The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1891. SHOP HOURS.

The rejection of the Shop Hours Bill by the Legislative Council was inevi table after the unequivocal condemna tion of the measure by the Labor Bills Committee of the Council. But though the Bill is killed for the present the question is by no means buried, and next session will certainly see another effort made-to legislate on the subject. The Bill was by no means perfect, but if the Council had sympathy with the objects of the Bill—as they. pro fessed to haye—amend liiehts co'tjld ;very easily have been made which w'oulcl have rendered it a workable measure. The Council did not set up the argu ment that no legislation to provide against shop-assistants being over worked was necessary. In fact one of the objections to, rthe Bill was that while it limited the hours during which goods might be sold it placed no. re strictions upon the hours durimg which shop-employe's might be kept at work m the closed shops, employers being left at perfect liberty to keep employe's engaged m any work, to any hourj so j long as no sales were made. This could easily be made by a simple Bill providing that employes m shops should not work more than a stated maximum number of hours m any one week, and that or* one day of the week they should have a half-holiday,—in.fact extend the provisions of bhe Factories Act, as regards hours of labour, to shops. A clause providing for giving sitting ac comuiodatoon to female assistants should also be included. To such a measure the Council could take no ex ception. How to deal with small shops, conducted by the shopkeeper and his family, is a more difficult question. The Council expressed a most remark able solicitude for this class, holding that the Bill would ruin them. It is needless to argue this point when the incontrovertible facts can be stated against it that at Timaru and Inver cargill, where uniform hours and a weekly half-holiday have been observed for years, no hardship has been caused. If a law is to be made, its application must be general. Some of "the op ponents of "the Bill have"argued that its effect Avould be to decrease the volume of trade, the number of assistents re quired would be lessened, and a reduc tion m wages would follow. This is clearly a non sequitur. The public will not go without goods simply because they are precluded from purchasing them after certain hours ; if they cannot buy after those hours they will buy before them. Late shopping is a habit, and a pernicious one, and m a very few weeks purchasers would get out of that habit and conform without inconvenience to the re gulation hours. We believe that a Shop Hours Bill is required m the interests alike of the shopkeepers, the assistants and the public, and ; if tht Legislative Councillors will for once ■endeavour'to acquaint themselves with the state of the case, they will see the need of treating the next Bill deal ing with it that conies before them m a less hostile, spirit. Shop employe's and shopkeepers should, meanwhile suggest to the Government any amend-" mends that might make the measure more workable. - •

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The yery Rev Father Chaatagnon will celebrate Mass at Methven on Sunday, and Vespers at Ashburton, at the usual hours. Mr Arthur Clampett, with a well-selected concert company, makes his first appearance m Ashburton, at the Oddfellows' Hall, Chief Justice Way, of South Australia, was specially invited to meet the German Emperor, when m London, and acconipanied him to banquets aud garden parties. The scrip for the shares m the Zealandia Silver-mining Company, at Zeehan, Tas mania, is now being distributed to the "New Zealand shareholders. Mr arid Mrs John Holmes, and Miss Holmes, arrived at Wellington yesterday niorniiig m the Ruapebu, from London. Mr Holmes' health has considerably improved during his trip to England. , A young man of Adelaide was sued for kissing a girl without her permission. He said he thought she was his sister, which, says an exchange, made the girl so mad that she wanted to double the amount of damages claimed. A woman wants to be .kissed for herself or not at all. The amount of money put through the totalisator m New Zealand m the last seven seasons is stated by "Mazeppa" as follows :—Season 1883-84 £330,000; ISB4-85 £470,600; 1885-86 £560,000; 1886-87 £509,000 ; 1887-88 £515,000 ; 1888,89 i 491,000; 1889^90 £579,414; and 1890-91 £635,524. The dairy companies of the North Island have decided to form an association similar to that m the South Island, with the object of strengthening the hands of producers and enabling them to get better returns for pro duce. It Was decided to work m conjunction with the Southern association, On Wednesday an enquiry was held by ( Mr L. Oxley, J.P., aud a jury of six, of whom Mr ti Edgington was foreman, touching the death of Michael, infant son of Mr John Brick, of Barrhill, After hearing the evidence of the father, Mi's Saunders the nurse, and Dr Cordner, the jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes.

At a> recent ireeting of the Kaitangata Mutual Improvement Society an interesting paper was read by Mr W. H. Mackenzie on tlie township and its futuee prospects.; He suggested the raising of a guarantee fund of £JOOO, to be spent m boring operations m search of bituminous coal. As a centre of nmnufacfcuring industries, he thinks there is a bright future for Kaitangata, Mrs Warne, a Bendigo resident,, where she was president of the Women's' Christian Temperance' Union, was Jailed by being- ru-u ---over by a St Kilda train while she was visit ing Melbourne to attend the Victppian Alliance Convention. The body was nearly cut m two. The deceased, who owned a millinei'd shop'at Bendigo, was a widow, ajjd leaves two grown-up daughters and one sou. Mr VY. H. >S. Roberts, of Oania.ru, m a letter'to the "North Otago-Times" says tjjat m the realisation of his estate, spction n blo"k IV, town of Waipahi, for which he paid the (ioi^rnmenfc £27 3s, and built on it a sto c at a cost of £1.25 11s (total £152 14s) —was disposed of for the sjftn of one pound at erling; The "Ciutlia free Press" says:—"lb appears that the patriotic intention o£ the Otaco Acclimatisation Society to establish a breed of wild tfeese by placing a number of goose eggs m the nests of tlje black swans on Ihe Kaitangata and .TuaUiloto Jakes .cannot be attempted because of the vandalism of the residt nts of these localities, who are ruth lessly taking the eggs away from the. swans as fast a3 the birds m-vke nests. Ims is greatly to be wj^ejUptl, as a breed: ot wild geese would be of fat? nu^fi valu^ than the swans. The only way m which .the 1 Accli matisation Society can accomplish its object \^ill be by selecting Lakes Waihola and Wajprjri,' where the swtuts' 'HCSta are. not likely t»ii*4^JH(b^l." .

| It seems the first venture of the Midland • Railway Company m sending timber to Auati-iilu hah been successful, as they have let another tender for two millions of feet. According to 1 the." Taranaki News," work has been stopped at the Mokau coal ■ mine* at which w>mo4o miners who went out on strike at Wespdrt during the recent , lalwur troubles ' were at work. Great things were expected from the mine. The majority of the miners agrned to forego 23 per cent of their wages at first, m order to give the company a fair start, but tliih'otilties appears to have cropped up which Juiyc led to the timers knocking off work and leaving for other districts, most of them having received through the Government Labour Bureau free passes to. Wellington, where they will be provided wltslr'-work. The miners-are said to be tbc chief sufferers by the collapse. At the annual meeting of sharehffide^of* the South Australian Gas Comp{iny:;tJ|^p% S. Tomkinson, referring to the difticultyi caused by the late Maritime strike, sai<l it was to be regretted that the stiike would not be the last, for he bad it on the best authority that it was contemplated to have a strike upon -n larger scale, and for no other reason than that the leadens of the last strike and the agitators were beaten. The men were content with their wages and hours, but having been, as they said beaten, they contemplated another strike on a large scale. He mentioned that that to impress 'upon the directors the advisablenes-i of in creasing the seventeen weeks' supply of coal to t^phty-six weeks, so that m the event of a strike they could obtain their coal from a distant part of the world without relying on thelNew South Wales mines. By the last mail from England M Albert Potter, Mount Eden, long wel known m connection with inventions for cleaning and dressing phormiuin tenax, received a letter from Manchester which shows that New Zealand flax m now brought face to face with a keen competitor. The " China grass " of commerce, the fibre of the rhea or ramie plant, has been brought to great perfection recently by Thomas Bairaclough and Company, Limited, .•Manchester. This cleaned fibre, which is as white and lustrous as the finest silk, can now be prepared by the machinery invented by the above firm, at a cost of from 5d to Qi per lb. In their letter to Mr Potter ..they.stj.te that they have found that she phormium tenax dressed by* Mr Potter's patent mixes Well with 13:irraclough's dressed ramie fibre, and that the mixture can be prepared m suitable fabrics which it is anticipated will pror« acceptable to purchasers. This invention is of importance to New Zealand, as the ramie plant grows fairly m the Auckland district, and to the Northward of Auckland will produce probably at least two crops of stalks a year.—".New Zealand Herald."

The best medicine known ia SANDEJi and SONS' EUCALYf^TfEXTIIACiI.:: Wat^ t eminent powerful effects m coughs; colds,; influenza, etc. —the relief is instantaneous. Thousands 1 give the. most, gratifying testi mony. His Majesty the* King of Italy, and medical syndicates 411 over the globe are its patrons, head the official reports that accom pany each bottle. Mosler, M.D., Professor University, Griefswald, reports :— The Eucalypti Extract proved magnificently suc cessful m very severe contusions, bruises, Upiahis, wounds, scaldings, broken ribs,; and limbs. ("Medical journal," Nov., 18Sl)d In diseases of the kidneys, either active con gestion or suppression, (urcemai) or albumi§ nuria, dropsy, lithargy, nothing w)lt equal m its action Eucalypti Extract. Doses five to six drops. Mosler, M.D., Professor, University, Griefswald, reports::—Diphthe ria. Tonsils continually coherent presenting ulcers with white extidants. Cured m four teen days. Surgical Clinic of Prof. M'lntyre, College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Louis—Scirrhus of Breast—Excision Euca lypti Extract employed. No swelling, heat, or discoloration. Cured m fourteen days. -Advt _.-""■" *

SPORTING.

THE ST. LEGER.

(MR TKKSS ASSOCIATION )

(Received September 10, 10.10 a.m.) London, September 9. At the Dcncaster Meeting to-day the St. Leger was won by Common; Raverend, second ; St.. Simon of the Rock, third.

ASHBURTON TROTTING CLUB.

Kos was inadvertently omitted from the Maiden and District Handicaps m the list of nominations published yesterday.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

[per press association .j Mastekton, September 9. ' A writ for £100 damages for alleged libel has been served on the .proprietors of the " Wairara pa Daily " by William Murdoch, an employee on the " Waiiarapa Star." The libel is. alleged to be con tained m a paragraph recently published by the " Daily," The case will be heard at the next sittings of the District Court. Dunedin, September 9, The troubles which have prevailed among the Hugo Minstrels for some time came before the Court to-day, when four of the members sued C. Hugo for a week's wages m lieu of notice and the price of a passage to the place where they were engaged, Judgment was given lor the members of the ppmpany m each case.

THE MARKETS.

LONDON WOOL SALES. (per fkehs association.) London, September 8. At the wool sales to-day 13,638 bales were catalogued. There was a good attendance of buyers. Competition was keen. Prices realised from par co 5 per cent below the July sales. The decline was chiefly m medium and inferior wools.; The arrivals number 416,000 bales; 70.000 bales have been sent forward, and the number available is 350,800 bales. London, September 9. Merinos, good, are par to |d to Id, crossbreds |d djlovv the closing rates of last auctions, . The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,880,000 quarters, aud for the Continent, 2,042,0*0 quarters. Debentures of thg Australian and New Ztaland Mortgage ani Agpncy Company are quoted at 100 ; Dalgety and Co., H"2| j New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co.s 95. Enormous shipments of wheat-from America are depressing the markets, The "Daily News," however, says the de cline is only temporary. The deficit m England aud France alone amounts to S'^OOOyOOO-quarters. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Limitedj have received a cable message from their head ofiice. injygndoo, advising the opening of the wool sales with s* large number pf buyers present. Competition is fairly animated, but the selection of wool, is poor. Prices show a decline of 5 per cent on the preceding series. ■: The quantity of wool to be admitted was reached on the opening day. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agercy Company, Limited, Christchurch, have received the following nable message, dated London, September 8 :— Woof — flic sale§ opened this day, at an average decline cf about § per cent on last saies' closing races. Attendance by poth Homo and forejgn buyers is good, and competition js fairly active. The tQtal quantity available, including wool heid. over from last set'tes, is 428,000 bales, 70,000 of which have beejr foPwardeo} fc<* the manufacturing districts direct. Wheat—-The weather is improving, and market declining. New Zealand wheat, f.a.q., is nominally worth, c.i.f., oft'coast, 4is per 4jbOlbs r JSejr £eal&nd wheat has deoli^ciil Is pei' 49tf)t$ taftM Jas£ report.

Pigeon Matches.

A number of pigeon shooting matches Cfttne off yesterday, at Hunt s P.iddock, Wakanui road. The matches were or ganised by Mr Kelly, of the Central Hotel, and the arrangements were ex cellent, everything passing off without hitch or dispute. Mr Kelly and Mr R. Hicks shared tho duties o,f handle ipper and referee. The high wind was a draw back, but still some good 1-shooting was shown. The financial result was satisfac tory, there being a surplus, which will lie haiidecl to Mrs Hackshaw, whose late husband took a keen interest m this as in most other outdoor sports. The results are as follows : — Swkfp, of 10s each ; five birds;—il Quane, "27yds, 4, and " Henderson," 26yds, 4, divided Ist and 2nd'; C. i"William*, 28yds, 3, ?rd. Eight com puted . . : Silver Cup, with sweep of 10s each ; stU'<Mi birds. —H. Primmer, 22yds, G, Ist; J. Qu«me, 28yrle, 5, and B. Hanks, 22yds, 5, flivided 2r,d.and 3rd. Eight competed. Mukf Sweep, 5i each ; four birds ; for "amateurs."- -.X Miles, 3, Ist; J. H. Stephens, 2, 2nd. Eight competed. O^en\S\vekpstake, of £1 each; seven birds.—J. Quane, 28yds, 4-110-11— Ist; C. Williams, 27yds, 4-110—10— 2nfl ;■ R. Bird, 4—llo—o—3rd. Eight competed, six of whom tied at four birds each.

TAXATION OF SAVINGS BANKS

One of the clauses of the new taxation scheme which was taken a good deal of exception to, but which was not generally understood, was the taxation of the proprietary or trustee savings banks. The principal institutions of this kind m New Zealand are the Auckland and Dunedin Savings Banks, and the representatives of both of these made out a very clear case of hardship m regard to the taxation which will be imposed upon them under the Taxation Bill. The new taxation, they said, would render it almost impossible for these institutions to continue their operations. The situation brings to recollection the case of the National Security Savings Banks m the United Kingdom some twenty years ago,- when Mr Robert Lowe (afterwards Lord Sherbrooke) the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, proposed to withdraw from them the State guarantee of three per oent. interest on their deposits. A deputa tion of the representatives of the savings ' banks waited upon the Right Hon. gentleman, and represented that if his proposals were carried irit<y effect these institutions must cease to exist. Mr Lowe, who had heard them with his fade buried m that: morning's-*'Times," sharply interrupted the spokesman with the enquiry, <( Why should fhey exist"?" The same enquiry suggests itself here. The Post Office Savings Bank otters every requisite facility for the accumulation and safe-keeping of small savings. The enormous ex tent to which it is taken advantage of all over the colony shows how thoroughly established m public appro val it is, and with such an institution offering State security open m every town and village of the colony, it is difficult to perceive any good reason why competing banks, under semi private control, should be retained. It is most desirable that every encourage ment and facility should be .given, to^ thrifr, and we think that the Posts Office Savings Hank affords ail that is required by small depositors, and that the public would not suffer were the semtprivate saving banks to be wound? up, EJven under existing conditions, these institutions are not .likely to survive for any great length of time. It is already complained that their earnings are barely sufficient to enable them to pay the five per cent interest on their deposits, and as the trustees are not likely to strive for higher nterest on their loans at the risk of doubtful security, their field of opera tions will become more and more cir cumscribed, and ultimately the ab sence of profitable employment foi* their deposits will compel them t<6 decline to; "receive further deposits. Taxation will,at the worst only hasten this inevitable end.

THE PUBLIC WORKS STATE- MENT.

The Public Works Statement is a very uninteresting ..document as far as the Ashburtori county is directly con cerned. Indirectly, of course, we like to see what the public money is being spent upon, and 'some of us take a personal interesib-ih the opening up the native and other lands suitable for settlement m £he North Island. There \yill gertainly b, c some questipn as to permitting a" further extension qf th,e Otago Central Railway, but m other respects the Statement is a bald enumeration of work: that must be done. We miss from the list of telegraph extensions that from Tinwald to Mount Somers. 'Tin's line has been, promised, and will pay better than many of those which are named m the Statement, and no doubt Mr Wright will have, before these lines appear m print, called the attention oi the Ministsr to the omission. No other item of expenditure"'in the county is provided for.

Addington Stock Market

■ ■ Chpistchurch. September 9. There was a Urge attendance and the entry was up to the average. The weather, though/lull, was pleasant. , Stoke Sheep—About 2500 were yardedb the chief portion crossbred ewes m lamb and lambs at foot, and hoggets. Crossbred ewes m lamb sold at 9s 9d to Us Id £ ewes with lambs at foot sold at 15s and lj>s ,3d, but the quality was indifferent, and percent age of lambs small; hoggets sold af from 7s 9d for small ones, and 10s to lls for libetter -sorts ; forward. . conditioned crossbred withers and maiden ewes brought 16s; iiierino ewes fetched (is fjd. LjAUfBS— About 30 early lambs sold at from 12s 6d'to 15s, ■ Fat Shkkp — Over 5000 were yarded, a large percentage merinos and second-class crossbreds. The market was active for the best class of crossbred wethers and maiden ewes for export. Prices for these remained firm, good sorts bringing from 18s to 21s 9cl; lighter sorts from 14s. The demand for second class mutton was slack. Inferior sorts brought from 7s 6d to 100 9<1." Fat Cattle —Of 146 offered, some very prime beeves realised from £5 17s to £8 7s. 'Jibe sale of second-class cattle was much on a par with' last week. Sto,re Cattle—The was by far the largest entr'j of store cattle for some months. Three hundred and 'ninety-three' filled the store pei^s. Tliere were 5$ head of dairy cows and sppingets. The sale dragged considerably Young cows sold at 2^s to lss j threeyear- : old steers, £3 3s; two-y«u-olds s £Q j three : year-old heifers, £2 4s; two-yuaS'-olds, 32s to 34a ; yearlings, 10a 0d to 18s; forward conditioned bullocks brought £'4 13«, and some that were withdraw! at £i 17s 6d,were

subsequently disposed of at that figure pri vately. Pi('ts—lso were yarded, chiefly porker-3 and baooners. The former were m fair demand, but there was no improvement m Ihe demand for baconers.

PARLIAMENTARY.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The following is the conclusion of fcfie Financial Statement :-— The total appropriation for construction and improvement of roaila last year Was Llsl,ri2, and expenditure has been L 71,683, while the liabilities existing at "the close of the year amounted t0"L79,396. The expenditure of L 4884 under Village Special Settlements was incurred partly j la providing roads m the vicinity of the J settlements, and partly m making advances to the settlers for improve ments effected on their holdings, m terms of the iegulatioi.B under which they took up their lands. The proposed vote of Li 7,629 for the current year is to cover the estimated liabilities for further advances which the settlers can claim, and for such local roads as the vote will permit Good progress has been made with the work on the roads to give access to North Island Main Trunk Railway during the year, notwithstanding exceptionally wet weather experienced. The total appropriation for public buildings and domains last year' was L 124.136, namely, L 67.015 under the Consolidated Fund, and L 57,121 under the Pnblic Works Fund, and the expenditure thereunder durin» the year has.amounted to L 59,020 and L 22,819 respectively, while liabilities existed on the 31st March last to the amount of L 7753 and L 27,082. In addition, more than half the expenditure under the Consolidated Fund was devoted to school buildings, the remainder having been incurred m enlarging and improving, and keeping m repair the very numerous public; buildings throughout, the colony. We akk this year for a total appropriation for public buildings and domains "of L 133,775, of which amount L 52,950 is proposed to be charged to the Consolidated Fund, and L 80,825 to the Public Works Fund. The details of the proposed appropriations under Consolidated Fund haveibeeh before hon. members for soms time.. It will therefore probably be sufficient to state that L 26,000 of the amount is propose'l to be expended on school buildings, L26i050; on ordinary maintenance and r/spairs of Government buildings throughout the colony and L9OO j on keeping m order the Government! donjains at Auckland and Wellington. I The vote j. roposed for Defences provides j only for those works which it is absolutely necessary to carry to completion, m order to p^ut the defences of harbors m a fairly sound position. ''■ -■ ■ purchase of Native Lavd—lnclusive of a credit of L 50,000 from Part 2, the amount voted last year for purchase of Native lands m the North Island gener-' ally under Part 1 of the' Pujbl.te--Wer.ks.- Fbiid was L 10.333, the--ttcfcual'•expendi ture during thjanoriod being L9QQ& ; The result of -tlifs expenditure has been to close- up the purchase of between 8000 and 9000 acres, which are now available for settlement, and to advance towards completion the purchase of "various other blocks of land covering an area of about 000,003 acres, special attention hiving been directed towards closing up negotiations for such lands as are, more or less, well adapted to-'t'ie purposes of ■settlement. The Hon. the -Native Minister has also recently completed ihc purchase of some further land-to-the ex tent of 25,281 acres, at an expenditure of L131,(W0 m the following districts, viz. :—Covomandel and Thames, 4144 acres ;• Waikato, 22,360 acres ; Waikaiiae- WelUnston, 877.7 acres. That no pur chases have been completed daring thq year, under Part 2, within the ai'f<ldus: 1 cribod m the. second schedule to the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan \ppropiiatiah Act Amendment Act, 1889,' is due to. the backward and complicated state of titles. The purchase of nine' blocks, portions of the large Rohe Potae block, containing m the aggregate about 200,000 acres, has, however, been com menced, and is now being proceeded with 'its circumstances permit. The totaj number of owners, many of whom are under disabilities as minors, m these nine blocks is 2129, of whom 148 have so far sighed deeds of sale to the Crown. For various..reasons, the majority-of the owners are at present more or less averse to land sales. At the southern bnd of the railway area the principal block, Awarut, his not been sufficiently advanced m the. "Native ■ Land "Court to admit of negotia tions being commenced, but within the past few irjonths- the purchase of the ad joining blocks, Takapiia and Pphonuia tene, have been vigorously pushed on with, and'these lands, containing about 55,9,00 acres," 5 will, be available fox ■ settlement within a short period. „ ■The''expenditure under Part 2 during | the year was L 13,913, which includes L 500;). transferred to Part 1 as explained above and survey cost amounting" to L2BOO. It is the intention of the Go vernment to ask for a further allocation of L 14,000 for general land purchases j outside the North Island Main Trunk Railway^ and to enable the acquisition of valuable land* for settlement pur poses m different parts of the North Island to be undertaken. Pgrmissfyn fs mac|e for Works on gbkldelds and for several extensions of telegraph tystetr. I feel certain that this statement has not given satisfaction, but the dissatisfac tion will have arisen, not so much from j the manner of distribution as from the fact that the moneys available are so i small arid the wants so great. However, the amounts now proposed to be appro priated must be regarded as merely in stalments on account, and as moneys are from time to time available from the conversion of cur loans and other sources,, so our public works can be extended and completed. It is to place the works to be gone on with m hand as expeditiously as possible, so as fco get the greater part of the same done m the summer months. The work will thus be d.me much cheaper, and, by being placed m the market at once ? will provide the much-needed em ployment for our working population.'

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

| BKll PRESS ASSOCIATION, J Wellington, September 9. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. PJSMALB. BUFFKAGE BILL. Mr Fulton presented petitions signed by 10,00Q women m favor of female suffrage. In moving the second reading of the Female Suffrage Bill he sad it claimed no favor for women, only justice. He ridiculed the idea that women desired fco enter Parliament: all they wanted was to have a voice m the election of legis lators. Mr Bowen characterised the Bill as revolutionary, and being so it should have been decided by the country whether it was required before being introduced. He opposed the Bill out of respect to women, who would be degraded by entering into political strife, and he moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. ; Sjr George Whitmore, and 3Vfess,rs Miller and Whjte , opposed the Bill whilst Messrs Stewart, Bojlen, and Pharazyn supported it. At five p.m. the dinner adjournment was taken! The Council resumed at 7.3 Q. > The debate on the second reading qf the Female Suffrage Bill w*s adjourned till next day.

BILLS ADVANCED. The Government Loans to Local Bodies Bilrwas read a second time. The Settlers' <Land Revaluation Bill passed its final stagtwA The-Mining Bill wan further considered- m Committee. The second paragraph, m cku&e 104—conditions of : licensef-J;was struck out. A new clause was inserted giving tributors a lien equal m value to half the current rate of wages on the- product of any mini;. Several verbajl Amendments were made m other clausps, a-d the Bill w*s reported. The Dentists Bill was slightly amended m Committee, k and the Council rose at 10 p. m,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 9.*. The House met at 2.30 p m., BUSINESS. Ih answer to a question from Mr Rollcston, as to what business »he Govern ment proposed to go on with this session, Mr Ballance said it was intended to bring the session to a close as hoon as possible—probably al the end of next week. If the discussion hf the Estimates proceeded without waste of cime, he would be able to announce to-morrow what Bills were to be proceeded with, but ho must remind the House that some urgent business, over which they had no control, might arise. With reasonable despatch, however, the session ought to close either at the end of next week or early m the following week. The Govern ment hoped to push the Bankruptcy Bill through if business would allow, for they were told it had been so carefully dealt with by the Select Committee that it could he put through m about three hours, and they recognised that it was a matter of great importance to the com mercial community. The ocean > mail service proposals would be submitted to the House on Monday or Tuesday next. As to the Public Works 'Statement, he suggested that it should be discussed on the motion for going into Committee of Supply.- • ■ ' '•■ ' : NATIVE LAND BILL. Mr Kelly presented a report from the special Native Committee to the effect that the Native Land Bill be postponed till i*m session, and after two hours' debate the report was ordered to lie on the table. WATEB SUPPLY BILL. On the motion of theHon Mr McKenzie, the Water Supply Sill to consolidate the laws relating to the powers of County Councils as to the construction of water- Avorks, and also to slightly amend thorn, was read a second time. STAMP ACT 1? AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Stamp Aits Amendment Bill, which he explained imposed a duty m the same way as a receipt on all p I'sengcr steamer tickets of the value of £2 and upwards, and proposed to enforce a totali sator tax of 1-| per cent on all machines at race meetings. He intended,^the__BilLl to take effect irony —the—beginning of October next. •"~^.~~ Mr Palmer took strong objection tor the recognition by this Bill of Metropolitan .Racing Clubs, and said those Clubs ex ercised their power m a very arbitrary manner over other Clubs with much better status m many cases, and which carried on more legitimate racing than Metropolitan Clubs, He said he would endeavor to effect an alteration m this respect m Committee. Mr Meredith and Mr W.- Hutchison objected to the totalisalor being recog nised m the way it was proposed to do in'this Bill, and said the House should not encourage gambling m this manner.

The motion was carrier! on the voices. , The House rose at 5.30.; The Hmi-e resumed at 7 30. THE PROPERTY TAX BILL. Tho Property Tax Bill, imposing a pro perty tax of a penny m the £, for the year ending March HI, 1892, was read a second time. TfAKH fOX HILL. The Hon. .f. MoKenzU- moved the 1 second reading of the Land for Settlement Hill to empower fche acquisition of private) property for settlement purposes when, recommended by a Board of Liml Pur chase Commissioners, to be appointed for the purpose, consisting of the Sur veyor-General, tho Property Tax Com missioneivind the. Co.imiis-jionorof Crown Lfidds of the district jn whichthe land to he acquired is situated. He argued that there was rf al -necessity for the resumption of land m Canterbury and Hawke's Bay districts. •It.'was contended that the Biil would open the way to jobbery, but the fact of the particulars of all transactions for the compulsory taking of land having j ■to appear m the " Gazette," and then be sanctioned by Parliament, should effectu- \ ally dispel any charge of that kind. Mr Rolleston admitted that m some parts of the colony strong necessity existed for some such system as was sketched m this Bill, Hut he thought the provisions of this measure were not sufficiently guarded m respect to the pur pose which it was intended to be carried | out, He was very much afraid that if this Bill passed, the Minister would be besieged with people who. would be deshous of disposing, not of the best lands, but of second class land.

Sir John Hall had some doubjb as to whether the present time was opportune, for acquiring land of this kind, biifc he thought Government had done jqnite right m bringing the Bill forward.s He hoped, however, Government would pro ceed cautiously m the matter, and would not insist on any proposal to bring the land under the perpetual- lease system. Mr Tanner believed he expressed the opinion of several thousands of people m Canterbury, when he said this Bill was one ofthe most important ever introduced m the House, The Maori, members objected to the provisions m the Bil} referring to lands. • After a protracted debate, the motion for the third reading was agreed to oh the voices. The Wnter Supply Bill and Property Tax Bill were put through their final stages. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. ' On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, , ' Mr E. M. Smith moved an amendment affirming the desirableness of appointing a Royal Commission to experiment m the smelting of New Zealand iron ores and iron sands. . Mr Seddon regretted that the Govern ment could not acu.epfc the amendment, but they would assist, the member for New Plymouth m sending exhibits of iron sand and iron ore to the Chicago Exhibition. The aniGiidment was lost on the voices. The House went, into Coimnitijee of Supply. " '"■"'! Education Department — £300,776. The total Education vote was agreed to without alteration. The Lunacy and Charitable department, £40,9:19, was agreed to. - Progress was reported, and the llou^e rose at 2.5 a.m.

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold oursejm'. responsible far the opinions expressed jay pur correspondents.)

THE DIFFERENTIAL RATE.

to ,thk; kditor. , / •'. Sir, — In-tyour-le-idc^of the Bth' instant-,- 1 and under .the abpve heading, you chargejne with attributing wjlfitbl motives to Aiea»n Il.irper'aiiii Grigg on-proposing 'the differen tial rate. The same charge was''made at the last meeting of the Council by both Mr Harper and the .Chairman. I denied the charge, and challenged the Chairman to point to any letter of mine that said so. I deny it again, and ask you to point- out when I charged them with dcingan m just ice m order to benefit themselves. J At the public meeting I said "the pro posed rate was a monstrous injustice, and could only be accounted for by Councillors nob paying attention to their business." I also said" that it looked as if the Chairman had attempted to take advantage of our con fidence m his impartiality." That necim to have been the strongest expression I used, and I think it was justified by the facts that he is Treasurer of the Council, that he had two returns laid before him giving every information, that the riding he represented was the one that would reap the largest benefit by the rate propoefcd, and that he had nothing to say on the question, and I ask why,did he, and thote that did not understand the matter, ask that the question be postpcjne I till the next meeting. As to, the mover and seconder of the motion I- spoke of them m respectful terms and fit examples to follow m managing the public business. You state m your paper that " while giving Mr Brown credit for exposing the error, we thiuk he might have done 30 without imputing any such motives to those gentlemen -who were discharging, what was after all, a formal duty." Surely, you are not aware that before Mr Harper proposed the vote he moved for a return showing the particulars as to how the last differential rate was levied; be-iides that, ar« you aware that the following return, moved for by .me, was laid ou the table the day ih'aji' .Mr Harper's motion was carried: .—"That before levying a-differential rate there be.laid pn the table a return showing the ratea levied and the amounts expended m each riding since the Ist January, 1887, distinguishing the sums charged against the general account from those charged against each riding respectively?" In that return a clear explanation of the financial position was given. Of course Councillors may have overlooked it, but they should not blame others. The blame rests with themselves, not with the servants of the Council. lam afraid I, shall never be able to look to them as leading lights m the future without the qu^stiou arising as to whether or not they have given the matter m hand.any con sideration,, or are merely discharging what you would call " a formal duty." 1 think you would do Councillors a service by pointing out that the question of differen tial rating ia a very serious one, and should, be considered m no that each oiieTslfoii'M'thoroughly understand it befgßrlie gives his vote ; and further, -ffennt' out that they will damage the great cause of irrigation by doing business so carelessly that the ratepayers will be likely to loss faith m them, and will not trus them with the expenditure qf (K),000 farthings, let alone £,QO,OOO for the purpose of making a paradise a/t these plains. I may add that the differential rate pro posed by me at last meeting has not ap peared m your columns as stated by* your reporter. Both Ashburton and Rangitata riding will pay less under it than under the vote rescinded.—Yonrs, etc., James Bkowx, [to say that Mr Brown " imputed motives" was, perhaps, not strictly correct, seeing that no stronger charges than ignorance of the-subject':ami apparent want of impartiality were made by Mr B,ro\vn' against his. fellow-councillors. Mr Brown's letter, however, is more the affair of the County Councillors than of ourselves.— Ed.]

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

[PBH I'HKS'i ASSOCIATION.I

A PLUCKY COLONIAL

tiONDON, September 8, M'ijov Lovett, of Adelaido, has dis tinguished himself by the gallant rescue of a drowning lad wha had fallen into the Thames.. REV MR SPURGEON. Rev Mr' Spurgeon has recovered sufficiently to be able to leave the, house. He spent half an hour in his garden today. LONDON BOARD SCHOOLS, The attendance at the London Board Schools under the free educa tion system already shows an in-, .crease of twenty-eight thousand, AS OTHERS SEE US. The " Chronicle," commenting on the criticisms of Australians that have been published recently, says the colonies have conquered great difficulties, and their brillant success Is one of the wonders of the century prolific in marvels. A COLONIAL INVENTION. . The Metropolitan Railway Company has offered to adopt the Uibson link, a Qolonial invention, ; TRADES UNION CONFERENCE Mr Burt, M.P., in his opening ad dress at the Trades' Union" Congress, said he preferred self help to state compulsion. Sir J. Gorst and Mr W, S. Caino were present. A resolution in favor of the eight hours' system in Great Britain and internationally was adopted by a«large majority. At the Oriental Congress Professor Sterndale road a :paper on' Asiatic architecture and migration in the Pacific Ocean. London, September 9. Mr.Burt delivered an eloquent ad- 1 d,re.ss at the opening- of the Trades Union Congress. He praised the efforts of- the organisers, of unskilled labor, and pleaded for the equalisation of earnings of both sexes. Humanity must be aided in the efforts towards the improvement of the species by political economy. Owing to the deaf ness of maniuion, workmen would, be. compelled to stop the roar of machinery in ordered to . obtain a ■ hearing. He opposed- the extension, of the sphere of. strikes: Millionaires and paupers in his estimation, were equally monstro sities in.'a CimatiaU: and civilised nation. A wanton .striker was a fool, almost a criminal. ; ... , : The 'educated and thrifty working classes are "'dominant in the Congress. ' ' Paris, September 8. It is now reported that Crampell, the leader of the Lake Tchad expedi tion, was murdered by his own troops, owing to his roughness. THE PANAMA CANAL CASE.. The police who searched the houses of De Lesseps and his son succeeded in Seizing a number of documents bearing upon the prosecution which is to be instituted against the famous engineer.

THE CAROLINE ISLANDS.

: Manila, September 8. Further disturbances are reported froiio' - the Carpiwe -island?. The

Spanish troops suffered- heavily in an encounter with the natives.

PREVENTION OF FROSTS.

Washington, September 8. Experiments are shortly to be made apon. the feasibility of preventing early and late frosts by creating cloud*. The experimenters rely on the well-known natural law that there is nsver frost when the sky is cloudy, k A TALE OF THE SEA. Four hands on the Royal Tar, which has just put into San Francisco, died of fever contracted in German New Guinea. . She sailect on June 5. Her sfores were exhausted and the survivors of the crew are toothl**"? and. scarred with gangrene, the effects of Scurvy. Three of them worked the ship, from Samoa, and as the remainder were unable to give help they were kept on duty night and day all the -way.

THE DARDANELLES.

St. Petersburg, September 8. The Russian Government denies the opening of the Dardanelles applies ex cept to the volunteer fleet and merchan* vessels.

AUSTRALIAN.

MORE FAILURES.

Sydnky, September 9. Two more financial institutions, tho Imperial Laud, Building and Deposit Company, and the City and Country Investment Company, have suspended payment.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Wellington, September 9: Tlie Dairy Companies of the North Island have decided to form an Associa tion similar to that m the South Island, with tne object of strengthening the hands of the producers, and enabling them to get better returns for their pro duce. At a meeting to-day the following Companies were represented—Har borough, Taratahi, Dalofield, Greytown, Wanganui, Opuuake, Patea, Woodviile, and Gistorne. It was decided to work m conjunction with the southern Associa tion. The Marine Department have fpr some time have had before them the case of an officer who is anxious tojjass vis. exami nation as master... TAefquestiori. at issue was what .Bonstitutes foreign-going ser -vjcer'whether it means a kind of service under foreign-going articles or whether, as contended by the Marine Department, it necessitates actual service 'm'foreign waters. Several deputations have waited ou Mr McKenzie, Minister of Marine, and to-day ha gave a final answer, declin ing to interfere, a* the Crown Solicitor supported the Department m their con tention - It is stated that the custom m London, .Sydney, and MelbpurneCjii the opposite of this. " '■- ■ - .'^ -.»i •:,! f \n the case of Hansen,; cftAi-ged with setting fire fco the Island Bay Hotel, the defence of insanity was set up. ; After a three days' trial the prisoner wis. con victed'this afternoon, and remanded for sentence. John Curtie, pleaded guilty to ten charges of false pretences;" atjd re ceived eighteen months' imprisonment. The Governor aud Lady Onslow, Accom panied by Sir Walter and JUfy Buller, .will visit the Ngatihuia tvtbeat Otaki on Friday.

POLITICAL.

(from oux pakliamkntaky cokkes poxdent). Wellington, September 9. SMALL BIKUH. The Suvill Birds Nuisance Bill, with the Live Stock Committee's amendment, has been -circulated. The title has been altered to the Bird Nuisance, A new clause allows local todies to raise funds by a i ate not exceed ins; three-six&enths of a Id m the IV The clause ;j»Uowinj local bodies to levy a rate, if petitioned, is struck out. In clause 5, County Council or Road Board has been substituted for , local authority. The, direction t!o- adver tise m. the papers the intention s fco lay po'son is struck bub.; Clauses 6 and 7 are new, and they provide special regulations for borough and town districts, ami' order f inspectors to report oii the enforcement of the Act, also empower the Minuter of Lands to put the Aot into forcelfn the case of the.failure of the local, b^dy to do so. ■ - -■•-'•'.', THE PUBLIC. WORKS-STATEMENT. Tlie Statement seems on the whole to give satisfaction, though AuckUnd^n are loud m their wail/ They gbherallyTeoog nise that the best lias beendone with the small means at" the comtnaod&f the Minister. • > ,''"-".,\T ■ ! BUSINESS. Business is being pushed oil though I chose of two departments, .tmUH and Justice,' kept the House' xotng till four 1 this morning. This afternoon Bfr Bees delivered a pleading speech on ixafcalf of the natives.- There, Jfas. considerable hubub m the Chamber,-and:Mr, fyes ex claimed bitterly several /times jthat^it was apparently useless, to tall? ,tp the. Cflouge on the subject, though it affected-the w«U fare of hundreds of persons.* He said the Native Land Bill was distasteful to the natives, as it provided for the placing of all power m the hands of the Chief Judges and the Native Department, and cut the Natives off from the oHJtiharjr channels of legal redress. He said 4 he could draft a Bill that would meet the case m five or six hour*:. After some discussion the House passed to other business.- It is believed the Native Bill will be dropped th,is session, . * '--?•■.-

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBUETON-THURSDAI.

(Before Mr C. Wrav, Ri^.) Fire Raising.—George HugheH, a Ud of twelve years,'"was. oh.»rg«4 with having wilfully setfire to fcussewks on the public road running past one of .the plantations on the Alford Estate, whereby trees m the plantation were destroyed! to the value of £30. Evidence was*, led to show chat the boy had thouarUtlesiHly thrown lighted matches .out of the. dray ;he was riding'on upou the nw\, the tussocks had taken .fire, .and the fire, spread to the plantation, doing - the damage alleged. The Magistrate gave the boy .a severe reprimand, pointing out that for an offence of this kind a very severe punish ment qopld be inflicbedv It he were ever guilty of Garletwness of this kind again, the puni|ihment;Fould,be very severe. He would be fined £l.and coste. Civil Case.—Tlie following case was undefended—John Orr and Co. v. M. Daly and others chiia £2 &* «d.

THE ASHBURTOtf GUARDIAN: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER^ jo, JB9l.



Keatiku*!} Cougii: IvjzK>rqEs cures Cough Asthma, Bronchitis; Mtxlic*l .tfstimoM states that no othdr medicine is ineffectual m tiie cure of ; these dangswona maladies One Lozenge, alone, gives ease, one-oc two at bedtime eusuaes rest. For relievinadifliculty o ibreathing they ate invalnabJLe.^They con tain no opium nor any violent drug. Sold by all Chemists, m tins,* U ljd>»d 2a 9d each . . . -" ■-' Countess 2a, Duchess 2s 4d, Prjncess 2s Bd, Bmpress 3s. These TeasW free from any exoess qi astringeucy ; . ..; ■' Teasfree from au^ excess'o'ffas.tringenoy Southpritish Tea Company*ijpur6 blea44 AH store ecu sT' '■ ■ ' ■*■



Holloway's Pills ~ a.\d Ointment.— Whilst the inhabitants of our great cities suffer from the effects, of overcrowding and all its attendant evils, both - physical and moral, the more robust and energetic emigrant will m his turn be liable to suffer m his new home: from the .want of ready skill and the great medical resources of his native land always at command. The best advice a friend can give is for him to take 1 a supply of these well kno\vn" remedies as part:of. his outfit, for by attention, to the easily understood and yet ample directions which accompany each bo* and pot he will never be at fault whip taken ill or under any adverse sanitary conditions of life, JSiinian Hyslop, and Co.'s *< In,penal 1' Pure Ceylon and Tndian Teas Are the be m the market. — (idvt.) '



Public Notices. '■ ■ WLT-ttlritETl* ■•JViTHOJT TCtltt DBI^EA^ 1^ SURGERY, Corner of oP^el and High streets. g...<^-TKls AO £0. SURGEON I»ENTIST, And at Dunedin .*nl Westport. WE have gainelthe FIRST AWARD at the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli wees for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that re guarantee the fcVhest class work and perfect fit at the .most moderate cost A Single Artificial Tooth, 10&. Complete Set —Upper and Lower— temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natubai, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Tempoiariiy al most immediately after* the extraction •f decayed teeth or stumps without extra fee or charge. Arrangeitteiibl can be made for part or monthly payments. ABMINISTBRIMNrrROUS OXIDE GAS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly pninlesfl and positively safe Fee for Administration ss. , Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by her dentists repaired or remodelled a wes rates N.z ! al\ 18 Ji [Spring «k Summer."j lß9l loot 1 THE Jlß9l 18yiISHOW OF THE SEASON. J HIGH illy GOODS AT RIGHT PRICES, EACH department of our business is now replete with the Choicest Novelties m HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL MANUFACTURES. For Variety and Value our Stock is Unique. We have facilities for buying which few other firms enjoy, consequently wo are enabled to cater for those who appreciate New and Fashionable Go ids all jfche y«sar round. OUR SPECIALITIES ARE -Clothing of Superior Quality, ready-made or made to measure, for Men, Youths Boys, and little Boys. Perfect fit and Newest Shapes. ■ v Shirts, Ties, Braces, Belts, Studs, Bags, and Dressing Gowns, lenms and ' ; Cricketing Requisites ; Sanitary Under clothing. i»Birrs «JL»v«f* Fov Walking, Riding,..»nd Driving, also Evening Dress Gloves. ; wAijennMH** 1 coats , 'Own Make. For Walking Riding, and Driving. Every garment guaranteed, and all seams sewn. Waterproof Rugs, Overall*, and Saddle Aprons. MATS, MATS. HATS. Newest Shapes, Colorings, and 1-oxtutes to hand. Any description of Hat or Cap made to order. ■ . ' ZEALAND ; Cli©THI» Tt> FACTOBY. W H. WEBBER, Manager * Niiiian Hyslop, and Co.'s " luijafei?^! '*■ ': Caylolb and indian Teas are direct from tU*. Tea P}ajitutwu».—fA'ii't.)



"Wanted. * ■ -—« CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be Wt at this Office. , ... BROOKE'.S UarbolisM" Scaly' Blight Cure is the best of all, bur none. MISS BARRATTS School will Re open September 14. Subjects taught—English, Music, Dniwintr, and Singing. Miss Barraot will be at home from September 12. _'_ 9 55 ICE Gream oft Cough drops on. Un dbubtedly Hie best. H. G. Flower, ta% »;,C9nleQ|ioner .East Street. WANTED Known. —Call and secure bargains of Winder Drapery <»t the Great Sale at W. 11. Colukk's, " The Corner." "TV7 'A NTaU Known—As Meiford VV House Sale will be a genuine Cheap one, it will be to your advantage to call early.—H. C. Skoehs, Molfurd House. WANTED Known.—Great Clearing Sale at "The Corner", of Drapery, Clothing, and Boots.—W. H. Collier. ' WANTED Known.—Having com pleted the alteration of premises we are opening with a genuine cheap sale. Come, and see. H. C- Seobbs, Meiford House. ; ■%j EXTENSION of Premises. Cheap Gj Sale now on at the opening of .new Shop. Come arid judge for yourselves. H. C. Segeßs. LL Wool Colonial Tweed Suits to measure; fit and workmanship guaranteed ; from 52s 611 cash. Robbbt Alcokn, Ashburton Clothing Marl, Saunders' Buildings. OSLYN, Mosgiel, Kaiapoi, and Aslv burton Tweed Suits made to my order from selected patterns. Long and narrow and short and wide as well as ordinary sizes from 40s cash. Robert Alcorn, .Anhburton Clothing Mart* Sjftunders^uilding^ < FTIO Meet the Times.—l am supplying JL Galvanised Iron Tanks from 30s upwards, warranted for twenty years, Force pumps, deep well cylinders of all dessriptions. Inspection invited. — j. W. Harpley, Eas street. 6J201 "VT7 ANTED Known.— I have a large VV stock Of Tin and Ironware Goods to select from. Register Grates, Stoves, PortAi&ie rl Bojlers, Spouting and Ridging kept m "stock.—J. VV. "Hardley, East »treet. ' : ■- ; ____gtgO2 "TfTANTED 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 CHEAP READING for all Classes.— Hundreds of Back Numbers of Monthly and Quarterly Periodicals at Hah* Price. Several volume* of Standard Works at Cost Price to reduce our Large Stock. Photo and Scrap Albums, Photo Frames —L. F. Andrewes & Co., Stationers' Hall. _