MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following places as under, subject to the necfissarv alterations :— FRIDAY, Jnly'l. For Chatham Islands, per Kahu, it 0.30 p.m.; late fee letters, express van, 6.55 p.m For Northern Ports and Australian Colonies (except Tasmania} per Wairarapa at o 3O a.m. THURSDAY, Junly 7. For <?euth America, United Kingdom, and Continent of Europe (specially addressed correspondence only), per s,.s. Buapehu at (t,30 a.m. ENGLISH MAILS. HOMEWARD—DIRECT MAILS. Rimutaka, left June 9, due London July 20. lonic, left June 23, due London August 3. Kaupchu, leaving July 9, due London August 17. OUTWARD—SAN FRANCISCO MAILS. Alameda, left June 18, due London J»ly 20. Mariposa, leaves Auckland July 16, mail due London August 17. IN'WARD-HHfcKCT MAILS. Tainui, due Colony June 29. INWARD—SAN FRANCISCO MAILS. Monowai due Auckland July 15.

The Ashburton Guardian. MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PRÆVALEST. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1892. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

- The Governor has become patron of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. The annual report of the North Canterbury Bacon Curing Company provides for the payment of a dividend of 7 per cent upon the capital subscribed. * Acaßket containing valuables belonging to the Prince of Wales was stolen from the railway station at Lyons, France, on April 29. The Duedin Poultry Society's annual show was welll attended. The entries through out were not so numerous as last year, but were of good quality. The show of dogs displayed a considerable filling off m numbers. The Duke of Westminster's hor3«, Orme, j declared by. the owner to have been poisoned, was only suffering, according to Professor Loeffler, who|attended the animal, j from a decayed tooth. The sharp edges had j cut the tongue, causing the appearance of ! poisoning by contaminating the blood. Mrs Langtry, the famed " professional beauty," has made a successful racing debut. Under the assumed name of " Mr Jersey," the " Jtrsey Lily " won the Royal Two-year old Plate at Kempton Park with Milford, beating Minting Queen. This prize is valued at £2400. Some misapprehension having been created by an erroneous announcement m a Christ church paper as to the closing of the game season, we may point out that according to the Government "Gazette" of March SI, the seaion for shooting native game is from April 31 to July 31 inclusive. The Canterbury Fruit Growers Associa tion have passed resolutions urging the Government to brin# m the Codlm Moth Bill, to put a duty of 2d per lb oa imported truit pulp, and to allow home made wine to be retailed m quantities less than two gallons. At a meeting of the Liberal Association to-night m the Templar Hall, at eight o'clock, a paper on " Co-operation " will be . read by Mr W. Mcßae. The subject is one with which Mr Mcßae is well acquainted, and the paper should therefore be interest ing. Frederick Gebhardt, formaly the cher am* of Mrs Langtry, the English actress, has be" come such an enthusiast for the bichloride of of gold cure m dipsomania that he has estab lished a Keely institute of his own at B iby lon, L. 1., and put Dr. Williams, E. C. Vyse m charge as superintendent. In his speech m the House on Wednesday on the totalisator question Colonel Fiaser expressed the opinion that the machine is a fruitful cause of lym£» Mr O'Conor, m reply ing, said this argument might be employed for the abolition of Parliament, for it also caused a good deal of lying. He had no ob jection to the abolition of Parliament, but would vote foj^the retention of the totalis ator. Miss Isabella, Williamson ef Ashburton, recently mistress of the Woorlbury school has been elected by the Wakanui School Committee as school mistress of the main school m place of Miss Fanny Bourke, who has been mistress since 1887, a*d has just resigned her position. Miss Williamson, who is to be congratulated on her appoint ment, having been chosen by the Committee out of a long list of capable applicants, will commence her duties at once. A special meeting of the Borough Council is called for this evening, to elect a dele gate to the Municipal Conference to sit at Wellington. The reason of this is that the Mayor is about to pay a visit to the old Coun try) and as he will sail within a month, he will be unable to attend the conference. His worship will carry with him the beat wishes of the of the whole district for a safe and prosperous voyage, and a speedy return, The " Canterbury Times " this week pub lishes as a supplement the first of a series of cartoons, reproduced from " Punch m Canterbury." The title is "Going to School," and represents the Canterbury re- Ere&entatives of 1865 receiving a parting ex ortation from Mr Punch prior to their leaving tor the Parliamentary session at Wellington. The cartoons will be of great interest to those who wiih to have pelics of the early Says. A new story by Miss Florence Marryatt is commenced, and other contents of the paper are of the usual high order, A strange story of superstitution is reported from Homoleiiz, Hungary. Several corpses of men had recently been found there with their heads cut off. An investi gation was made by the police, and it turned out that these mutilations had m every instance been committed by young men who were betrothed to the widows of the decapitated persona. The husbands had died a natural death, and their widows believed that m case they married a second time their first husbands would reappear and destroy their wedded happiness. Hence they had persuaded their new bridegrooms to decapitate their deceased partners. The total deposits m the Post Office Savings Bank for 1891 were £1,842,987, an increase of nearly £200,000 above laat year, and tho average amount of each deposit has increased from £9 4s lOd to £10s 8s 3d. The total wi:hdrawals were £1,693,575, each averaging £15 3s 5d as compare"* with £20 5s 8d lor last year. The total amount stand ing to all accounts, inclusive of interest, amounted to £2,695,447, an average of U25 16s, or 13s 8d more per account than last year. The volume of business m any postal district was heavier at Christchurch £han at any other part of the colony, where there w»e an amount standing to credit of accouuts of £§Qs,i§s at the close of 1891. Mr C. H. Mills has presented a petition to Parliament from one John Aldridg^, formerly & laborer at Picton, but now a convict m one of the Wellington goals. Aldridge was con victed before Judge Edwards, afc Gisborne, m November 1890, and sentenced to five years' imprisonment for the forgery of a £15 cheque. He states that he had previously borne a good character, and this was his first and only offence. As the appointment of Mr Justice Edwards has eince been declared invalid by the Privy Council, the petitioner claims that he has never been tried and sentenced by a judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, He cannot, however, afford the expense of testjpg the legality of his sentence, and feels, without laying stress on its severity, that it is " against the constitu tional justice of the colony " that he should be kept m prison and to hard labor by th authority of one who had no authority !• iry him. He asks that he be granted redress, ani that b£« counsel (Mr H. B. Yogel; le heard on his behalf, COLKMANE AND SONS Ey<JA.VZV.m E|C tract is the only genuine m the market, and was a warded medals and diplomas at Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, beating all oompetitors. For all affections of the Ohest and Lun«s, Consumption, Asthma, Coughs, Coids, (?F<*vel, and Kidney Com plaints, id has no /sqgaL Agents— Ashburton Dhuo Comi aw.

The Victorian Loan.

[lEft PBESf* ASSOCIATION.]

London, June 03. Sir G. Berry's telegram to the as sociated banks stating that it had been agreed that they should tender for the victoria© Joan, saved the situation and greatly influenced the Stock Ex change. It is believed that many banks and trust companies, who hold out stock, tendered for the sake of previous investments. It is understood £hat the London and Westminster Bank agreed to tender for £250,000 if netessary. j Ruruours are afloat that the as-S sociated feanks only agreed to sub-j scribe on condj.t£ou thajS they were re-; leased from a liability for .%> $750,000 under the agreement with the city financiers. It is hoped that the narrow escape from failure will be a warning to Victoria,

ROAD BOARD

Ul-rflK ASHBURTON.

The usual meeetinj? of the Upper Ash burton Road Board was held m the Board's office, Ashburton, on Monday, June 27. Present--all the members. The following correspondence was read :— From the District Land Office, asking for schedule of works on roarls beneiicial to deferred payment and perpetual lease settlers. The Clerk was instructed to at tend to the mattor. From the Agricultural Department, Wellington, forwarding a copy of the Small Birds Nuisance Act, passed last session, and urging the Board to tako united action with other local bodies for the destruction of the pest. Resolved to do so. From the Wakanui Road Board re Main South Road, stating that they would be agreeable to defray one-third the cost of keeping the road m repair, provided it I be proclaimed a Boundary Road. From the Ashburton Borough Council,; forwarding a report of the proceedings of the meetings ot" the Conference of Repre sentatives from the various local bodies interested m forming a Local Board of Health for the Borough of Ashburton and suburbs. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, forwarding schedule of " thirds," amounting to £14 13s sd, and asking for particulars as to how the amount would be spent. The Clerk was instructed to forward the necessary information. Re alterations of the fence on each side of the road through Reserve 1122, which Mr McTntyre, the occupier, applied for to the Board at its last meeting, the Clerk was instructed to inform the applicant that the Board could nob recognise him m the matter. Messrs Todhunterand Dowding applied to the Board for the use of Reserve 9122. Application granted under the usual con ditions. The Union Bank of Australia forwarded form to be filled m and signed by the Chairman, to deal with the Board's bank accouut. On the motion of Mr Stitfc, seconded by Mr Campbell it wai decided that this Board authorise the chairman (Mr Mc- Lean; to sign the form dealing with the Boards funds »t the Bank. Re the bridge broken down by traction engine on the racecourse road, ar.d which fche clerk stated had been tem porarily repaired, ifc was decided to leave it for consideration as to whether it would be best to take the bridge away and make an open crossing. The road near Mr Dily's, Lauriston, was reported as m a bad state owing to the overflow of the Council's water race, The Clerk was instructed to write to the County Council asking them to attend to the matter. The question of the formation of some ten chains of the road running from the Racecourse road to Mathieson's corner was held over, as it is the intention of the Board m a short time to form and metal the whole to Mathieson's. The Clerk was instructed to have the necessary work done at the crossing at Spencers. He was also instructed to write to the Borough Council regarding the state of the Belt road. It was decided to invite tenders for certain shingTing work to be m for next meeting. Accounts amounting to £71 2s Od vrere passed for payment and the Board adjourned.

THE MARKETS.

PER PHESS <VSBOOIATIO>,

London, June 29. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,764,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,012,000 quarters.

Ashburton Markets.

MR JOHN O. KESTELL. Mr John G. JEtesfcell (m conjunction with the New Zealand Loaa and Mercan lile Agency Company, Limited, per J, R. Bland, auctioneer, reports for the week ending June 30.—At the Ash burton county yards on Tuesday there waa an average entry of stock, compris ing about 6.000 sheep, 11 head of cattle, and 7 pigs. The attendance was not so large as at Tinwald the previous week, and the prices obtained were scarcely:so good. The demand for fat sheep and crossbreds was no 1; equal to former sales. Our entry comprised about 1500 sheep, 3 head of cattle, and one pig, which re alised as follows :—l5O fat crossbred twoj tooths—the top price of the day—at 20s, 203 forward crossbred two-tooth ewe a at 16s 3d, 66 two-tooth wethers at 15s lOd, 17 quarter backs at 10s 6d, 201 crossbred ewes, ia lamb, at 13s 2d, 528 merino wethers at 8s Bd, 240 merino wethers at Bs. Cattle— 1 springer at £6 10s, 1 cow, m full profit, £5 15s, 1 fat cow £5 16s, 1 fat pig £2 ss. During the week we have sold privately the following lin<»-s of sheep : —2OO raeriio wethers at 7s 6d, 402 merino ewes, m lamb, at 7a 7d, 167 hoggets at 11s, 200 crossbred ewes at 11s, 100 crossbred ewes, m lamb, at 13s, 300 merino ewes, m lamb, ab 7s 6d, 300 merino ewes, m lamb, at 7s 9d, 200 fat sheep and 120 fat she#p at owners' reserves. Skin Sale.—On Friday, June 24, ye held our regular fortnightly sate of skins, hides, fat, etc. The attendance w»s good, and the prices ruled higher than at any sale this 'season. Butchers' and crossbreds brought frojtn' J2s 64 to 4s, butchers' merino 2s to 3s "Id,' farmers' crossbreds 2s to 3s 9d. merinos Is 6d to 2j 9d, potys 3d to Is §d ; hides and fat at scale rates,

School Committee.

TINWALD. The monthly meeting of the Tinwald School Committee was hold on Monday June 27- Present — Messrs Gudsell (Chairman), J^owe, Hiokmsn, Kurdy, and Corcigan, The master's report was read, , showed the present roll number to be boys 74, girls, 67, total 141, and that the average attendance for the past four months has been 117. If this average be kept up" far jbwo .quarters it will entitle the school to an a4'ditioiiaj pup 4 teapher. j As help is needed it is lipped m the' interests of the school parents will help the teaching staff and Committee by send ing their children regularly. Correspondence was received from the Board of Education relative to travelling expenses pf children attending scholarship examinations ; granting 200 macrocarpa, and promising a yis'ijb "from the Clerk of Works. ' ' " i Accounts were passed for payment for i I work done *t $1$ sghoo} ; Caretaker, plant- j ing macrocarpa, and carting timber. It i was decided fco close the school for the midwinter holidays on Friday, July 1, and open again on Monday July 11.

Parliamentary.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(PEK FKESS ASSOCIATION.

Weixingtojj, June'3o. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. THE SPEAKERSHIP. Sir P. A. Buckley said that he had con ferred with the Grown Law Officers, and acting on their advice he would move "That the Hon. Mr Baillie be appointed acting-Speaker until a Speaker be ap pointed or until the Council otherwise order." This was agreed to. THE ADDRESS IN REPLY. The" 1 Address-in-Reply was presented to the Governor. Sir P. A. Buckley on returning to the [ Chamber said that the Governor had vouchsafed a gracious reply, m the course of which His Excellency had expressed deep regret at the sudden death of the late Speaker. CALL OP THE COUNCIL. <Jn the motion of Sir P. A. Buckley it was decided to make a call of the Council on the Bth July for the purpose of elect ing a Speaker. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. The Imprest Supply Bill was passed all its stages. The Council rose at 4.35 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Smith the Premier said that'the question of taking into con sideration the valuable services rendered to the colony by the late Sir H. A.. Atkin son was rather premature at present. He hoped it would not be pressed. He hoped to be able to make a statement on the subject later m the session. Replying to Mr McGuire the Premier said that the Government saw -no reason to alter the law m respect of dividing the cities of the colony into single electorates. Replying to Mr McGuire Mr McKenzie said that he hoped to introduce a Bill m a few days for the purpose of appointing experts to grade flax, butter, cheese, and other agricultural produce exported from the colony. Replying to Captain Russell Mr McKenzie said die Government were con sidering the question of introducing a Bill to endeavour to diminish the ravages of the codlin moth. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. On the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Rolleston hoped that the Government would take care m future that Parliament was called together earlier, so that it would not ba necessary to curtail the debate ©n the Address hi Peply. %■ The Premier said Parliament could not assemble at an earlier period m conse quence cf His Excellency's non-arrival m the colony. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. The Imprest Supply Bill for £258,500 was passed through all its stages. MX BRYCE. Mr Seddon resumed the interrupted debate on Mr McGuire's motion with regard to Mr Bryce. Mr Rolleston spoke strongly m favor of the motion, and said that the position of Mr Gisborne m former years was very different, and he openly defied the ruling of the chair, and said that he wished to c reported to tho House as being disorderly. Mr Smith and Mr O'Conor strongly supported th 9 motion. Mr Sandford, Mr Taylor, Mr Buick, Mr McLean, Mr Earnshaw, Mr. Blake, and Mr Duncan opposed it. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7-30 p.m. and went into Committee of Supply. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. | By the Colonial Treasurer, che Hon. Mr Ballance.—Mb Thokpsok —I am glad to ! beableto congratulate theComraittee upon the result of last year's figures jn connec tion with the ordinary revenue and ex penditure o! the colony. The figures ex press m terms which cannot fail to be understood, that the spending powers of the people has increased, and more widely diffused prosperity prevails than existed for a long time previous. I shall allow them to tell their own story. Consolidated Funp (Ordinary Revenue Account). Revenue and expenditure of the year 1891-92; table No 2. The revenue for 1891-92 exceeds the estimate by £87,287 16s 6J. The estimated revenue from ordinary sources was set down m last year's statement at £3,986,500, to which had to be subsequently added £500 tax on the totalisator receipts, and also £280,300 from deben tures issued for sinking fund increases during the year. These figures give an estimated total of £4,273,800. The revenue actually received amounted to £4,361,087 16s 6d, or £87,287 16s 6d more than was estimated. Compared with the estimates the principal items of excess were—from Customs £90,271, Railways L 7990, miscellaneous £4854 and property tax excess £4326. On the other hand stamps produced £14,950, beer duty £2202, and depastory licenses £3004 less revenue than was estimated. Passing on to the ordinary expenditure of the year the estimated charges, after providing for supply estimates, amounted to £4,219,532. The actual expenditure was, however, only L 4,192,947 6s sd, or L 26,584 13s 7d less than was estimated. Full particulars connected with this expenditure will be found ia the tables annexed and also m the annual Appropriation account. I may be permitted; however, tp refer briefly to some of the larger items in' the tables. Interest and sinking fund was unc! grspent by LI 7,38Q, owing principally to an over egtimatt) of the amount required fop payraenj; of interest on 3| per cent stock and on debentures issued under ! " the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886." Subsidies to local authori ties were also over estimated by £17,239, the local bodies not haying put m their applications to the extent they did m previous years. The Ministers of Mine 3 and &»#dg hftye effected a saving of £7531 on the voles' undej,- jsheir &c£,troL princi pally made m the stock brton'oh'.' %U the Defeucj Department a saving of £6299 has been effected, of which police contri butes £2729. Other departments, in cluding the Civil List expenditure, contri bute $mjjAf §$vi»gs ? altogether to £13,036/ Tftese flgjire's produce a total expenditure less than the estimate of £61,485. Under the permanent accounts there has been an excess of £23,076 arising from an under estimate of amounts payable to Harbor Boards and other local authorities, and of the amount of compensation payable to officers of ths Civil Services for loss of office. On some clashes the annual ex penditure has "been exceeded, principally m the Postal and Telegraph' department, which shows an egress of £7586. Some other s'maU iimpijnfcs and services «ot provided lov briftg the excesg of expendi ture over the estimate £4000. the result being a net saving of L 26,584 13s Id. Revenue and Exi'ENditukb of the Land ! Fund Account. The petu&l revenue amounts to £103,220 15s 6d, while the estimate was £92,700, resulting m an excess of £10,540 15s 6d received from cash sales. The estimated expenditure was £118,174, the actual figures were £120,0315s 4d, or £18£7 5s 4d more than the estimate. The Committee will remejubej? that m last year's Financial Statement IpVorided for the contemplated deficiency m the account to meet the estimated' deficit. n *he passing of the Supplementary Estimates $ slight increase to the estimated ftxpen

diture took place, raising the deficit to \ £23,029. Taking, however, the excess of the receipts over the estimate, it was only found necessary on the close of the year to transfer £16,032 7s 2d so as to balance the cash, leaving £2187 2s 6d, a credit lepresented by outstanding advances to imprestees. Results or the Year 189' -92. It is my pleasing duty to inform the Committee of the results of the past financial year; so far as they affect the revenue account of the colony. The actual receipts, as bf<>re.stated, amounted to, £4,361.087 16s 6d, and the over ex penditure to £168,140 10.3 Id, This amount has, however, been reduced (m accordance with my promise mmy last Financial Statement) by applying £30,000 i m aid of construction of roads a-'d bridges paid out of the Public Works Fund, and £16,5.32 7s 2d to cover the overdrawn j cash balance of the Land Fund account, so reducing this surplus of the year's i transactions to £121,608 2s lid, a result j which cannot fail to be as gratifying to the Committee as it is to me. But m addition to the surplus proper of last year we must aid the surplus at March 31, 1891, amounting to £43,965 15s 6d after having used £100,000 to pay off our floating debt, as I indicated would be done m my Statement made m June last. [Putting the two together £121,608 2s 11 and £43,965 15s 6d) I arrive at a net sur plus on March 31 last of £165,573 18s sd, which is sufficient demonstration of the elasticity of our financial resources, and affords ample proof of the care exercised by my colleagues m the administration of the departments committed to them. If, further proof were wanting it would be found m the statement of "liabilities" and of the " unauthorised " expenditure, both of which show the smallest record for many years past. Pcbmo Works Fund. Part L—ln order co simplify the accounts it was determined to amalgamate parts I and m. The balanoes therefore on the_ 31«fc March, 1891, were thrown to gether, and became the balance of part 1., amounting on that date to L 299,015 4s 4d. In additon to this there was the asset of L 62,974 Is 3d under section 31 of " The Government Loans to Local Bodiea Act, 1886." These two amounts pro duced mi available balance of L 361,989 5s 7d during the past year. Further debenr tures issued under "The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882," were converted, and inscribed at a present value 0fL1904 7s 6d, under "The Go vernment Loans to Local Bodiea Act, 1886," and became an additional asset of the fund. Debentures amounting to L 64,000 were issued under section 31 of the last named Act m reapect to these inscriptions, and the proceeds were credited to this fund. Some miscella neous sums were also paid m, amounting to L 1634 12s 9J. Summar ising the above, the funds of part I, have been augumented by L 412,167 Is 2d . On ordinary departmental services, L 312,482 5s 3d was spent and m aocor dance with my paomise of last year LIOO.OOO of the released sinking fund was used to extinguish a portion of our float ing debt. The total charges amounted therefore to L 412,482 5s 3d, and the available balance of the fund remaining for further appropriation amounted to L 297,578 9s, including the sum of LB7B Bs9d balance of the asset under '"The Government Loana to Local Bodies A.ct 1886 " In a (separate table will be found a statement of liabilities of this part, amounting to L 250,063 16s 6d. The Greymouth Harbor Board having obtained additional borrowing powers to the •xtetit of L 50.000, debentures were issued for the advances already made to the Board, and the temporary assistance which had been given was thus placed upon a satisfactory footing. Part ll—On March 31, 1891, the available balance of this fund amounted to L35.6,1Q7, and during the past year the sum of L 79,130 0s 4d was expended, leaving a balance of L 276.976 19s 8d for further appropriation. The liabilities are set down at L 63,8,06 17/s 7d. Parts I and [I leave for further appropriation a total of L6*6,55§ 8s Bd. Conversion Operations (Table INo. 1). Conversion- operations have been re tarded by the depressed values of Colonial Stocks. Prices, have now, lam glad to say, considerably improved, and I am ad vised that business has been done as high as 97, whereas the point touched last year was as low as 91 ex div. Correspondence has taken place between the stock agents and the Government with respect to the possibility of making good by the issue of new stock the loss sustained by selling our stock below 96, but the stock agents, supported by the Agent-General, did not consider a further issue could be made for this purpose. It may therefore become necessary to a§k the Committee to make some provision out pf the Public Works Fund to cover the loss, sustained m the conversion account* Ido not, however, anticipate the amount will be very large. Briefly the have been these: de bentures amounting to.. JE589.600 have been converted into £622,633 of 3^ per cent inscribed stock. The previous annual charge for interest and sinking fund was £45,363. The annual charge under the conversion is now £21,792, and the consequent annual saving will be £23,571. In addition to the before mentioned amount of stock a further small issue will have to be made, so as to provide for the expeneeß of the conversion. A large con- Torsion fcakesplace this year—£43,6oo due op January 15, and £4,214,100 due on April 15, of five per cent debentures, become convertible into four per cent stock at the respective values of 110 and 107. The operation will result m the public debt being increased by nearly £300,000, but there will be an immediate saving of £30,600 per annum for intone. Government Loans to Local I!o.wucs. To Majjch 31, 1892, £385,000 had been borrowed, for the purpose of qrdir nary grant§ to, loqal authorities. An ad ditional sum of £S9,,QOQ of debentures was also created, and the proceeds transferred to the Public Works Fund, Pact I, m payment of the assetof that fund, amount ing to L 89,878 8s 9d. A further sum of £8000 was also raised under the provi sions of the " Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, Amendment Act, 189,1," section 2, and this amount was paid over fait year m partial reduction of tha cost of road making within the Maerawhenua and Waitnarino blocks, which had been proclaimed; as set apart for settlement. Of the £482,000 of de bentures issued as above L 449,000 became due on ist'l^arph lagfc, afid liere con verted into consolidate!! stock deben tures under theConaolidatfi Stock Acts of 1884 and 1891, and the operation was a convenient one for obtaining a concession, m the rate of interest from 5 to 4| per cent, per annum. During the past year L 89,408 was paid over to local authori ties, making a total of L 384,772 advanced to 31st Slarph last. In addition to L25,00 ( C previously"'' pa|d, Lti4,qQo was transferred to the" Public W6rksFund, and LBOOQ to the Government loans to local bodies a£.c'ouni>, levying a balance of L 228. "SJome refunds, ainouriting iq L9#9, came m, and. Ll7? was, received under section 4 of " The Government Lpans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Act, 1891," The balance available for further grants was"Li3§4 at the close of the year. f H|S PUBJ4C J>E»T." Irrespective of the apcumulated sinking funds, the public debt on the 81st March, 1891, was £38,830,350, m respect of which the charge on the Consolidated Fund for year 1891-92 was £1,892,929. On the 3J st March, Ij[j92, $}§ • debt stood at £38,713,065, 6eing--£ll7>Sßd less tfian it was on • the; 31st March, 1891, and the charge on the consolidated revenue for the Current year is estimat§4 »t

£1,835,770. As the accumulated sinking funds at March 31, 1892. are estimated at £1,035,449, the net debt at that date is stated at £37,677,619. Consolidated Fend. Ordinary revenue account; expendi ture of 1892-93 -The estimates for the year ending March 31, 1893, have been prepared with grea*. care. The expendi ture proposed amounts to £4,161,397. Savings of interest and sinking fun<?, partly'arising from conversion operations, amount to £57,159. Under the head of "Special Accounts" there is ah increase of £11,000, due principally to having to provide for the full payment of members' honorarium, as against the lesser amount paid last year m. consequence of a second session. There are increases m the Post and Telegraph Department £5208, prin cipally du<-' to the operation of the. Classification Act; m the Education Department £13^813, arising from the estimate of the augmented school attend ance for the year; m the Lunacy.and Charitable Aid Departments, caused by the ©pening of a new lunatic asylum at Porirua, and additional number of patients requiring larger supervision ; ia the Agriculture Department, (which appears on the estimates, for the first time) £8000 mainlydue to purposed expenditure whioh was last yaar provided m the vote for the Lands and Survey Department, and from unexpended sums of the Live Stock De partment, which are again proposed for appropriation. The Working Railways Department shows an increase of £9114, arising from extended traffic, affording an estimated increase of revenue to the amount of £18,000. On the other side there are several decreases, notably m the Colonial Secretary's Department, of £14,634, arising principally from the census work being nearly completed. Some further small decreases make up the total £29,593, and eliminating the absolutely necessary increases of the Education and Working Railways De partments, we have a net decrease of departmental expenditure amounting to £8051. LaND Fond Accocnt, 1892-93. The estimated expenditure on this Account for the year 13 L 134.162, com pared with the annual expenditure of last year of L 120,032. There is an inorease of L 2125 m the first item, repreaentiug pay ment of "thirds" to local bodies. The main increase, however, is LI 4,523 m the Surrey Department, the total amount this year being estimated at L 109,162. The growing demand to open up sufficient country, both m tho North and South Islands, can only be met by providing for a large increase m the staff of field surveyors. A considerable portion of the expenditure will take place m conse quence of the cutting up of runs m the South Island for settlement purposes. The Government had no hesitation' m timing to the conclusion that the interests of the country required that the surveys should proceed at an equal pace with the demand for settlement. The estimated revenue for the current year consists of cash sales L44,00Q, and sales on deferred payments L 5.5.,000. The total amounts to L99.00Q. This is less than the estimate for last year, and less than the actual revenue rooeived, which amounted to L 103,241. The excess of expenditure over the revenue, it will be seen, amounted to L 35,162, which will have to be made good by a transfer from the ordinary revenue account. Ordinary Revenue for the Year 1892-93. I have estimated the ordinary revenue for the current year at the sum of £4,045,800, which, with debentures to be issued against Sinking Fund increases, £280,300, brings the total estimated revenue up to the sum of £4,506,, 100, against £4,361,085 of actual revenue, including £282,300 Sinking Fund deben tures, received last year. I have not thought it advisable to estimate the Customs duties at tho same amount as they actually realised la^t year, lam thus acting on the side of caution m estimating the receipts as 1 have done, m consiquence of the large amount of imports which came to hand towards the end of the last financial year, aud I have thought it advisable to base my calcula tions upon the actual receipts of the first half of last year. The iitainp revenue is estimated at L 622.000, against the actual receipts last year amounting to L 600,050. Some large estates of deceased persons will be dealt with m the. present year, and the increase is principally iri the way of legacy duty. Th,e railways have been put down at LL,140,000, instead of LI, 121,990 received last year, or an increase of about LIB,OOO. The Com missioners have gone carefully into the prospects of the railways, and they put down this increase $3 the least that may be expected feem this source qf revenue. It will be remembered that the increase of the expenditure was £9814. The depasturing licenses a.nd rents termed " territorial revenue," are estimated this year at £195,000 against £203,196 received last year. The de crease of no less than £11.196 m this item may be briefly said to be, due (1) to .rental .pa^d m adraßce early Jn March of last financial year, (2) to the selection by the Midland Railway Company of gome of their Canterbury area, (3) to temporary loss on runs resumed m Canterbury, Otago and Southland which may not be re-let or disposed of during the current financial year. There will be an increase m small grazing runs and perpetual lease rents, which will partly compensate for the loss, but on the other hand the Miscellaneous territorial revenue will be smaller. One of the principal \tems of the consolidated r,eY.enue is she Land and Income Tax. In my Financial Statement of last year I estimated the amount which would be derived from this source at about £350,000, and I have adopted that amount m the present estimate. In mak, ing the forecast of tlje amount to be re ceived £ Had cilqulatedj m order to main tain oijr finance on the realisation of a sum nearly equal to th,at which, \yas ob tained from the 'property t»% which last year realised L.356,941, E&tputep Restji/tsof XHJ3 Yiar 1892-3. As I have already stated, the net sur plus brought forward from last year amounted to L 165,574. After paying off LIOOjOOO of floating debt and transferring L 30,000 to the Public Works fund for construction of roads and bridges, and after having made' good, 1 the 'deficit of L 19,532 m the land fund account, the •3timated amount of; revenue for the year is shown at L 4,326,100, making a total reyen^e of Lit,491,6?4. Tije estimated expenditure, jis I have ' shown, is L 4,161,397,,161,397, and deducting this from the revenue we have a.n estimated surplus of L330,2ff at the end of the present finan cial year, subject, of course, to any sup plementary estimates. Acquisition of Native Lands. i The time has, I think, arrived when the native lands, which are rapidly in creasing jqi T^H c fr#m $c P* 08rPss °f colonisation going on around them, should pay the s&me taxation as other private lands are called upon to qqn^'ribute to the Tre^rury and to iocaj bqdies, or a certain proportiqn of them shftuld p'jjss intq the ( hands p,f the GbyerniqenJ; at'a fair price and be vised fop puppqses of settlement.! It is accordingly* proposed to submit to Parliament for consideration a measure intended to provide for th,e acquisition of native lanf|s to an eattent not exceeding an expenditure pi £50,000, a year, on the self acting »™inciple, which will permit one half the purchase money to be invested as an endownmenf, bearing interest at 4 per cent.., tor the benefit of the owners. The tribal owners will m the firsi; plaoft beprovtded witsh sufficient reserves to enable them to protect and j maintain their material independence | from the possibility of want, and m the

second place every seller will have lecured to him *n annuity for life, bransmissable to his decendants. Acquisition ok Private Lands. The Government believes it to be a matter of the first importance that the work of colonisation should be renewed m many parts of the colony where landed monopoly prevents the increase of popu lation, or where the consolidation of estates draws people into the tovns or out of the country. To acquire laud to be settled in'moclerate!sized and small areas, a Bill has been prepared to enable land to be purchased, subject to such checks and bafeguards as will absolutely prevent the possibility of the system beinyr abuntd. For the present the measure need not provide for the compu'sory taking of land. The Government looking to the absolute requirements of the South Island, attach the pvit-eat importance to the measure, and.is-.., a Parliament will determine to give it the force of law m the present session. Land and Income Tax. The obtaining of returns of income has been a difficult matter. However, enough information has been gained to indicate that it is not probable that the' estimates of L 40,000 from business and L15,90<) from emolument and employment (foun ded on 6d up to LIOOO and Is above this amount, with an exemption of L 500) will be reached, but I do not anticipate that the result will be seriously below the es timate. The estimate of L47,00D for companies will probably be some what exceeded. The graduated land tax may be set down as about equalling the estimate, and may be.taken as producing L 60,000, possibly more. The ordinary tax on land that is under mortgage, and on land less improvements to the value of £3000 for each owner, and certain deductions by way of exemption, was the part of the new scheme of taxa tion that was most severely criticised by the opponents of the Government I have pleasure m stating that information has been most readily accorded by the great majority of owners. They have assisted the officers of the Department m arriving at the fair value of land and the improvements thereon, and lam able to state with confidence that the assessment is the best and most accurate that has been made m the colony. lam happy to inform hon. members that the result hag been so far satisfactory that there will be a surplus under this head, which will secure a small excess on the whole scheme. Civil Service Pensions. The Government do not propose to re vive the system of pensions, which' was repealed m 1871,butit hasnotbeenunrecog nised that some provision should be made for those who have spent the beat of their days m the service ot the country, and have arrived at the fcimo of life when they should give place to younger and more vigorous men \ The Government are of opinion that the Civil Service m this respect should be placed m a posi tion of self-reliance, [Mr Ballanoe en tered into a long explanation of the de tails of the scheme, which are embodied m the Civil Service Bill. A system of classification of the Service has been em bodied m the same measure.] Public Trust Orncs* The legislation m reference to the Public Trust Office; has : powerfully attracted the attention of all classes of the people to the importance of the institu tion, and has raised it m the public estimation. I shall ask Hie Committee this year for a sum of Hfl7 to make good a deficiency of capital arising from the realisation of securities tor past investments. It is possible a farther deficiency of L 3200 will result from the realisation of securities yet unsold. The business of the year exhibits a con siderable increase over that of fche previous year. There w«re cm the Slst March last 3185 properties or estates under adminis tration, of a total value of L 1,461,163, as compared with 2916 on the 31st Decem ber, 1891, of a total value of L 1,436,027, and 2491 on the 31st December, 1890, of a total value of L 1,393,413. GOVJBRNMBWIC INSURANCE DEPARTMENT. The Government Insurance Depart ment continues to make satisfactory pro gress and shows an increase m the now business for the year, while there is at the same time (y diminution m the ratio of expenses and a marked decrease m the number and amount of the lapsed policies [The figures relating to the business of the the department have already been pub lished}. . r Bureau ov Industry and Labor. ihe Bureau of Industry and Labor has fully answered the anticipation of the Government. The number of persons who found employment up to the begin ning of June (about twelve monthsjwas no less than 297:4, of whom 9000 went to private employment and 974 to public worl«. The number of agents, mainly appointed from among the police, is 189 The total cost of the department has been L 2318, of which LI7OO was paid for rail way fares, the salaries only amounting to L 339. Deducting the a .nount paid to the railway, and some refunds received from the men who have been found employ ment, the net cost of the Bureau for the year's operations is L 990. DnuurußXT of Agriculture. rhe Government have proceeded m accordance with the expressed intention of my colleague the Minister'of Lands last session to organise a Department of Agriculture, and have appointed as secre tary the officer who.has performed feia duties so satisfactorily as the Onfef In spector of Stoc>, an;d%ho is particularly qua.lttjed to he the permanent h«ad of the new Department. It will be tha duty of this officer to collect and distribute infor mation on subjects connected with agri culture, among the settlers, by metns of lectures and pamphlets, and generally to study and promote the welfare of tha farming community. Bills will be intro duced dealing with $he dairying industry, the adulteration of manures, the destruc tion of noxjoua weeds, and the-giving greater facilities In the way of draining agricultural lands by providing a system of local administration. (To be continued.)

The Otago Harbour Board passed a resolution placing on record their testimony to the eminent servtoes, civil, military and political, rendered to the colony W the late Sir H. Atkinson; and depressing deep sym« pathy with Lady Atkinson. - * • The following have been "finally picked to, represent; Aehtaurton against VVail^i m the football mateh 1 on the Domain on Saturday commencing at 1,15 p.m. sharp. ,., Back—E. Humphries! three.quarterbacks—A. Stewart D. Matson, J. Wilson; half-backs—W. Moses, A; Pavittj forwards—Simpson, Clowes, Healey, B&ird, Walker, Todd, Fooks(capt) Oromie Bowler. Emergencies J Peter, H. Curds, D. Price, C. Knight, Burns, Dixon, and Speight. The following will represent Waihi:—Back.—*W. Moore \ three-quarter fenqk^—A. Opiei A, Shkllard,* G. Soufchj Half-baciks—^. M'cLeOd^b. Oplei forwards—A. Stewart, D. Stewart, A." Hart, W. Brinkman, A. Bell, J. Ford, W Coppin, W. Austin, F. SJjaUftrfl, r The Registrar of Electors, fer the Ashbur tqn district, Mr Joseph Ward, is taking ac tive steps to purge the roll, and for that purpose upwarr'fl of quo hundred objections haye been issued, Should the objections reach electors who still claim to remain on the roll, their explanation may be made on the back of the objections sent out, and re turned at once, addressed to the Registrar of Electors, Ashburton, post free, Kkating's Cough Lozengrs cure Coughs Asthma, Bronchitis. Medical testimony states that no other medicine is mo effectual m the cure e§f th^siß' d^n,gewni* flrtladi^a/- Qne loaerige alone gives' ease, orio or two at bedtime ensures rest. For rehevinp difficulty of breathing they are invaluable. They contain no opium nor any violent drug. Sold by all C hetnists m tins Is *»j<J 3s §d e«clj

THE ASH BURTON GUARDIAN : FRIDAY, JULY j, 189-3.



Hqixoway's Pills and Ointment.-— Bilious affections, with all their concomitant annoyances induced by atmospheric changes, or too liberal diet, should be checked at once or serious consequences may ciisue. When anyone finds his ideas less clear than usual, his eyesight dimmed, and his head dizzy, accompanied by a disinclination for all exertion, physical, or mental, he may be quite sure that Wls Hi iajnjgdiate need of some alterative medicine. ' Let' him go at once for a box of Holloway's Pills, a mild course of which will remove the sympoms, and speedily renew his usual healthful feeling. ££ the bowek be irritable, Hollo way V ointinent siho.ujd be dilligently rubbed over tbs stomach' and ljtS'ej4 every night and morning, *'_[/ i> • -";i



A Meltxwufnjite growls gruffly at the butter bonu3. He mentions that huge profi's have been made by e^porterp» ar.d fhen goes on to say:—There are bther people who reap more benefit than all the others pnf together, and these are the New Zealand farmers, whose butter is now being sold by auction %n Melbourne and bringing half as much again as the Victorian butter d d m London Jfew Z(e*'»nd butter brought up to Is 7(1 per lb at auction aiid is being reta led at our market at Is 10d, while the highest price our best factories brought m Kngland was 120s per cwt. There has *e£u*,lh/ beeu more butter brought m here iian wftf slipped away. The Victorian tax payer pays M p**' lb to see his belt butter sent home and m *h« w'wts; \m to e*t buttorine or dripping.



NOTICE. A DVERTISEMENTS for the Fiitfj (Country) edition of the Guardian must reach this office by 2 p.m. Advertisements for the Second (Town edition will be recsited up to 3 p.m. ASHBURTON PUBLISHING CO May 23, 1892.



f^y ENTJINE SALE, to reduce Stock \JT previous to Stock-taking. Books, Stationery for office and private use, Music, Account Books all sizes, Parlor Games, and a variety of other goods too numerous to particularise. All goods Reduced m Price for Cash during this month. —L. F. Ani>rkwks and Co. Stationer's Hall, Ashburton.



WINTER, 1892. ! TITE ARE NOW OFFERING VERY SPECIAL VALUES IN ALL CLASSES OF READ Y-M A D E CLOTHING, OF OUR OWN MANUFACrURE. speciaiT lines IN BOYS' AND LITTLE BOYS' CLOTHING, MEWS SAC SUITS. MEN'S TROUSERS AND OVERCOATS, TAILORING AT ECONOMICAL RATES. CHOICE NEW TWKEDS OPENJSD THIS WEEK. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY. THE WONDERFUL NEW HIGH ARM WERTHEIM SEWING MACHINE. Latest Improvements, New Appliances. All who have used the WERTHEIM "NEW TRIUMPH" Machine will at once admit ie to be by far the best they have ever seen. It is indeed a triumph of mechanical gonius,and transcendentaly the most perfect Hand Machine yet produced. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY, Agent*.



Wanted. _^__ CASH Advertisen.oin* «"£« thm heading not exceeding SIXTEtfa WORDS 1/-. Addressee may be left at this Office. __ REMEiIBER Entries for Ashburton Poultry Society's Show close on Jxtly 5. E. E. Tasker, Secretary, Ash burton^ 6§173 THOMAS, General Produce Dealer, • has a grand lot of Appla Trees. Samples of Trees and Fruit may be seen at the Store, opposite Army Barracks. 6*145 • HORSE, Cow, Pig, or Fowl Feed from 6d worth to waggon load at lowest rates.-J. Thomas, Havelock ■trcet. 6 USE Flower's Cough Drops and Sulphur Tablets. H. G. Flowbr, Confectioner, East, street. *\T7 ANTED £1000 by' July 31 Great VV cheap sale of Drapery, Dresa rids, Flannels, Bhnketa, etc., now on at W. Amorw and Go's. SOMERSET Meat Mart. The oldest, the largest, the be3t, and the cheap est. Small Goods a specialty. Full weights guaranteed. A trial solicited. —W. J. SIMOCK. *U»2 IVTANTED—Gentlemen before buying TT their Suits and Clothing of all descriptions to inspect our stock. £1000 worth must be sold regardless of cost.— H. C. SBOBRS r Melford House. WANTED 1000 Customers to secure Bargains m Furs, Hoisery, Ulsters and Millinery, at 8. W. Alcork's, cheap sale. Now On. ______________ WANTED Known—ln consequence of slowness of trade this season, we nave reduced almost everything of our well assorted first-clas* Drapery, Clothing, j c.-—H. C. Skgbrs, Melford House. HPKLEGRAM to A Orb.—Your offer I f,.r 124 Pieces French Merino is accepted ; Edwards, Bennett, and Co., Ohriscchu eh. Ths above goo Is are now being aoid %t half price at A. Orb's Cheap 8 ile. 6§140 WANTED Known—lf you want good value m tirst-class Drapery and fobbing for your money go to H. G. Sbgbrs, Melford House. Great reduc tions now on. r WANTED Known —Just arrived, per b.c. Tonic, direct from the manu facturers, a large shipment of Black and Galvanised Pipe and Fittings for wa*er supplies and wells. Special to my order. Prices on application--J. W. Hakblby, Eftat Street. W* ANTED Known.—The nicest stock W of New Winter Dress Goods, Mantles, Millinery, &c, is at S. W. AtCORW AKD CO,'S 5 50 WANTED Known—The whole Boot Stock of Messrs Edwards, Ben neW, and Co., wholesale warehousemen, Christchurch, is now being slaughtered at Half Price at Amprbw Orr's Cheap Sale.__ 6 *139 WANTED Known—Dr Scott's cele brated Electric Corsets can onhr be obtained m Ashburton at W. H CotUKß's, "The Corner." W* ANTED KNOWN, Grand display of new Millinery, Ulsters, and Jackets, at most reasonable prices at *The Cornbh^ ANTED, purchasers of Blankets, Flannels, and General Drapery o remember that Best Value m the trade a at g. W. AtCQR* AlfD Co.'a 5 o* W"" ANTED~Known—Thac you will make no mistake for quality and variety m English and Colonial Boots, »na is highly reputed make by calling at J. Moison's. During coming holidays dis count for Cash. Repairs done at once. A staff of men always kept and best material and worknu nship gttftganteed^ ALL Wool Colonial Tweed Suite to ( measure; fit and workmanship guaranteed: from 50s cash. Jloberi Aicorn, Ashburton ClMliing Mart, aundera Buildings-. WANTKD Known.—l have "a lar;.# stock of Tin and Ironware Ooods i o **sl*cb from. Register Grates, Stoves, fen-table Boilers, Spouting and Ridging kept m *toek.~J. \V. Hardley, East a roet. _i_i "^"S^pokt Local'""S»^iwtry. — The Loxe«i«es, Jujubes, Comftte aivJ London Mixtures manufactured by AuhzmfMDK AND Co. are equal to best imported. The Okslow Bkcuit. The latest and row* delicate biscuit jaanufaqtured by .ilse^ook and Co



IMMEDIATE REALISATION. THE VAST CROWDS OF CUSTOMERS WHO DAILY PATRONISE OUR ESTABLISHMENT • ARE THE BEST EVIDENCE OF THE THOROUGHLY GENUINE NATURE 3} OF THE 9Q IMMENSE SEDUCTIONS w ■ p y2 MADE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE PREMISES. g _ > 0D A. one Lady truly remarked -For SIX Jgg^jE" "A*" b"y J~ what would before the Sale cost you TEN POUNDS. — H Z " Reductions to the Extent of d, £1182 i P ON SELLING PRICES, HI EQUAL TO ONE FOURTH OF THE VALUE OF OUR STOCK q HAVE BEEN MADE- Or £r H O k Th« Publio recogniae a Genuine Sale by the crowded state of our >^ l^ • &h»p each day. ]2 °W. W. SPENCER & CO.,' THE AKOADE. Sours of Business—lo a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday until 9.30 p.m. PARCEJS DELIVERED DAY FOLLOWING PURCHASE. NO GOODS EXCHANGED (EXCEPT BOOTS) OE ALLOWED