take such an offer as this. A certain Oamaru man bought a lot of potatoes m this district last year, bnt did he take them when they got f.q cheap? He did not, and neither.would the Christchnrch merchants take the grain at 3s 61 per bushel if it happened lo fall to 2s 6d. They would find some loophole to escape by."

The United States is a great candy country. The candy men estimate .that the poople of the United States will eat £1,000,000 of candy this year. England has no candy stores like this country. They carry candy m connection with o( her things. In France a great deal of candy is eaten, but it is mostly m packafeen and different fancy preparations, and not the candy pure and simple that is used m the United States. Candy has been better m quality every year, and now, since the tariff has been taken off sugar, glucose and other ingredients that were formerly used will be entirely done away with by first class, manufacturers and nothing but the genuine article used. I hear from Wellington (says an Auckland writer) that the old school of politicians>re" sadly " sold " over the new Labour,members —mostly working men. The first point m the political creed of the knowing ones i.s— "Everyman has his price;" tho second is —" Every man has his weak points." But the old stagers say they cannot make out these labour fellows nohow. They won't swallow flattery, nor brandy, nor moral j stories, and they won't accept a bribe to j themselves or their district; the poor sirrjple labour coves are so green as only to desire good, eqtial laws. So the old political tinkers, and jobbers, and cotrupters, and hobnobbers, are petrified with astonishment, and wonder what the world is coming to. : The " Oaniaru Mail" gives a telling instance of the effect of the Property Tax on industry. The Oaniaru Woollen Factory has been established ten years, and m all that time the shareholders have never received a dividend, yet property tax had to be paid regularly. It says that '5 of every original paid-up share and £3 of the newer bhares have already been swallowed up by the tax, and m all £500 of its capital have gone m taxation. Mr flislop, when a Minister, proposed that they should reduce the capital value of the company, so as to avoid paying so much m taxation. J Now the company will only have to pay taxation on the profits it makes, and yet (says the "Mail") there are people 'who say the change will drive capital away. A daring robbery was committed m Mel bourne on July 8. John William Birch, employed by the Tram Company, was crrry ing £350 m a bag to pay the weekly wages of the employees at Brunswick. He had gone part of the distance when a stranger got on the tram, sat by the side of him, and told him that he had to return to the head office immediately, and hand the money to him. Birch demurred, until the stranger produced an open letter, purporting to be signed by Mr Wilcox, secretary, and ad dressed to the inspector at' Brunswick, stat ing that Birch would not be out that day. Birch handed the money over to him at once and returned to the offico. The other man, of course, disappeared wiih the money. The Taranaki "Herald" says:— Mr Archie McGiven, the di^er who is engaged m the work of removing the wreck of the Hdwea at the breakwater, was tackled by an octopus the other day. The uncanny creature caught the diver round the leg's and body with its feelers, or tentacles,- and gave him a nasty squeeze. McGiven at once gave the signal to his mates above to haul up, which was carried out promptly ; but, when the diver got his head and shoulders out of the water, the octopus caught the ladder by which the diverascende ], and thus pinned his victim. The men m the punt, among whom were Messrs S. Loveridge, E. Lowe, and J. Reid, then went to work and released their mate by kill ing the octopus, which measured about six feet from the tip of one tentacle to another. This is the second encounter McGiven has had with an octopus, the other occasion being m Wellington thive years ago, when he was engaged m the reclamation works. A few days ago we received a cablegram that "Rev Johnston found truilty stealing jewelry Melbourne." The Melbourne "Ai.gus"had the following version of the affair:—"The Rev Arthur Jones, noncon formist minister, who recently returned to England from Australia, and was committed for trial oil, a charge of stealing jewelry, I the property of a Mr James, with whose wife lie was living while m Melbourne, was to-day tried, found guilty 5 and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment,-" and added' tlio note—[A few months ago, a scandal was caused m a Fritzroy church by certain revela tions as to the conduct of Mr Jones, the ex minister. ■ That gentleman visited his late; congregation, and made a lengthy and very peculiar statement, m which he mentioned the name of a|Mrs James, whose acquaint ance he had made m England, and ad mitted the character of his relations with her.] i

SPORTING

UNITED HUNT STEEPLECHASES.

Ra^kcourse, Hutt, July 18, Hack Hurolbs, of 20 soys ; 1| mile. — Corsair, 1 ; Kapiti, 2 ; Johnnie, 3. Ten started. Time, 2mm 37Asec. Dividend, £3 18s. I Open Stbbplkohasb Handicap, of 75 j soys ; three miles,—Canute, 9st lllb, 1,; Whalebone, list 81b, 2. Chester lOat 121 b, Rough lOst 91b, Waterbury lOst 411), Christmas 9. 3 t 121 b, Gladstone 9st 121 b, and Begorrah 9.sb 111 b also started. Canute was the only horse that got round safely. Whalebone ran round, and un seated his jockey by a collision, bufc was caughb and finished some minutes after Canute. Time, 7min 13isec. Dividend, £11, Ladies' Bracelets, 20 soys and 5 soys.; two miles.—Donovan, lOst 121 b, 1 ; Blue Mountain, 12st 41b, 2 ; The Joker, list 41b, 3, Ten ran. Won easily. Time, 4min 2 l-sth sec. Dividend, £3 4s. Open Wei/per Handicap, of 25 soys ; 1| mile.—Waterbury, lOat 61b, 1 ; Jet d'Eau, 13st 51b, 2 ; General Gordon, lOst 21b, 3. Eleven ran. Won easily. Time, 2min 24sec. Dividend, £34 9s. •

POLITICAL.

(PROM OUR :PARLIAMJSNT4RY COKRESr PONDBNT.)

Wellington, July 20. | NATIONALISATION OF COAL MINES. i A deputation of members favorable to the nationalisation of the coal measures of the colony—consisting of Messrs O'Oonor W. Hutchison, T. X, McDonald, C. H, Mills, Saunders, Pinkerton, Tanner, Rees, and Earnshaw- waited upon the Premier this morning. They asked that the Government should set up a Select Committee to inquire into the method m which the coal measures should be dealt with m the future, and urged that no further leases of carboniferous land should be granted, pending the determi nation of the question. Their own idea was that, m order to prevent monopoly m regard to fuel supplies, the State should not only retain its present coal lands, but even work them m the interests of the public, and also charter steamers to distribute the output over the colony, so as to prevent steamship companies or their employees from interfering with the freedom of the colony's supply. The Premier expressed himself favorable to the proposal for inquiry by a committee, though he thought it was rather too late m the session to do any practical work. He promised to consult his colleagues, and then give the deputation a definite ans ffev. THE EXODUS. A question is to be put to the Govern ment wlu^hei; tlioy will endeavor to "stem the exodus" % borrowing a small amount of money (coloniallypand prosecuting necessary public works? It is also to be proposed. by a member that unauthorised expenditure shall be sub mitted yearly to the scrutiny of the Public Accounts Committee. #Hor ■hours bill. A.meeting ofsh'op /j-ssjsjtanfcs was held, this evening, at which Clause &%ag'!#?-. cussed. One or two labor members we're present. The suggestions made will be set forth when the Bill is m Committee. '

Ashburton Racing Club.

ANNUAL MEETING,

Tb annual meeting of the Ashburton Rac.g Club, adjourned from the previous Satiday, was held on Saturday night, at the Club's - room, Commercial Hotel, fhee was a large attendance of members. Mr!. VV. Purnell occupied the chair, Te Chairman read the report of the Gonnittee for the year, as follows : — Yur Committee have again to submit a safcsfactnry report, the last season having bess one of the most successful that, the Chi has .ever had. te total receipts for the season anointed to £1746 19s 3d, compared with £'ljS5 2s 4d the previous season, and the exptiditure to £1412 ss.compared with £13'414510d. Both race meetings re fsultd m substantial profits. The follow in|is a comparative statement of the pricipal items of receipts and cxpendi turlor the last three seasons : — RECEIPTS. acceptance and entry fees, 188-89, £378 15s ; 1889-90, £301 10s; 189-91, £360 10s. Privileges (including gats and cards),. l«88-89, £248 Is 2d ; 188-90, £283 18s M ; 1890-91, £345 2s .3d.«etli'igraces, 1888-89. £99<6&; 1889.90, £8<; 1890-91, £82 6d. Totalisator, 1888 ---.89,£481 16s; 1889-90, £631 4s 3d; 189-91, £795 17s. Rents, 1888-89, £85; 183-90, £65 5s ; 1890-91, £55. Mem ber' subscriptions, 1888-89, £47 5s ; .188*90, £54 12s ; 1890-91, £75 12s. EXPENDITURE. .Sakes (gross), 1888-89* £820 ; 1889-90, £8S ; 1890-91, £955. Course and build ing; 1888-89, £192, 13s 4d ; 1889-90, £ia 11s 6d; 1890-91, £139 15s lid. Wa<es and labor, 1888-89, £134 9s 8d ; 188-90, £103 9s 6d ; 1890-91, £118 Is 6d. Advrtising, printing, and stationery, 188.-89, £77 7s 9d j 1889-90, £91 4s 7d 1891-91, £95 8s 4d. Charges, 1888-89, £6il4s ; 1889-90, £83 12s "9d : 1890-91, £959s 9d. Ahighly satisfactory featnre is the in crese m the eutrfes for the races, which wen the most numerous that have ever bee. received m one season. Although theimount given m stakes was increased by 260 from the previous year, the fees payble by owners were not raised, but vram some instances lowered, and now stairl at considerably under four per cent on ;he amount of the stakes (3 2-3rds penent on the Autumn programme). Tie attendance of the public was good, partcnlarly ab the Autumn Meeting, whei it was the best seen for years. The revaue from the totalizator still increases. You' Committee have had undtx con sideration the proposal of the Government to inpose a tax of 2| per cent on totalis atoririvestments, and letters were written 1.0 tie Members for the county expressing the news of the Committee on the subject" arid Requesting the Members to use their infrumce against the proposal,'' or, at any rate do have the tax, if imposed, fixed at a more reasonable late. The membership has increased, and there is good reason to hope that it will be further extended during the ensuing season. Durhig the year new iron gates have bee.'i erected at the entrance to the racecourse. The raring track has been topdressed; and by the date of the coming Spring Meeting should be second to none m the colony. M:niy minor works have also been effected. The Committee have kept steadily m view Mio erection of a new grand stand. Pkns were obtained from MrJ. C. Maddi .«on, F.R.1.8.A., of Christchiueh, but the estimated cost was greater than the amount of funds available; and it was decided not to proceed with the building until after the next race meeting. The effect which the t-jxation of Mis totnli satov investments—it carried into effect will have upon the revenue of the Club will also have to be considered m this connection. The training track at Allenton has been open for nearly a year, and has proved a great convenience to owners and trainers. As was anticipated a loss has been suffered m thin department; but exceptionally few horses were m training m A&Ul^irton durinar '■-'-'' -*t ir!-""'- *"" fNt.j .»>>■ ? ,•;■■*- _«*ut» to-tnoct. Oi'l<" ou«gwi.ioii has boen nmdo that "a nice for two-year old horses, or for two and three yea is old, should bo placed on the programme of the Autumn meeting. Without expressing an opinion upon the advisableness of adopting the suggestion the Committee leave it to the considera tion of their successors^ The Chairman m reference to the report said that the Committee had resolved that they would not proceed with the erection of a grand stand until they were m a position to build one that would be a durable one and a credit to the district. When this was done they would be m a position to greatly increase the stakes given to races, always providing that the proposed totalisator tax was nob imposed. He was glad to see that the Government were apparently yielding m the matter, and owing to the representations of the sporting members of Parliament were disposed to moderate their views with reference to this exorbitant (ax; . Mr Wright and Sir John Hall had been written to on the subject, and had pro mised to give the matter their, considera tion. The members would agree that the statement of the transactions of the Club showed a very flourishing state of affairs financially, and he hoped the Government would not cripple the country clubs by taxation, All the totalisator commission went towards stakes, and a tax of ose penny on each ticket should satisfy the Government. He moved that the report be adopted. Mr Crisp seconded the adoption of the report. Mr S. Brown approved of the sug gestion that a race for two-year-olds should be added to the programme, Mr McOwen had been asked by several farmers to suggest that a trotting race should be included. He thought the Club might consider the suggestion. Mr E. Gates asked If the two year-old race would be a district or an open race. Mr D, Thomas said the Club should congratulate itself on its position, The spirt displayed at the season's races had been of a very high class. Notwith standing some trouble with "spielers" and others the meeting had passed off very successfully, and with regard to the " spielers " the Club had taken the pro per steps to prevent their being an annoyance m future. The financial posi tion of the Club was excellent. He thought 'the Government would not be able, owing to the opposition of Members of very widely differing opinions, to pass the totalisator tax. He approved of the suggestion to have trotting races, and thought the two-year-old race should be for district breeders. The motion was carried. The election of Officers and Committee for the enduing year was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows :— President, Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.R/; Vice-President, Mr C, W. Purnell • Judge, Mr M. Stitt; Treasurer, Mr D.' Thoinasj^ Stewards, Messrs S. Brown, Hugo FWedknder E,' Gates, J. C. N. Grigg, T, .Leahy, W,' Lyfctelton, and P : . I Ru&sell ; Clerk of the Scales, Mi-. % Friedlantler; Committee, Messrs S. Brown, E. G. Crisp, W. B. Denshire, HugoF riedlander, E. Gates, T. Leahy H G. Luxford, C. W. Purnell, W. Rollitt' E;. §n#hders, and Jf. Zander. Mr Mereweftier ?i}OT/?d, Mr Luxford seconded, a vote of thanks'to the Ve'^rinfe officers, and both expressed regret Uiaf some:of them had declined to take office again, considering the successful and satis fmtqij manner m isjsh they had coii d,ucted ,the Gljub's affiiirs. The vote was parried with 1 acclamation.' v The Chairman ac&iowleged the vole $$"jssF«ti & ftp" 4eJ?«%o «f Mif

McOwen, whose services to the Club had been very great. Ho moved " That the Club deeply regret thf; departure of Mr McOwen, but congratulate him upon his promotion,'and wish him-every success." Mr Crisp seconded, and Mr Thonas Mid others spoke to the motion, which was , cordially endorsed by the meeting, and Mr McOweu's-health was drunk. Mr McOwen, m replying, wished the Club continued prosperity, aad hoped ho would have an opportunity of coming to some of their races m the future and seeing a gooJ stand and racing.

At a meeting of the Committee held afterwards Mr C. W. Purnell was unani mously re-elected Chairman.

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usuai .fortnightly meeting of the Ashburron Borough Council was held last night. Present-^Cra Williamson, Bird, Flower, Scaly, Brooke, atid.Cuth bertson. In the absence of ths Mayor, Or Williamson was elected Chairman. FINANCE. : ' : i The Chairman said the debit balance at the Bank stood at £1134 7s 6d, and the income received from all sources since last meeting had been £163 2s lOd, of which £120 was from auctioneers' licenses, and £23 7s 3d rents of reserves. deputation. Messrs Silcock and Craighead waited on the Council on the question of Board of Health, asking that the Borovigh Council take action as a Board of Health. The Chairman said that four years ago the suburbs and the Borough had nego tiated to form a Central Board of Health, and that had been done, although it had since been m abeyance. Mr Craighead said that infection had been communicated to healthy ch^dren at the public school during the recent epidemic, and he wished the Council as a Board of Health to take steps to pre vent the possibility of a recurrence of the same thing. Mr Silcock wished to know if Allen ton was included m the boundaries of the Central Board of Health. The School Committee had, during the recent scarla tina epidemic, asked for medical certifi cates of health from children 'in-whose houses infection had been. The Committee, perhaps, had no power to demand any thing of the kind, but they had done so m the interests of the school. .Besides, the medical men had charged os per certi cate, and this sum, he thought, was more than they were justified m charging. Cr Cuthberlson said there was a Com mittee on the subject appointed by the Council, and this Committee would shortly report. The Chairman said the Council would certainly act ass Board of .Health,., and take further steps to get the suburbs in cluded so that there should be a Central Board of Health m full work. The deputation thanked the Council and withdrew. CENSUS RETURNS. Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.8., wrote stating that the Registrar- 1 Teneral declined to group the suburbs of Ashburtoi with the Borough m making the census re turns, as boroughs must be returned at such and councies as counties. MONA SQUARE. The use of Mona Square as a grazing paddock for the troop horse was grantee for two months to the police. WATER FINDING. Mr James Macalister, Southland, wrote offering his services to the Council ir boring for water m the borough. The letter was received... . ' AUCTIONEERS'' LICENSES- '' Mie Collector of Customs wrote advising that £120 for auctioneers' licenses liad been paid to the Borough's account. FINANCE POWERS. The County Council wrote forwarding a copy of the resolution passed at its last meeting m regard to obtaining power tc borrow money on deposit, and asked the Counc 1! for its co-operation m getting the Counties Act amended. ' . The Council adopted the resolution. The Property Tax Ccmnus.sioner wrote advising the payment tr borough's account of bal-ince of subsidy. ASPHALT. Tha Paymaster-General wrote advising payment to borough of £3 15s 7d, half cost of asphalt m front of R.M. Court. WKLL SINKING. IT. Dudley wrote'offering to sink a 300 ---feet pipe well for 4s 6d per foot, finding all plant and piping. He complained that Mr Job Gsborne should be employefl to do the work, and the money sent out jof the town, when there were men and plant here capable of doing the work. The Chairman said Mr Dudley was cut ting a little* before the point, as Mr Job Osborne was not employed to sink any well for the Council. The latter was ordered to lie on the table. BOROUGH SEAL. ; Crs Williamson and Cuthbertson were appointed to affix tlie Borough Seal m the Mayor's absence to any documents requiring it, RESERVES. The Reserves Committee reported as follows :-* ---* Mr James B'egg's application for part Reserve 73-74.—This Reserve is at present leased to Mr S. Hardley for seven years from 1888, and as your Committee cannot recommend the Council to go, to the expense of patting this Reserve up to auction, which will be necessary if a long lease is granted, they cannot see their way to entertain the application. Mr R. Smyth's application for Borough Reserve f.S. U9O, IJ9I, 1200, 1201. As the amount offered as rental for this Reserve is below the reserve fijjed by the Council, your Committee recommend that the offer be declined. Cr Brooke said Mr Besrg was willing to pay £20 per annum rent for Reserves 73 and 74, and put a building on it worth £50. He moved that the lease be put up to auction for a term of seven years— the term having been adopted by Mr Brooke after an expression round the table adverse'to letting the Reserves for so long a term as twenty-one years. The motion was seconded by Mr Flower and carried. AUCTIONEERS BILL. The Committee appointed to consider Mr Seddon's Auctioneers Bill reported unfavorably on the proposal to alter the mode of disposing of the license fees, and recommended:that Mr F. G. Wright be asked to support the Council's views. The reporfe was adopted, engineers' report. The Engineers' report was read as follows :—• jHLabor Gang.—The men have been engaged m carting soil and levelling the Cricket Ground m the Domain, carting shingle oil street crossings and for footpaths, 0 etc.;, repairing fences of reserves, attending to water supply, and sundry maintenance works. Metalling.—We have advertised for 1000 yards, more or less, of shingle, and tenders for supply of same will be submitted to you this evening. The Engineer reported that the two wells belonging to the Council m Burnett street and Mpn§ square were dry. Hi asked for liberty tc sink then) dgeper, and permission,was gjranted, CHARITABLE All). t I Crs Williamson, Brooke, and Tweecl were appointed a Committee to meet the bounty Council on tho subject of Charit able Aid. ; : - ■ PSNDEUS. The tender of John Griftin for c&rtine shingle at Is Id per yard was accepted; ? WELL SINKING. Cr Mower thought prices should be asked from Mi- Tucker for driving p i pe wells Wifch the [new machinery when it arrived, ■•■ ■■-■■■ i;i

Chairman said that when the Council decided to .sink wells they would call for tenders. ACCOUNTS.' Iho fortnightly accounts were passed tor payment, and the Council sat as a DOMAIN BOARD. The Clerk reported on the progress of the work on the cricket ground, and that the ploughing was finished. The caretaker reported that one of the , white swans had strayed, and was "sup-' posed to be making up country. A flock of thirty wild ducks had been on the i Domam water that morning. ■ BOASJ) OF HEALTH. Ihe Council, sitting as a Board ofi Mealfch, adopted a motion by Cr Cuth bertson to advertise for general informa tion certain sections of the Health Act, defining tho duties of householders and medical men m regard to the breaking out. of iufectious diseases and reporting them fco the Council. The Clerk was asked to write to the other bodies interested m regard to com bined action as a Central Board of Health. The Board then adjourned.

MR JOYCE'S LICENSING BILL.

As petitions to Parliament are being) circulated for signature, and numer ously signed, m favor of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill, introduced into the House of Representatives by Mv Joyce, the Member for Banks, it may be well to examine some of its pro visions, m order that the many who are interested m the question may know what they are asked to support and act accordingly. To begin with, the franchise for the purposes of the Act is proposed to be extended so as to include m addition to the persons described as ratepayers m the Act of 1881 "all persons, of either sex, of the full age of twenty-one years, who have resided for a period of not less than six months within the licensing district, and who, not later than thirty days next ;before any election or poll held or taken under the said Act or any Act amending the same, or ' The Triennial Licensing Committees' Act, 1889,' or this Act, shall have sent m claims to be enrolled as electors, and whose names, for the purposes of the said Act and Amendment Acts and this Act, the Electoral Registrars are hereby required to register and make up into a separate roll, intituled ' The Supplementary Roll of Persons entitled to vote under The Licensing Act, 1881, and the Acts amending the same •' and such separate roll and the roll of (ratepayers' as m the said Act defined shall together constitute the electoral roll for the purposes of any licensing election or poll." At the triennial local-option polls, m addition to the proposals placed before the electors under the present Act namely, for or against an increase of the several kinds of licenses—the following'proposals shall be submitted, that is to say—" The proposal that the number of publicans', or New Zealand wine, or accommodation, or bottle or wholesale licenses, shall be respec tively decreased to; a number to be stated by the voter "; and " the pro posal that no license of any kind whatsoever shall be gi'anted or renewed." The form of voting-paper prescribed by the Bill is m the following terms :— In respect to licenses generally : I vote that no licenses of any kind what soever be granted. I vote that licenses be granted. In respect of the number of publicans' licenses: 1. I vote for an increase. 2. I vote for no increase. .— fora, decrease to,— : r^- , 4. i—^ote-'tliatrifone ' «c granted or renewed. . [The same questions will be asked m respeot to wine, accommodation, bottle, and wholesale licenses.] • ' The Bill provides that "if and when ever at any local-option poll taken under the Act, the Majority of votes shall be given m favor of a decrease m the number of licenses of any desorip tion, or the refusal of the .granting or renewal of any description or of all descriptions of licenses, the licensing committee shall be bound to give effect to the doeision of the ratepayers as sc expressed,: { Provided that, if m the case of the proposal for the decrease of the number of licenses of any descrip tion there shall not be a clear majority of votes m favor of a decrease to any one specific number, all votes for decrease to any lower number (in cluding votes for the refusal of all licenses) shall be deemed to be given for a decrease, fco any greater number.' 1 Intoxicating liquors shall not be sold nor supplied at any railway station within a licensing district where the poll of the ratepayers has determined that no licenses of any kind may be granted] nor may any packet or club license be granted, nor any home-made liquor sold, nor liquor be sold by auction m any such district. The sale of liquor to bona Me travellers is precluded. The employment of females other than the members of the family of the licensee is altogether prohibited, and the law is m many details increased m stringency. The point m the Bill which will meet with most general approval is that by which the electors are enabled to direct the Licensing Committees to what number they wish the licenses reduced. For instance, m Ashburton the voting might be for a decrease >to five, four, three, two, or one, or that nb licenses of any kind whatsoever be granted. Lodgers are treated very indulgently, being allowed not only to purchase and consume liquor but to play billiards and other games during the hours of closing; This seems to us to open the door wider than it unfortunately is at present to infractions of the law, and to make it more difficult than ever to obtain convictions. If a bo?ia fide traveller has to go without liquor during certain hours, and for the whole of certain clays, surely lodgers who have undergone' none of the fatigue of travel can also do so. A better plan would be to face the matter boldly, and allow the sale of liquor during certain specified hours on Sundays, as m England, and forbid the sale or consumption out of those hours altogether. •• Then the trade could be controlled, which it 'never can' "pc hi the present state of the law;' ' Ths provision against club'- licenses is too tyrannical to. meet the acceptance of the House, and need not be discussed. , We give the promoters of the' Bill credit' for supposing that it :will put an en' 4 fxj mjpiy^of fche abuses'that e^ist m 'corinoc'tJion with 1 the liquor'travel but they omit a provision that any individuals knowing their subject would We included, namely, that evtry Uowsee -shall be held strictly

i responsible for the acts of his servants, any existing law to the contrary notwithstanding. Th« Bill contains some good idea 3, but more crudities, and we think the latter will prove fatal to the chance of the former being adopted.

FARM NOTES.

I t Carriage hordes are being sent from the United States for the supply of the Lon don market. Eighteeu were shipped ;\t New York reeenfly, which had been bred m Illinois from horses tin ported into that SUte from England some years njjo. Good horses are, m fact, exceptionally •scarce m London just now, and prices are ruling exceedingly !.^h.

The committee of the North Otago A. and P, Association have rescinded their resolution of June 10 approx ing of licen sing stallions and asking for legislation on the matter. Mr Borrie said that the motion which was passed was neither the mind of the association nor m accord with the mind of the settlers. It was a form of protection of the worst phase.

Some idea of the leap upwards m prices of wheat, as far as .Australasia goes, may be gathered (says the " European Mail") from the fact that, whereas last May Australian ranged from 37s to 40s a quarter, this May it runs from 40s to 455. JSew Zealand ranges from 35s to 37s m May, 1890, to 42s and 45s this May. This is surely a remarkable advance, and it is more remarkable seeing that the general drift has been to reduce prices.

A wash made of the water m which potatoes have been boiled is a certain meuns of destroying insects on animals, ihe first application is generally effectual, out ifc had better be repeated a few times m order to destroy the eggs. The same means may be used against the parasites m which mange originates, and probably would remove plant lice also. The lnsecticidal property of the potato is supposed to be owing to the solanine, which is one of the potato's constituents.

At a conference of delegates from the various agricultural societies of Victoria, held m Melbourne, the question of .inter colonial freetride was introduced by a motion expressing approval of federation for defence, postal communication, court of appeal, and the collection of debts, but objecting to intercolonial freetrade aa being ruinous to the best intereste of the farmers. An amendment that the meet ing thoroughly approves of intercolonial freetrade, as being a factor m assisting the colonies to pass the Federation Bill, was curried by ten votes to four.

id A° m le Victorian lands report for 1890 it appears that the total area of down laud alienated to the end of the Z e*L WaS 2G»537.222 acres, of which c,628,109 acres were sold at auction. The remainder was alienated by selection. One thousand six hundred and twelve leases were granted during the year for agriculture and grazing, the area being 606,1.81 acres. The annual rental m re spect thereof was £6314. During, th year 12,200 acres were sold by auction, realising £84,532. A sum of £23.429 wr.s received for grazing licenses, the area of runs under pastoral license being 360,234 jicres. The revenue contributed by the department to the Treasury during khe year was £599,053. °

, The largest poultry farm m existence is that owned by Mr Baker of New York known as Lhc <' Chicken King." It covers an area of one thousand acres, dhided into numerous small fields used as pqultry runs, which are changed every wank. The stock of poultry amounts to upwards of one million—and 250,000 chickeife-ai c hatched by means of incubators annually. Ihe produce of this immense estalrHsh monfc furnishes the greater part of-New York with supplies amounting to 200,000 fowls and 20 millions of ewgs per y*»r It i« complete m all its details, with rootny houses, warmed by hot water pipes m winter, laymg-sheds, a steam-engine for working mincing machines toprepare food, and a plentiful supply of water

lho following description of the paints of the ule.il ox is from the pen, or rather who lived 600 years bx\ :—The oxen that we should procure should be young, aquro formed with large limbs, highf'stL^ black horns, forehead broad and curif ears rough, eyes and lips black,, nostrils turned up and wide, neck Jong mus cular, dew-lap large, reaching nearly' to theknees, chest broad, shoulders We! belly roomy, and, as it were, filling out (barrel shaped), flanks extended, Tbina broad, back straight and even, or slightly depressed, haunches (buttocks) round, feT 1*? and, StraiShfc> but r^i" than long, knees moderate, hoofs large, tail very long and hairy, the hair of the whole body thick and short, the color red or dark brown, and the whole body very soft to the touch or handle

The aunual report of the Boatd of Go rernors says that all the accommodation for studfents * tM Lincoln School V Agriculture is full, aud j* W raJ nmes j*re down for future vacancies. TvZrJas been a bad one for the farm, bSfcW ™! •Hunt of the drought-the minfoll for 1890 being only 14-8 inches-and or the p«S destruction of the turnip crop by the caterpillar of the cabbage moth. The effects are shown m the grain yield being less than two-thirds of the. average, aid hardly more than half that of the previous year whilst the sheep being winterad number but two-thirds the average. • One ■ or other of these causes has also vitiated all nwiuml expeiiments oh turnips, mangolds and wheat, whilst it was Sot possible to attempt irrigation, even on the smallest scale, owing tothe-at times absolute want of water. :

The Napier "Daily Telegraph" i tt a recent rssue says :-Sir Istac^ Holden, absentee who, as such, would be taxed oofcof his New Zealand possessions, or made to hve m the colony, if sca llywa« politicians had the ruling of the countrvT Mr Holden had the audacity to buy a thousand acres m New Zealand uooa Avhich he has spent £10,000 on improVe meats. A Glasgov/ paper tells us that he has lately given £1000 to the Irish Home U, le !T\> -He is believ«d to be the * richest M.P m the House of Commons his income being £200,000 a year It the number m all New Zealand, to keep his woolcombxng mills m England anS France going, fyet at one time his income was not 5s a week, and he managed to live within hu means. Even now his taatoß are as simple as those of a clerk on 30s. He has made most of his money by inventions, J J

A Southern sheep farmer writes with reference to feeding sheep with chaff or oaten sheaves as follows :_I h ope some of my brother farmers will take notes and give results as to wjuch pay,them best Some! farmer maintain that £' sheeb' beiffc a cud-chewing animal, does not require i£ food cut up, that sheep fed on oaten" sheaves thrive bettor and Uve better ro i suits than those fed on cut chaff -With my own Jock I find 1 ewe's m lamb- are' more contented and give a larger'percen tage of Mmbs, if fed oh oaten sheaves, but i 5 »PP*»»noe teqaiiWis a ltf folk ch,.ft box -or a 1 1$ foot i nay rack would u», about the same price. :I paia' 36a for tee^mj al»n^. I see some' of njy bro'thte

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TCJESD AY, _JULY 21, ,1891.



Jjlii^iaii Hysjlop, Cq.'# : " Imperial Ceylon and Inilian Teas aVo direct" i'rom Tea Plan i fcations.~(A'Jvfc^ r fft 'I* ■f'A'4 # .(>ii) u-ijexvtfHs of Hstrinyency So loii Ot'lf'ihi.} '|V:;i. Gui)]ua,ij.y'vS jfiire blends, !All etufcilaupciS.' ''i! ' :'



I Certainly the Most Effective MEDICINE m the world is SANDER and SONS EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects m Coughs, Colds, Influenzat etc. ; the relief is instantaneous. Thousands gave the most gratifying testimony. Read this certificate:—"24th April, 1885 — Messrs Sander and Sons, —It is with the greatest of pleasure that I testify to the excellency $f your Eucalypti Extract. Having had inflammation of the bone of the leg, which came on aftei'V ' H&VfsW jittack of low fever, I was attended by t)v J, Boyd, who had made strenuous efforts to save my leg, but without success. Ho found it necessary to amputate my limb. Having heard m the meantime of the wonderful cures worked by the Eucalypti Extract, I obtained a Wj#b.» and the extract had not been applied inoj/e jthan au hour when I began to feel greatly relieved, '^itojy applying the extract every four hems for riiiue'oi ien days it was out of all danger. I would persuf.de all who may be effected with any such disease to give the Eucalypti Extract "a trial, and I am convinced that they mil find it jllie mofst wonderful of medicines.—Yoiks, ate, K. J. (iui),vo^ r f Wattle street, Sand hurst,— {Adyfc ;"> Niniau Hyslop, and to s " Jn> penal' Pure Ceylon and Todian Teaw are the best m the market.—CAdvt.) True economy. To purchase Countess T,e# for two shillings. Free from any ex .ceesof. 'ivfygyuoy .;■ I



Public Notices i «CQ^"' £ si . £j:-■■■: . O gfj lot ..ft.. r . .15.|..50 , H P fc pijfl M p g• S g. 2 ■ •. M a pj. Jo o«p * « i —— ; ; ■ ;—; —■ • j Trees. Trees. H^HE undersigned h,i3 much pleasure m I offering a large stock of the follow ing trees, plants, etc., which are now ready for planting::—Apples are all | twice grafted on blight proof stocks and guaranteed to keep cle*r of the woolly aphis blight on roots. Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, Pears, Plums and Quinces of all leading varities ; Goose berries and Gurrantb ; Grape-Vines of the best varieties. Pinus Insignis, 1 and 2 year old, Larch 1, 2, and 3-year-okl, Pinus Laricis, Abies, White Spruce, Norway Spruce, Menziesii; also 100,000 Macrocaipa 1 year, a grand line; and -30,000 2 years transplanted, the test m the district. Come and see for yourselves. All kinds of omamen'-.al Trees and Shrubs, Roses, Camellias, Rhododendrons, Jas mines, Honeysuckles, Araucaiia Im bricata, etc. Also the newest and leading varieties m Chrysanthemums. N.B. Orders may he left with Mr W. C. Davis or Mr R. Alcorn, East street. All ordeisby post shall receive my prompt j attention. Catalogues on application JAMES PORTER, Clifton Nursery, 658 AJlenton, Ashburton. -. * t ON SALE BY THE UNDERSIGNED | BUILDING MATERIALS [of EVERYj DESCRIPTION, coals: WESTPORT, NEWCASTLE. AND - -.-.--■ - HOMEBCSH. Also, — GREY VALLEY NUTS. FIREWOOD, POSTS, Long and Cut, RAILS, . STAKES, SIAPLES, FENCING WIRE, WIRE MLS, all Barbed and Plain; sizes, PAINTS, OILS, &c JOSHUA~TUCKER RAILWAY RESERVE, I WEST STREET. OFFIC : Corner of Tancred and Wes I strosts, next Mr Geo. Jameson's opposite Bank of Australasia ■ AND AT RAKAIA^ WUJLTEEtIi Ai £ HQdT TTETB I CHRISJ'CHCRCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets. |S. M™ AND C - SURGEON DENTIST, And at Dunedin and Westport. fTTE have gained the FIRST AWA RD VV at the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that vre guarantee the highest class work and perfect fife at the most moderate cost A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set —Upper and Lowers temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natceal, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al-' most immediately after fche extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without jestra fee or charge. j Arrangements can be made for part oi monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE, orAS several times daily for the past ten* years, we foarlessly assert that extraction; of teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively safe. i . ■ '■> *■ • I Fee for A.dministratian ss. I Extraction, g« 04. . | Arfcificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentils repaid Qr telnodejfted af Jowe tratei * J



Wanted. CASH Advertisements under chis j heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be left at his Office. . WANTED Known—(hi. and atter July 29th, all presents will be stopped. Holders of Tickets will oblige by brine; them m at once.—H. 0. S?egkks, IMVford House. WANTED, Boy age«l sixteen to eighteen.—C. Homersham, Tin wald. 7 120 "fit ANTED Known.—Cull and secure YV bargains of Wither Drapery at the Great Sale at W. 11. Collier's, "The. Corner," ■'■■-- ■- ■-■ : - ■>■'■*.■■;>■:■■ ■■ ''-^''V; •_ \\ i ANTED Known—Old Spoons and ♦ V Forks Electro-plated and made equal to new at 15s per dozen all round. A. Black, Jeweller, East Street, 4 150 ANTED Known- Girls' BootsTa . lid, Lidies' French Shoes 3s 11 d, Gents' Shoes 5s 6d ; at Andrew Orr's Cheap Sale. 6 214 \l/ ANTED Known—H. Dudley will VV sink Deep Wells and supply Cylinder Pumps and Piping, and guaran tee water to surface at 3s 6d per foot.— H. Dudley, Moore Street. 6§54 r I SO Meet the Times.—l am supplying J_ Galvanised Iron Tanks from 30s upwaids, warranted for twenty years. Force pumps, deep well cylinders of all dessriptiqtis. Inspection invited. — J. W. Hardley, East street. 6|201 WANTED Known.—That for quality, assortment, and price see Andrew Orr's large stock of Millinery, Clothing, and Boots. No presents, no bribes, but good value.— Andrew Orr. ifINEST Cod Liver Oil. Chest and I* 1' Lung Protectors. Chilblain lini ments. Brooke, Chemist, Ashburton. ANTED Known—Ss. W7 Alcqrn will feel obliged if all accounts owing are paid within fourteen days. "t^fANTED Known. — Blankets and r\ Flannels great bargains at Andrew yANTED every man m the County *r»JI to have a suit of the Ashburton p. ®jk—Rosert Alcorn, Ashburton Buildings. l/IA^ITED Known.—Great "Clearing •J* Sale at "The Corner" of os£e Olothing, and Boots.—VV. H. vV AD Known—ln consean««ce , 'I o'tl} e rc oi,.>BMience to Customers by tb rebuilding o £ our shop front, we iiave (etermind t, s i Y e some very cheap J^^L^L^^. Melford House. TCI Crean. off. Cough droos on. Un- O- ioubtedly the best. H.G. Flower, East Street. W Ail ED, every man m the district to crder a Kaiapoi or Rwlyn Tweed .ouifc. Uso, Boys' Suit* and Gents' O yercoahingreat variety.—Andrew Oru. W: ANTSD K-NOWM,--If you havlthe Cash, you can save about 6s m every Pound, by buying your Jackets, Ulsters, Dress Goods, Millinery, &c, at |. W. Alcobn & Co.'s Clearing SaleJ (2L, LORIOUS News.—Just purchased a VX Dunedin Warehouseman's Stock of 80 Pieces French Cashmeres and Merinos at less than half price. Will fc<> sold duiitif ■ the cheap sale at Is 10id ; regular price 3s 9d. Ay drew Orr. W "'ANTED Known. —Ttave securefHl Special Line of Cashmeres' to be : sacrificed at Is per yard. Colours- Navy, Maroon, Grenat, Brown, Myrtle, &c— H. C. Seoers, Melford House. ■TtITAIiTED Known."— That if youlvant T J real good wearing boots, to keep your feet dry, you can get them m great variety at John. Moison'h, the expert Bootmaiier, Town Hall shop, East' Street . " 6 73 DOUBLE Blankets, and through mis understanding double quantity sent from Mill. H-ive reduced the price os per pair. —Robert Ajlcobn, visliTjurton Clothing M«i+, Baunders' Buildings. . _ lA 15i WANTKD Known.—l have a large stock of Tin and Ironware Goods to seWfc from. Register Grates, Stoves, Portable Boilers, Spouting and Ridging kept m stock.—J. \V. Hardley/ East street. 6|:202 CHEAP READING for all Classes.— Hundreds of Back Numbers of Monthly and Quarterly Periodicals at Half Price. Several volumes of Standard Works at Cost Price to reduce our Large Stock. Photo and Scrap Albums, Photo Frames.— L. F. Andrewes & Co., Stationers' Hall. [a card.] H. Grifforcl Moore, BOKICITOIt, THE ARCADE, 7§112 IN BANKRUPTCY IN BANKRUPTCY^ In the District Court of Ashburton (being a local Court of Bankruptcy) holden at Ashburton. In the matter of " The Bankruptcy Act, 1883," and the Acts amending the same, and m the bankruptcy of Alfred William Hodder, of Ash burton, carpenter. "J^T OTICE is hereby given that Alfred JLN WiLiiAk Hodder, of Ashburton, carpenter, htm thfs day been adjudicated a bankrupt, ,and that the first meeting of Creditors will be held m the District Court house, Ashburton, on MONDAY, July 27, 1891, at 11 o'clock m the forenoon. Dated this 20th day of July, 1891, J. C. BELL, Deputy-Omcial Assignee. Wilding <fc Lewis, Solicitor. 7+llo JLLIAM /^\ ARDNER, ILLIAM VJTARDNER, GRAHAM'S ROAD, ■ T 1 .W W A. T* X>. —HAS FOll SALE— FOREST «Ste FJRXJIT ; ' fBEES'' I IN GREAT VARIETY. \ PLANTING DONE AS USUAL. , Also on Hand Cli«ico Caiybajafe Planttf Now ready for Planting Out. 7g83 ;, ST. STEPHENS' SCHOOLROOM, ' ASHBURTON. ;■ WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, at 8 p.m. ) LECTURE by the Rev. John Holland, of R%kaia. ; "LIFE IN THE EAST INDIES." j Admission.-Is, and 6d. 7§lOs