Ashburton Guardian MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PRÆVALEBIT. SATURDAY. AUGUST 26, 1893. THE RATING ACTS AMEND MENT BILL.

The Eating Acts Amendment Bill, introduced by the Colonial Treasurer, is a Measure of great reform. In addition to making radical alterations in the rating system, for municipal bodies more especially, it brings all native land under liability for assess ment as rateable property, with certain exemptions set forth, and provides for the levying of rates on the " unim proved value" of property in cities, boroughs, town and road districts, and counties. With the latter change we do not purpose to deal in this article. The most important feature of the Bill to townspeople is the very considerable extension of the municipal franchise which will follow its adoption. Section 4of part I. of the Bill is intended to be substituted for section 9 of the Rating Act, 1876, and may be con densed thus:—When any property is let for a term of less than one month the owner is to be deemed to be the occupier, and primarily liab'e for rates, and his name is to be entered in the valuation list; but any tenant for a term of lesa than one month may at any time during the period in which the valuation list is open for public inspection apply to the Council to have his name substituted for that of the landlord, and, if he delivers the written consent of the landlord, then the name ©f the tenant is to be inserted in the valuation list, and he will be primarily responsible for the rates. Section 9 of the Rating Act, 1876, which would be repealed by the sub stitution of section 4 of the new measure, reads as under :—Where any property is let for any term of less than six months the owner shall be deemed to be the occupier, ar.d shall ibe primarily liable for the rates and his name shall be Entered in the column of ': occupiers in the valuation list." the effect of this change will be to give every tenant who occupies property under a monthly agreement the right to have his name placed upon the burgess roll, and to allow tenant? under weekly or even shorter agreements to obtain votes with tie consent of their landlords. If ev,er a door were opened for the creation of faggot votes we think the Hon. J. G. Ward's hand is on the knob to open & very wide door for tint purpose in the provisions of this Bill, and while no one can object to the tenant o£ a property having a vote in respect of the land he cultivates or the house he occupies and pays rent for, he being a permanent resident jn the district, we take exception lo placing the power in any one's hand to suddenly swamp an election by the manufacture of votes which this clause would make verye asy. It is not co very long ago that the Borough Coun cil of Sydenham had to deal with a long list of cases in which properties , had been parcelled oufc and subdivided with the alleged intention of obtaining votes in the licensing trouble, but this clause will save those who sought such votes in Syde'iham, or those who seek municipal votes anywhere else, much trouble as it will be the easiest thing in the world to get on the burgess rulf j under its very liberal provisions. But | at the same time the admission of j monthly tenants to votiwg power h anything but an evil. There are raaijy very many—highly intelligent men living in hived houses to whom the! municipal tra-uchUo c0.u14 be extended

with much advantage to the muni cipalities, and among the criticimss on the Bill we have heard and read there are some that have looked not alto gether with disfavor on the extension of the franchise even further, and ad mitting lodgers to its privilege. There are numbers of young men who live in boarding-houses, hotels, private lodg ings, and in bachelors' halls, besides not a few who live on the premises in which they carry on-their business, holding these premises on short tenure —all of these might with advantage t« the municipalities be added to the roll, so long as the tenancies were to some extent fixed in the case of lodgers. All these men are citizens just as much as the owners of the buildings they live in, for it is out of the rents they pay whether as lodgers or otherwise that the rates of the houses they live in ara paid. Another provision of the Bill is that when rates are in arrears three months after the date when the^y be come payable, " such rates shall, as against the persons liable to pay the same, carry interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum from the expira tion of three months until payment thereof." This is a quite uncalled for provision, and is calculated to press with undue ssverity on the poorer classes of ratepayers. Most people' know that rates cannot be shirked, that the collector must make a final call sooner or later, after which the bailiff will come in his stead, and so they pay if they are able. Those who do not pay strictly on time are very unwillingly in arrears, and we are not aware that any necessity has ever been shown to exist for a drasti* mea sure like this, or any real difficulty felt in collecting the local revenue.

LICENSING DISTRICTS.

One of the most important of the radical changes to be made in the licensing system of the colony by the Government's new Bill, should it be come law, is the alteration in the licensing districts. With the principle of direct veto embodied in the Bill in operation, some absurd anomalies would occur were the old districts to be retained, chief of which would be that while in some districts those people were iv the minority who favored no license, in others they would be in the majority, and it would doubtless frequently occur that such districts were adjacent to each other. The result would be a licensed house or houses in full business just outside the boundary of the vetoed district. And this " overlapping," as it has been called, would be all too common throughout the colony. Counties and boroughs were suggested as more naturally bounded districts ; but this too was open to the objection that over lapping would too largely obtain ; find the electoral districts were chosen as likely to admit of the least degrse of this anomaly. To be thoroughly con sistent with the democratic principles which are supposed to guide the present Government, the correct thing would have been to take a plebiscite of the whole colony on the three questions to be submitted to the electors—license or no license, increase, or reduce-—the decision of the whole people thus ob tained to govern the actions of the local licensing committees, The de cree o£ the ballot box pronounced in this way would have been an unmistakeable one, and what ever it might be—license, no license, increase, or reduce—no one would be able to say it was not the voice of the country. The result would not have been the " local " option asked for by the vetoists, but it would have been " giving the rigty of veto to the people" in the very fullest sense. Still, in the absence of the colonial plebiscite, we think the elec toral districts a good compromise. The passing of this Bill, as Sir Robert Stout said, will not by any means take the question out of the general election, and will alienate the support of the direct vetoists from the present Govern ment, so that so far as this Bill and the supporters of direct veto are con cerned it is no great matter what dis tricts are chosen, as the temperance war paint will be put on again atn«x£ election and the campaign fought afresh. But had the licensing districts now law been retained, the whole of Asbburton county outside the belts of the borough would have been voiceless in the question of licenses in this town. Under the new Bill the electors at Methven, Etakaia, portion of the EHgs mere country, Kyle, along the coast to W.akanui, and away up the river to Mount SSomers and Alfoi'd, wilj have a voice in the granting or refusal, the ingrgase or reduction of licenses in Ashburtoa borough, Under the old boundaries, although ike Ashburton Rouses might all have been clospd, there was no,thing to prevent a .colony of new houses being planted in Hamp stead or Allenton, had the people ao wished. ,

WASTE OF TIME.

Sinck our article on educational re form was published we have noticed fchat several other journals have been advocating the same thing. The .reasons advanced hp t th.e different writers on the subject have differed in some respects, but we observe that there is a consensus of opinion on the point that the education provided for the rising generation in this colony is ;not.of such .practical .utility as£t oygh£ jtofce. The "Schoolmaster" reviews the question fron? various" standpoints, and "^onciudes that certain re/coj?j#s are imperfttiYoly tt??s§sary to prevent tJi t e

iducational system of thia country trora becoming an agent for evil rather than good. Although the opinions of our contemporary might naturally be influenced by the unsatisfactory posi tion of the teaching profession under the present condition of things, the necessity for a change is pretty con clusively shown. The fact is, people are becoming more and more convinced that the education given in our public schools is not what we have a right to expect, considering the outlay. It is not that we do not get enough for our money, but the quality of the article is inferior. The education—if we can so call the cramming of childrens' minds with facts, figures and formula of no practical value in the business of life—is of a kind that will be for gotten a few years after leaving school by nine-tenths of the scholars. There is hardly anything in the actual work of the ordinary occupations of life calculated to keep in view the lessons which take up so much of the school life of New Zealand children. We do not refer to reading and writing, be cause a child in the third standard can, if we may judge by the syllabus, read and write well enough to leave pro ficiency a mere matter of time and practice. The same remark applies in a modified degree to orthography, and even to composition. Yet boys and and girls are now compelled to devote months and years to learning how to spell hard words they may possibly never have occasion to use; to be on familiar terms with conjunctions, pre positions, adverbial phrases, etc., to show an intimate acquaintance with the ancestral relations of all words in daily us«, and the why and the where fore of a goose not being a ganderess and more than one mouse not making mouses. These are doubtless interest ing problems, but we think life is too short, and school life especially, to justify so much time being taken up in the consideration of them, as is required under the New Zealand system of education. We believe the Educa tional Institute has recently approached the authorities with some suggestions for reforms, one being in the direction of making the study of so much technical grammar unnecessary, as it is generally admitted that correct English is more likely to be acquired by graduated exercises in composition and letter writing than by learning off pages of text books by heart. But we have to deal with the syllabus as we find it, and every parent knows that great importance is attached by teachers and inspectors to " parsing " and the study of text books, and that it is all little better than sheer waste of time even teachers themselves admit. We might refer to the useless expendi ture of brain power required in the study of history, as it is treated in these shools. We have looked over a small text book compiled by an enter prising teacher to facilitate the giving of lessons in this subject to the fifth standard. While we are assured that it covers the who'e of the requirements of the syllabus, and is in fact fuller than some other text books recom mended, we may safely say that a boy might have the whole book by heart and yet be absolutely unable to talk intelligently on a a single eyenp recorded in it. The same sort of shallownes>s can be found in the method of teaching geography. Nineteen out of twenty sixth standard scholars would look bewildered if asked to giye an idea of the British tenure of India, or some account of our recent quarrel with the Boers, yet moat likely aU could, locate some second-rate town in Russia! The majority of the boys in an upper class could name the chief towns in Wales, but probably not one could explain how a "strike" is carried out. This sug gests the question whether it would not be well to include elementary instruc tion in the fundamental principles of political economy in the school curri culum. There is certainly something to be said in favor of the proposal. Every thoughtful person must have recognised that much of that fickleness and credulity generally considered to be special attributes of " the mob " is engendered by ignorance. The politi cian who seeks public favor discusses with his constituents most questions with the comfortable assurance that if he does not kn.ow very much about them himself, his audience Jjnows less. And the masses are—as a matter of fact—often induced to follow a public man on some subject, by the notion that he knows all about it. The his tory of New Zealand alone supplies abundant illustration of cases of this sort where the blind have been leading the blind. It certainly would be pro frfcabje to a boy—and to a girl too—in the times coming to gather some sort of notion of the bearing of the leading social and political questions upon human happiness and the relations between man and man. The average elector now-a-day^ |^as only a confused idea of the majority of subjects his re presentative periodically invites him to discuss. The exceptional elector occa sionally exhibits his political knowledge by prcpounding conundrums at these pleasant meetings between members of Parliament and their constituents. What the average school boy knows about politics we cannot say, but we doubt whether the case of an Ashbur ton youth who some time ago gave his opinion consemhig qnp pf New Zea land's foremost politicians'is altogether unique. He and a companion were looking at some distinguished pas sengers on the north express when the flatter remarked- T «« Is that the Gover nor?'' •' Governor be biowed,? wi*y the reply, " that's Setldon. He's tne boss of $ew Zealand.' 1

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Messrs G. J. Neill and Co. of East Street ] wish attention directed to a change in their advertisement on our second page. ' Upwards of 300 Chinese were discovered \ working in the Melbourne furniture fac-! Tories on a recent Sunday. The tobacco twisters on strike ia Ade laide have asked the employers to agree to a conference for a settlement in the trouble. Cyclists should be careful how they go round the Domain track just now. A day or two ago a local rider picked up over a dozen nails in " the fairway." It ia supposed that they have been in the cinders which have been put on the track. The Queensland Government propose to set apart an area not exceeding 10,000 acres for the establishment of labor colonies, to which a man of good repute and character who cannot otherwise support himself can go. Some queer 1 things are occasionally offered for sale second hand, but second hand teeth are certainly a novelty, as Paddy might say; yet it is a fact that* Mt, that had seen some service, was to be purchased recently,in Ashburton, "Cheap, only 10a." This morning a toilet set was on view, the etceteras including a second hand tooth brush. The Manawatu " Standard " says:—" Mr A. Fergus«on, formerly of Palmeraton, but now a Birmingham set Her, has engaged in a couple of ventures beyond the ordinary routine of farming life, and with successful results, He has succeeded in cultivating the Assam tea plant on his farm, and can also boast of providing for his breakfast table every morning a dish of trout, raised by himself in a pond on his farm. There ia being exhibited in Berlin (says the "IllustriteZeitung") a dwarf elephant which recently arrived from Sumatra. This" unhappy little phenomenon is three years old, and atancU at the modest height of thirty-six inches from the ground. It is a trifle over one yard long, and weighs twelve stone. The normal weight of its kith and kin at the same age ia from three to three and a half tons. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce held at Christchurch on Friday, Mr G. T. Booth presided, and | gave a long address reviewing the course of trade and commerce during the past twelve months. A motion was carried urgir-g the Government to adopt every means in its power to forward the establishment of inter colonial freetrade among the Australian colonies. Mr G. T. Bcofch was elected president for the ensing year. A young man employed by the Wellington D.I C. was locked up ifl the warehouse by mistake the other night. When the doors were shut he was in the back part ot the premises getting his overcoat and hat. On re&lising that he had been locked in he groped his way to the telephone and com municated with some friends, but as it was some time before the person who had the keys could be found, he was not liberated until nearly eight o'clock. The Manawatu Railway Company have decided to present Mr Bevan with a free pass on their railway for one year for his promptitude in taking steps to warn the driver of the train cf the slip near the Waikawa Bridge. The Company has also decided to deposit £25 in the bank, to be paid, with interest, to Mr Sevan's eldest daughter when she comes of age, The Maori boy who took Mr Sevan's message to the train is to be presented with i's by the Com pany. The sale by Messrs Fricdlander Brothers to-day of race privileges for the Spring meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club re sulted aa follows : —No. 1, publican^ booth and luncheon room under grand stand, £10 per day-John Henry, Commercial Hotel; No. 2, publican's booth, under shilling stand, il2 per day—A. J. Kelly, Central Hotel; refreshment booth, under shilling stand, £2 per day—G. H. Bryant; right to sell oysters, £1 per day—J. H. Jewi t; horse yards, 15s per day—W. Baker; race cards, 10s 9d— W. Baker. A very curious phenomenon ia to be seen at Lev'fß, % town in Manawatu. About two weeks ago a couple of springs suddenly made their appearance about half a mile from the township, and within forty-eight hours the place was flooded to a depth of eight inchM by the flow of water. Should this exceedingly strange outburst of water from the bowels of the earth, as it were, not cease very soon, the residents will have to go in for a wholesale impottation of gon dolas, and carry on their business in Vene tian style; Sister Mary Gertrude, who waa killed in the late buggy accident near Reef ton (eaye the " Evening Post") was only seventeen years of age, and had only made her final profession about three weeks before her death. It is stated that the deceased before leaving home on the day of the accident made the remark, "Do not be surprised if j: am brought home dead some day." It would seem as if she had sonic presentiment of her approaching [death, though it is also note, worthy that during the day she seemed to be in better spirits than usual. Sister Mary Gertrude was a native of Singleton, New Sopth Walea, and her mother, a widow, resides in Sydney. Yesterday afternoon John Boyd and James Bate, of the New Zealand Cash Amateur Bicycle Clab, made an attempt to lower the New Zealand 50 mile road record. The weather waa beautiful but the roads were rough in pkce3. On the return journey the irreD had to contend against a strong wind. Both men completed the 2$ miles in one hour and a quarter. After going 30 miles Bate retired and Boyd rode on by himself and finished the full distance in 2 hours 53 minutes 7secs, beating A. J. Body's time by 203008. The New Zealand amateur record held by H. J. Pither stands at 2 hours 58 minutes, and the English re cord at 2 hours 25 minutes. The Ashburton Caledonian Society held another of their enjoyable inglesides in the Oddfellows' Hall last evening. There was a i large attendance, over two hundred persons being present. The evening was devoted chiefly to dancing, including several High land dances by members of the Society,' the music being supplied by Mr Alick McKay, ; piptr j M-t "Ste'war};, Violinist; and the Misses Butler anct Miss Jane Jamieson at ttip piano. Refreshments were provided by Mesdames MeKensjie and Corbott, All present appeared to enjoy the gathering, and dancing was kept up till one o'clock. It is feared that two fishermen* named William Buckley, and William Lawson were drowned on Thursday night, Their boat was seen to leave Macin tosh Bay, one of the bays in • the Peninsula, on Thursday evening, when a strong north-easter was blowing and a very heavy sea running. Yesteiday moaning p!prf;ibns of thpboat werefcjund fi n th,eb>agj}. In formation was sent tej Lyttetyori an* the steamer Jane Douglas and the tug searched the bay, but found nothing save the oilskin of one of the men. Lawson has a wife and geyeral children; Buckley was unmarried. tears are ako entertained for the safety of another frshing boat, and her* crew of iwo men, whose n*mes are unknown. '■■•■>■>

Another Big Fire at Chicago.

[per pkbss association] ! (Received August 26, 10.45 a.m ) , New Yoek, August 25. By a fire in Chicago five blocks of buildings and coal and timber yards were destroyed. Five thousand people were rendered homeless. The esti mated loss is $1,500,000.

MAGISTERIAL.

SOUTH RAKAIA-FRID4Y.

(Before Messrs W. L. Allan, C. Hardy, and L. Oxley, Justices of the Peace.) Drunkenness. —Edward Saunders, Bmt Hill, was charged with being drunk whilst in charge of a horse on a public roacL Accused, for whom Mr Cuthbertson ap peared, pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given by Messrs Spooner, Baxter (County Engineer), G. Brimmicombe, and W. Bad ford Fined ten shillings and costs or forty eight hours. The same accused waa charged with assaulting W. Badford and hia wife and this and a similar charge made by Saundera against Badford were taken together. Mr Cuthbertson appeared for Saunders, who pleaded not guilty. After' hearing the evidence, the charge against Badford was dismissed, and Saunders wa* fined £2 and costs, or fourteen days. Civil Cases. —H. Britton v John Moor, £20 for money lent.—Judgment by default for the amount claimed and coats.

SHOOTING AFFAIR. AT OXFORD.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Chbistchurch, August 25. A shooting case occurred at Oxford yesterday morning. Screams were heard in the house of John Bickerton, and the police were sent for. Sergeant Scott entered the house when he was fired at by Bickerton and a number of pellete penetrated his clothes* As the sergeant could not obtain admittance, word was sent to Inspector Broham, who went up with several constables. Mrs Biclcerton was induced to open the door, arid Inspec tor Broham rushed forward followed by the others, and Bickerton was handcuffed. He had beside him a loaded gun and a six chambered revolver.

COMMERCIAL.

[per frbss association] (Received August 25,11 a.m.) London, August 25. The weekly returns of the Bank of Eng land published to-day show the total reserve to be £15,016,000. The propor tion of the reserve to liabilities ia 4494. Three months bills are discounted »t 4fc per cent. Consols, 97|- New Zealand 4 percent inscribed stock, 104 ; 3f per cents 94. New Zealand long-berried wheat, ex warehouse, flat, 28s 6d ; South Australian, weaker, 289 6d ; Victorian, quiet, 28j. Frozen mutton, first quality, 3|d per lb; second quality, 3§i; lamb, first quality, 3f3, Danish butter, 124s per cwt. A South Australian wheat cargo has been sold at 27s 4£d. The chaff ex Ophir has not been sold, and it is expected there will be a loss of £2 per ton. * Merchants consider it will never pay to ship chaff to I England, owing to the heavy freight.

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIANS V ALL ENGLAND.

London, August 24. The following ia the full score of the Australians :■— Lyons, c Macgregor b Briggs ... 27 Giflen, b Richardson ... ... ••• 17 Banner man, c Macgregor b Briggs ... 19 Trott, c Grace b Uichardspn... ... 9 Graham, lbwb Mold ... ..., ... 18 Gregory, b Brigga ... ... ... 0 | Bruce, a Read b Richardson... ... 67 McLeoil, b Briggs ... .«. ... 2 Turner, b Richardson ...... 0 Trumble, b Richardton ... ... 35 Blackham, not out ... 0 Extras ... ... ... ... 9 Total ... - 204 Richardson took five wickets for 49, Briggs four lor 81, Mold one for 48. Bruce and Trumble made, a capital stand, the seventh wicket adding 64 in forty-five minutes. The innings lasted three hoars and thirty-five minutes. Richardsons' bowling, as will be seen by the analysis, was extremly effectual. The Englishmen have lost two wickets for 44. Grace, not out . ... •••29 Stoddart, run out ... ... ... 0 Shrewsbury, c Bruce b Giffen ... 12 Gunn, not out ... •?• ••• 5 Extras ... ... 8 Total for two wickets , ... 44 After four byes had been run ? Gregory smartly threw Stoddartfs wicket (Jowii. Grace and Shrewsbury then put up 30 by steadyplay, when the latter was splendidly caught at long leg. Turner and Giffen were both in good form, and the batsman had to be cautious, runs coming very slowly, Graham and Trumble were con spicious for some fine fieldfng. Yorkshire has won the county cricket championship. (Ueceiveti August SG, 10.45 a.m.) I London, August 25. The English Eleven are all out in the first innings For 243. Grace scored 40. Giffen bowled seven successive maiden overs. The fielding of the Colonials was at times loose.:

SPORTING.

ASHBI/RTON RACING CLUB .SPRING MEETING. Christchorch, August 25. The following handicaps have been de clared/ " '■■■■'■''<■'■ -■''■ '*- ' ■■' LADIES* BbAGELB'J?. Bt> lb. sb. lb, Gillie ...12 10 Yellow Jack 11 5 Kilmftraock 11 13 Sporting Grove ll 5 Sherwood ... 11 9 Cassandra ... 11 3 Invader ... 11 7 Rock wood ... 11 0 St. Barbe ... 11 5 | Moltke ...11 0 AsHBURTON Cup. Liberator ... 810 A war ua Rose... 7 6 JjadyZetland 8 7 Stranger ...7 4 AußeVoir ;'%. 6 Spectpn ...7 8 Galtee ... 713 Roßehill i.i 6 \2 Retina ... 7 9 Coinage i.. 8 7 Viscount ..."7 7 Lagshior Steeplechase. Magpie ... 11 9 Gillie ... ... 912 Cajolery ..; 11 2 Bellbird ... 910 Chance ... 10 8 Victor .4 7 Justice ... 10 5 Matariki ... 9 7 Regalia ... \Q $ 'gCJiJNQ HAISMOiB. Au Revoir ... 812 Lord Aston ... 7 4 Vocencang ... 8 U Master Royal 7 3 Lord Zetland 8 9 My Jack ...7 2 Warrioaton ... 8 7 Roseguard ... 7 0 Persuasion ... 8 2 Sheelah - 612 Retina ..8 0 Peplta ... 6 12 Awarua Rose 711 Perkin ... 610 Rosehill ... 7 6 Ridicule ... 6 7 Firstling ...7 5 Director ...6 7 Busybody ... 7 5 Lokobeacu High Wkioht Handicap. K. Greenaway 11 8 Manilla ... 10 3 Jacob Faithful 11 0 Menuphar ... 10 2 First Kine ...10 12 Freeborn ...10 2 Kilmarnock... 10 8 j Starling ...10 2 New Headford 10 » j Firefty 1^ .. i 0 0 Maria Martin 10 4 Beach ... 1Q 0 Jack •■ ' 10 3|Mala«hi ... 10 0

PARLIAMENTRY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington, August 24. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. THE ELECTORAL BILL. Owing to the absence of the Chairman )i Committees, the committal of the Electoral Bill was deferred till Tuesday. Several Bills were idvanoed a stage. Ai 5 p.m. the Council adjourned till luesday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. The Premier announced that he hoped to set apart- Monday evening next for Labor legislation, and he proposed to take the taxation proposal* on Tuesday. He might be in a postion at the end of next week to mention the likely date of the prorogation. The House rose at 5 30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THE LIQUOE BILL. The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill was further considered in Committee. _ Clause 17 was amended so as to allow local authorities to supplement the, low of revenue from license fees by an incraaae of gereral rates, notwithstanding that the maximu na amount of general rates may thereby be exceeded. Clause 18.—If. licensed premises are closed by the electors, the license* shall be relieved of his lease. The clause was struck oat with ftjie ob ject of substituting a new clause; v> Clause 19, providing that all clubs shall be subject to all the provision! of the Licensing Act, elioited a long Ijliscus sion. • .-; ' ■ .\\s Mr Fisher moved that this oltwe be struck out. ... Mr Earnshaw opposed the amendment, pointing out that if publicnouses were dosed drink would be obtained at clubs, and therefore they should be under super vision, ■-> Mr Fish opposed the clause as a lurcher interference with the liberty of the sub ject. The Premier defended the clause, and said that the Government laid great stress on it. They considered the clubmen themselves would not object to the clause. Captain Russell strongly opposed the clause, pointing out that clubs were fre quented by men principally of mature age, who did not indulge in skylarking, and who did not assemble in clubs for the purpose of drinking. Mr Bruce asked the Premier whether there was any special reason for this clause. The Premier said that from information at the disposal of the Government, which he did not feel justified in alluding to further, the Government were folly war ranted in inserting thia clause in the Bill. Mr Fisher would like to know what in formation the Premier had received about these clubs. Sir John Hall would support the clause, for if clubs were exempted altogether, a door would be opened to - wholesale evasions of the Actj He thought, how ever, that the regulations should be modified so that they would not be vexatious. After considerable discussion Mr Fisher withdrew his amendment to strike out the clause. Mr Buckland moved an amendment that the Parliamentary Bellamy's should be included in tho provisions of this clause. Tha amendment was carried by 30 to 29. The Premier regretted that there were thirty members in the House who thought it necessary to call in the police at Bellamy's. ' Mr McLean moved, in the subsection providing that no now charter /shall be issued to any club except upon the recom mendation of the Licensing Committee of the district, that it must also be upon application of not less than fifty persons. The amendment was agreed to by 30 to 27. The Premier moved an amendment that if the pol is carried against the granting of any licenses, the charfcershall be with drawn by the Colonial Secretary from any club in the district on the recommenda tion of the Licensing Committee.'.. Mr Fish protested against ths amend ment on the ground that it would take away all power from the people. Captain Russell said that this would be the first step towards total prohibition. After further discussion, the Premier asked leave to withdraw his amendment, but leave was refused. The amendment was lost by. 37 to 18. Clause 19 as amended was added to the Bill by 42 to 14. w .- : - Mr McLean moved a new clause that all contracts or agreement* now in existence compelling a liconsee to deal exclusively with any person or company for any liquor which the licensee shaty require to purchase shall be void.' :- The amendment was lost on the voice* Mr Mills moved a new eUuee, requiting three years' notice to be. given ..before a license could be cancelled after the deter mination of the electors to that effect. The clause was lost by 40 to 9. Mr Thomas McKenEie, moved a new clause jihat no license to sell alcoholic liquors sbaU be granted' to railway re freshment rooms except subject to the provisions of this Act; J The clause was lost by 20 to 81. ' . The Premier moved a new .clause fin place of clause 18 which was struck; out) providing that if the premises, directed to be closed by the poll of elector* are vacated at the. end of twoj&ouths from the date of the poll, and all iea£ and other liabilities are paid, the lease or tenancy shall be deemed to be determined as far as the leasee or tenant is con cerned. • ■ v The clause was agreed to on the voices. A new clause, placing a sub-lessee in a similar position to a |esgee <jr ten^n^ wajj added to the Bill. ' , x w Mr Willis moved a new clause prevent ing any prohibited person from pvrchas iug liquor within the district, in which the prohibition order is in force against him, under a penalty not AXceedMKt £10 and in default of payment threeitaonths' imprisonment. The clause was agreed to on the voices. , . Mr Buick moved a new clause in Riot ing a penalty of not lea.? than $> and not mofe than £20 on any person'(not connected with the bouse), fotind on licensed premises fifteen minutes after the hour of closing. The clause was lost on the voices. The Premier said that he desired to in corporate in the 1 Bill Section 54J. of the Electoral Bill providing for' the purging of the rolls. He thought that the Electoral Bill would pass, but in case of an accident, it wonld be an well to ensure this clause being included in the present Bill. " - , . *

THB AaftfitmTOtt aPAItPIAN: SATURDAY, AttGtfST 26, XBO3



TBIS WEEK G. J. NBILL and Co. A RF, SELLING- Berlin Wool Is lid , Beautiful "Dress Goods 3d per yard Splendid Plush U 3d per yard White Calico 2s lid per di-z DoawTM^btachedTwttl Bhoeti.g OH Heavy "Flatmeletto 3M Cotton Shirting 4|ct_ , Men's Tweed Suits 17a bd Boys Twetd Suits 4s lid BOOTS- BOOTS. BOOTS. WE STAND....UNRIVALLED. M*d'« OobnW a*i» Bl»chers(»U b») 5s AT 6, I HULL & CO.'S. FEIEDLANDBR'S OOBNEB, EAST STREET TERMS-CASH. NO DISCOUNT.



W anted _____ I OST, a Bay Hack Mare, no shoes -L* on. Anyone returning same to Mr Edwwd Saundeis wil) be rewarded. TIT ANTED, All to see Mitchell and VV Turner's Prin_J^n^ w_L O~ BAKG6S By the Case ; cheap and good; Seville, Tahiti, Mandarin, and Sydney Oranges. Lemons, B«nanas, Apple! (Cooking and Dessert), Marmalade (good), Ponltry, alive or dead.—Mrs WHiirnyoToy. - "\T¥ LOPHONE, Metalophones, Hero _/V. phones, Autoharps, Zithers, Aocordeons, Violins, Flutes, Clarionettes, Organs, Pianos, Music—H. M. Josbs.^ WANTED Known—Some wonderful job lines n Drapery, etc., now being sold; also presents to all purchasers. H. C. Segbbs, Melford House. WANTED Known.—Jubt opened Tennis and Summer Hats, Print Bhirts, etc.—Mitchell andTuhmbr. PLACE your Orders early for " Star " Cycles. Tne best made in the colony. Cash or terms. Extras kept.— H. M. Jones. W'~~ ANTED Known.—Gents, Summer Merino Sock B£d, Cotton Drawers la lid.—-Mitchell a»d Turner. WANTED Known—That A. J. Walker repairs Bicycle*, Sewing Machines, Lawn Mowers, Medical Coils, and all descriptions of light machinery. DON'T Forget to send your Eicycles along to ihe Old Kindergaiten to be repaired, at moderate rates. M 1""" EDICAL Coils made arid repaired on the shortest notice at easy prices at A. J. Walker's, Old Kinder garten. ' ; BOOK* in good order and complete bought or taken in exchange. £ew Stock arriving every week. Circulating Library.—J. Maksdbn, Newsagent. AILW ITio k Stall—A very large •nd choice lofc of books to'select _mm. __L l_2§ BOOfi^S in gteat variety to suit all Classes of readers, •* the Bookstall 71Qa TTSE H. G. Flower's Sulphur tablets, U Cough and Eucalyptus Dro.-S and " ' coughing. _ 11? AN TED Known- Ladies who are Vf about t" change their Domestic Bprvan»» ht- in*W.d to mike kn»wn their r , qairi , m ,nf Rt th« Sou-h Canterbury l,iW Kxehv'-e, AicwK Ashburton, where thtycrm h- suited withou' dtjifty- WANTED Known—W. H. Collier's noted four clasp Kid Gloras, 2s Gd, have just arrived in all sir.es. W*~~ ArriNG~Kngae3menfc, thoroughly Experienced Ploughmen. Station and Fa m Hands, Station and Camp Cooks, Married Couple, experienced Grooms and jobbing Gardeners.-^outh Canterbury Labor Exch^nge^^Ashbarton 8' UITS to measure, during the sale, 495, 555, 60s, 70s, and 755. Fit and workmanship guaranteed.—R. Saunders' Buildings. ; T' 1 ABIES' Jackets, Mantles, Superior JLj Drew Goods further reduced, »s cash must be had. Compulsory Sale at 8, W. Alcorn's. fY* ANI'ED Known.—To make room VV for Spring Boots I will give ten per ctnt for ca>h. Repairs done at once c'ieap«r than ever to stay bad times over as J. Mofox, Premier Bootmaker. 8 i« TriNGEBING Wool 3d, 200 yds Cotton J$ Reels l.d, 400 yds 3.1. Enormous jitock of Ladies' and Children's Hose further reduced at S. W. Aicorn & Co.'a sale. WASTED Known^ — Seasonable Gchxls. Cashmere Gloves, 6d pair ; O»sh Mitts 6d pair ; Vnt Collars, 2s lid ; Ladies' Skirts, 2s lid ; Roolyn Wool, 3n per 1b ; Wool Shawls at half price, at Andrew Orr'». , WANTED Knewn—T. Houlx has fresh Pork Sausages daily, hot Pits, also a good assortment of Jams, PickleeuSauces, etc. SOMERSET Meafc Marts. The oldest the largest, tha best, and the cheap wl. Small Goods a specialty _Ful irei-xhto guaranteed. A trial solicited. •w. j. SttcocK. __: S^TOOKTAKING SALE at R. Aloorn's, Saonders 1 Buildings. Everything reduced, tor only, for One Month. N^j prices of Blankets ia advertisement. Bi-of-s and Shoes all reduced. "Y1 T ANTKD Known. — Special ship >V ment of Linen Goods, diract from Belfast. Splendid value. See window tt ANDREW OR*'S. 'ytf OONG Ladies' Journals (August), X. " Review of Reviews," Weidon'u JwarnaU, Ca sells' Royal Academy 1 ie- Ui.ea, Bcfsof England, Volnme), iiew Game--' in-lc^ins? liddledy Wmka Is. Jji^w tfouks and Fancy Goods, Boxes IBofepaper and Envelopes, etc.-L. F. Infill m °^t Wtomf i^'



" Wanted PRESENTS— Beautiful Presents now being given away to all purchasers uf Drapery, Millinery, Boots, Clothing etc.—H. 0. Segers, Melford House. /CITRONS for preserving, Oranges, V Lemons, Bananas, aud all fruits in season.—Adams', East Street. r^ Oto Hardley Bros, for Bargains I T in Blankets, 49 pairs of large white, suitable for double b-sds only, 16s 6d worth 255. Extra large Grey, only 10s 6d worth 18s 6d, Selling rapidly.- Hardley Bros, Arcade^ rXTANTED Known—' 1 The Corner " is * ▼ showing a magnificent New Stock of Drapery and Clothing. — W. H. Collier. _____ WANTED Known—For good value in first class Drapery, Millinery, Boots, Clothing, etc., go to Mblford House. Beautiful presents now giving away to all purchasers. ' WONDERFUL Satisfaction.— The special nickel watch made for S. Salek, sold at 22s 6d and 25s is the best.—Obtainable only from S. Saleit, Jeweller. _______ BANG I Bang I Bang ! Guns ! Guns ! Guns 1 by the best makers and Itted with all the latest improvements. Powder, Shot, Caps, Cartridges, Wads, and Oases at J. W. Hardlby's, East Street. Guns repaired. WHO is your Plumber? Why, J. W. Habdley, who is * Manufacturer of Spouting, Ridging, Steel Gutters, Baths, Sinks, Tanks, etc., and who has on hand the largest stock of Pumps and lpc in town. WANTED Known—Persona peeking employment of »ny description cannobdo better than register their names at the !<outh Canterbury Labor Exchange, Arcade, Ashburton, the proprieter being in daily communicai ion with the principal Labor Offices in the Colony. J>J6 ITr ANTED Known— Contractors, Agri ' ' oulturalists, and Pastoral employers •• of labor can be suited with any number of thoroughly efficient h*nds by making known their requirements at the South Canterbury Labor Exchange, Ashburton- | : No necessity for sending out of the district for labor. ""THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory » Supply Genta' H»ts, Shirts, Ties at ! Factory prices. ■ Supply Gents' Underclothing in Wool, . Merino, and Cotton alU^Factory^ prices. " THITSziaF. Keep the Largest Stock of Gents' Mercery in Ashburton. j THE~¥.Z.C.F. Supply Gents Ready-made Clothing to fit stout men, thin men, tall men, or short men. THE N.Z.C.F. Supply Boys' and Youths* Ready-made Clothing at prices that^ejy^competition^ sl>Ec'lALi"^PECllL ! ! SPECIAL! 1! THE KZ.C.F. Are prepared to make a Single Garment to your order. Over 200 patterns to choose from. All at ready-made prices <«id guarantee a fit. ' THE N.Z.C.F. Make Men's Trousors to Mtasuro from 17s 6d, Men's Suits from 59s 6d. Serving machines on time payment. Supply Men's Boots, Women's Boots, and Children's Boots nil at Factory prices. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY ALEX. HENDRY, Manager ASHBURTOH DRUG COMPANY, LIMIWD, DIRECT IMPORTERS OF DRUGGISTS' MERC'JAN DTSE, HAVE JUST TO HAND A LARGE STOCK OF Patent Medicines, 4ND ARE SELLING AT TUB FOLLOWING RELUOED PRICES. Holloway's, Cocklo's, Norton's Camo mile, Beecham'a Pills and ethers Is 3d per box. Steedman's Powders la 3J paclceb, 1 Siegel's Syrup 2s 9d bottle. EnoV Fruit Salt 3s bottle. Irish Moss Is battle. Painkiller and Tricopherous Is 3d bottle. Pears' Soap 01 cake. J. M. CAMBRIDGE, 150 Manager,



ITew Jewellery. lew Jewellery. UTew Jewellery. TUST OPENED UP—A consignment t) from Homo of the very latest style and newest designs in Gold and Silver Jewellery, Silver and E.P. Ware, etc. Inspection invited of the very choice and High-jchss Stock, which will be found equal to any in Christchurch and at LOWER PRICES. A Splendid Selection of GQOI)S> SPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR PRESENTS. a BALEK, WATCHMAKER, Manufacturing Jeweller, -: and :- OCULIST-OPTICIAN. East Street, Ashburton. The Establishment for first class Watch and Clock repair ing. Charges as low as is consistent with SOUNDcf RELIABLE WORKMANSHIP



Colemanb and son sEucaltptic Extract is tbe only genuine iv the market, and was awarded module and diplomas at Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide boating all competitors. Vex all affections of tbq Cii(»fc and Lungs, Consuißpllou," Asttyoja, Cougli* Gravel, and- Kidney CompUlute, it dmJ: noj equal



HoLloVAv'S PiM,B OiNTMßNT.—Bfaitatthj inhftbitauts of our great cities suffer JWm tlwoffecM of overcrowding nud all its attendant evil* Komi pnyaeaj and moral, tho raororrobust and eoefgiMo amigrMt will in his turn be liable to suffer in hiVnew hom: from the wont of ready skill and the great 1 medtail jwonwes of his native land always fttcommMd.. Tte best adTtee S3* w^tofcUV **&*** ww '"^y "^^ tiion of 'liffll The Best Tea IN CANTERBURY for th« money, and fceo from »ny excess of Mtringen^ ' COUNTESS 2i ASK #0U» (iROOBftS, ' .'-.■ r . -'i H •'•-' '