MAIL NOTICES.

WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 28. , For JjTorjbkern Ports. Samoa, Hono'u'u, alao America, IC^nijbed kingdom, and Conti nent of Europe, yia Sau j?c&ncla<io. Pc Tafe^puna, at 6.15 p.m. Honey ot'den at 8 p.m.. i registered fetters, § p.m. at Jvondon December 2.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1896. Local and General.

Messrs tandells and Son's new advertise ment appears m another papt of this issue, The train arrangements for the Timaru Show on the 28th insfc. are advertised m this ia?ue. Mr David Thomas announces another horse fair, which will take place on November 27; Qa the fourth page to-day will be founc items from our Ruapuna sorrespondent ; alß< commercial news. $a the first page a budge! of sporting news appears. * 6

I Owing to the unusual demands on oui space this week, our pictorial articles art unavoidably held over. They will be re. sumed after the Show. --.-., The case against Herbert Jamss Mo«b, wfco was brought back froni tlelbourne on 8 .Charge pf fa presence!, was dismissed, no evidence being offered. - Jncome Tax Department m Wellington, has accomplished the feat of writing 8753 words oja an jordinary post .card. Messrs A. 0, Hardy and A. U. Shaw are gazetted officers under tht^X Qo2 Act, and rangers unsr .the Anwals Prptftotion Agb jfor Ashburtop. j { Mr ,f ' W, Oplliiw, H.E f n., was enter, tamed by the Wm*& Political (iounpn at a largefy attended . gogial u^ki^wg fob evening m Christchurch. # Mr S. Salek's new advertisement referring iL m S? g -Pf 0 ™ 1 . 0 * t» Protect eyesight from the d^at sp troubleao.-ne at this aeason of the year will h* fo»»d jn #notfer column The local Good Tentplaw adverti Bn i« *i,j mSbS" ' he d «™ f all "id tisement is unavoidably held over. Thp shipment of Rudge-Whitworth oStS'c&'fr r - eRe V* b r Me« « John Orr and Co., having been so ouicklv dis" posed of the firm has ordered another sun ply which is shortly expected to arrive. P Recently, it waa. reported that MrsJCerr of Blenheim, a relative of Mr and Mrs ff the victims of the Petone murder, was S The information, which lias been cS cSgl hr °^ hOUt *™ Zealand? is°T Tb» seoona pf tha Sunday night prohi £/«ft"«l held m g the P gdd. fellows' flail to»morrow evening, Masara Lr^ley and Watking will deW addrS^s and seveiaf «[U»i:w(is will be given by frienda ism W*ml>

About forty miles of cable ia coming out to the colony by the steamer Rakaia, which left London on the 19fch' September. It wili be stored at Wellington m reserve, to be used m the event of accident to the cable 9 now laid down.

Owing to the incle.nent state of the ' weather, the meeting of burgesses and others who are interested m the Brigade, called for the purpose of arranging a competition m Fire Brigade events to be held m December, was postponed until 7.30 on Monday next, 26th inst. As the time ia getting short chose interested are requested to attend punctually. The object is good and to the interests of the town. Encouraging replies : have been received from a number of brigade*, and should the matter be to. ken up at OBce a successful and novel day's sport should bt the result. It having been reported that ihe Alliance Insurance Company had ctosuil its agency m AshburtoD, we have bsen requested to draw attention to Mr A. H. Shnrys notice m our advertising columns, intimating that he is the Company's agent here. Lovers of a good solo will have an opportunity of hearing Miss Kathleen On? render Walpole'a . gem " The road to light" at the Wesley Church* to-morrow evening. The preacher will be 'he Rev T. G.. Brooke; whose Bubjecb will be " How a nation was Bayed." ' : The following incident (says a South African paper) recurred during the fight at Umguaa, and serves to illustrate the cha racter of the Matabele m action. A rebel, wounded m the leg, but still capable of mischief, was on the point of being aasegaied by one of our friend lies. He recognised h« assailant, and remarked to him, "I am your brother." Notwithstanding- that,the:recog qition was mutual, the friend stoically, replied, "It cannot be helped, this is war 7 time," and promptly dispatched his relative.

The entries for the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral show closed last evening. The Herald says the total entries are 759, or 74 more than last year, a most gratifying increase. Sheep show a decided increase, and there is a marked increase m the entries for horses. Produce shows a falling off, but as this class is not a leading one, the decrea-.e will not be very noticeable. Cattle, for long a weak class, have muoh improved, and implements show a good increase, With fine wither, and such large entries, the show should be quite a record one. The show is to be held on Tuesday and Wednes nexc The train arrangements have been already been advertised m the Guardian.

Considering the very wet weather, there was a good attendance at the Ashburton Prohibition League's weekly meeting, held at the Templar Hall last night. A plan of appointments for speakers on Saturday and Sunday evenings up to December (j, sub mitted by the chairman (Rev. J. Olphert), wa>, with slight alteration, adopted. The plan also included " campaign " arrange ments for various centres throughout the electorate. Arrangements were made to ensure good singing at the Sunday prohibi tion meetings, and it was decided that the meeting of prohibition supporters to consider "matters concerning the various cmdidates for the Ashburtou Beat, be held m the Oddfellows' Bail on Thursday, sth November at 2. 30 p. m. meeting of the League is to be held next Wednesday night, when unfinished and new business will receive attention.

Hollowat's Ointment and. Pills.— Absces.-es, Erysipelas^ Pijes. — Unvarying success attends all who treat these diseases according to the simple printed directions wrapped around each pot or box. They ape invaluable to the young and timid, wfoosp bashfulness sometimes endangers life, Though apparently local, diseases of this nature are essentually blood diseases, but a little attention, moderate preservanceß, and trifling expense will enable the most diffident to conduct any case to a happy iasue with out exposing secret infirmities to any one. The ointment checks the local inflammation and alleviates the throbbing pains. These a.iiiactipna_ajßp clearly point out when and how Bolloway'a pm^ are to be taken, that fche^r' purifying and regulating powers may assist by adjusting and strengthening the constituting, ; ■'

The Brass Sands Contest.

Dunedix, October 23 The brass bands contest was concluded t fchi=j evening, when the selection from T^nnhanser- was p}ayed. This proved to be longer jbhan jbhe, test pieije of' t^^ previods evening, and although a stare Was tqada at 6 p.m. fche fast band #4 uot finish until U-i®> Mr T, decision wag announced A little before tnHp'ghJi, as tq)lowB i-» '

Oamaru were first m both selections. The following ia the resale of the B Flat Cornet Solo. E. Derry, Ohristchurch Garrison

N 19£ points... ■': )t i J, XV. Glennie, Invercargill Garrison, 17 points ,„ , 2 Twelve competed. , Euphonium Solo. Bpyd, Dunedin Engineers, 19 points ,1 SfioLeodj Qamaru, 18 points •■ , 2 ' The judge remarked publicly that these two *?epe oJoBe together. Seven otbepa competed, " ..■;;■ ■■••■«•

TINWALD.

" The Hermit's Cell.''

The entertainment given m the Templar Hall, Tinwald, on Friday evening, on behalf #f 3£ Andrew's Sunday School prize fund, w&a a great' fl^pe'ss. .' |Jofcwithatandinf» the cold and web weatherj th,e f hall comfortably filled with "an ' appreoia'tfve audience, a&d had frhe wight hsen fjne, it would have: been difficult to find sewing accommodation for all; 1 The first part of the programme waß taken up with Uodiie?B pantata "The Hermit's pell." which wmt typesfc admirably rendered. The a l age was yery tastefully decorated wif;h large branches of trees and 1 .flowers, arranged ac ss j,o 100 to like a forest ; a email space m the sentry partly hidden by liaves, making a charmife permit's cell. The sanjtata is an, exceeding prptky ftne f and affords sptendjid agope jor jjnus^pal acd artistic talent, $j? e r««re£ : {ha£ ye are unable here to give a detailed as»s«i;ut of the piece. The singing and ap ting o^tha younjj ladies who took part m it on Ffldiy wen% m a almost alj &fc b, c dee^ea, ao<| MISS Jfew*! d«setV«S ureafc £r«ilbfrr the 6ar eful w^ y m been trained. The audience showed'their thorough appreciation of her efforts to please them by according .her most hearty applause m. response to a vote of thanks moyed fty th,e ohairman. tyi B 3 E. Wells, a Visitor from Obristohu^ch, who took one of the principal characters m jbhe oantata, has a very nice voice, and her acting was much admired. Mr E. Bonnington made a fairly Rood hermit, but he would have done better had he taken a little moro trouble m learn ing his part. The second part of the programme consisted of only five items vijf., children's action song, which was very prettily given by about a spore of little girla and boys 5 a 8310 by Miss B, Wells, *f Baby? 8 shoes" (encored), which was one of tho goms of the evening; an exhibition of Indian clubs by the same young lady musical drill by a number of bright and sweet looking girls, which was admirably rendered ; and a song by the Rev. J. Black burne, which was well received. At the cftn.cJuaion the audience rose, and all joined heartily m singing the national anthem. We believe we express the feeling of all who were privileged to be present m saying that the entertainment was one of the best and certainly the most attractive, we have Jjad m Tinwald for years past. Many of our readers will doubtless V>e pleased to learn fcfyafc the management have 4eojded to re produce tlje pajitata at Tinwatd on Tuesday next. • . . j

THE GENERAL ELECTION

Mr Maslin at the Oddfellows' Hall.

The bad weather last night, though doubtless welcome to both farmer and gardener, stood greatly m the way of giving Mr Maslin a large audience at the Odd fellows' Hall. The rain was falling m torrents at eight o'clock when Mr Thomas took the chair, and at that hour there were not more than sixty people m the hall, but more dropped iv during the evening, so uhat perhaps a hundred formed she audience.

Mr David Thomas, who apologised for the absence of the Mayor, bespoke a fair hearing for Mr Maslir-, and said, that questions would be answered, but if they were written they would have to be signed. Mr Maslin began his address by specially thanking the two representatives of the fair sex who had braved the elements to be present that evening. During the last three years he had been accustomed to begin his political addresses with "ladies and gentlemen," but he had feared that the weather that night would compel him to limit the mode of address to the sterner sex, The two ladies had saved the ex clusive reference, and he was indebted to them for the honor they had done him m being present that evening. His appear ance that night was due to the redistribution ot seats, consequent on the taking of the census. The census had shown a marked increase m the population of the North Island, an increase that necessitated the giving of three seats to the North Island and the reduction of the South Island Beats by three, ihe re-arrangement had pushed the boundaries of the electorate for which he had been member a little farther north, but still included m it a large proportionfof the electors whom he had represented, and the district was not very much different from the one for which he had been the sit ting member.' Ihe speaker excused him self for not referring at great lengbh to past legis'ation, much of which he had dealt with m addresses he had delivered on previous occasions when he had met the electors between sessions, and went on to deal with THE REDISTRIBUTION OK SEATS.

He had been m favor, at many others had been, of mt having a redistribution of seats for* this election. But there had been a strong feeling on the part of the North Island members that, as the population there had so largely increased, and as the Apt gave them the right m consequence of that increase to increased representation, the law should take its course. This being so the House had no course left open to it, and though both census taking and read j ustmenfcof boundaries are costly things, both were pro ceeded with m justice to the North Island. In a young country like this, population would to a large extent be migratory for a long time ; and while population was the basis of representation these changes would continue. He was of opinion that population was the best basis of representation. LAST PARLIAMENT.

In many quarters the last Parliament had been disparaged. But it could show as good a record of progressive work as any that had gone before it. The legislation it had enacted included measures that would never be erased.! root the statute book, had come to stay, and. a strong prqpf both ot their value and their popularity/was the fapt tbat the opponents of the Liberal party were adopting that party's platform and not gne. of them would stand up openly and condemn thgge measures," LABOR LEGISLATION.

The previous Parliament had endeavoured to paaa legislation m connection- with the employment of labor, but though those labor measures had been passed by the Lower House, they were repeatedly rejected by the Legislative Council. v He did noc say that all would be got by the labor legislation of the last Parliament that was expected or hoped from it, but much of it wa3 likely to piove of benefit to the labor of the colony. The Parliament had passed legis lation likely to be largely 'instrumental [ ijj preventing the. jjtrikea "taab ware the source of bo great fqas both <o ernplbyer and ! employed, atfd lie mentioned the Conciliation Act, and what had occurred under its opera tion on the West Coast, as instance. The Factories Act, too,' seemed to be iudispen sabe, and though it was far from peifeofc, it provided for certain sanitary conditions id the factories and for other things necessary to the proper carrying on of work m them m (ihe ' interest? qf the comfort and physical well being p? the operatives. He thought tb,e detrition of a!• factory 1 ' u,nder the AQt WW far t@Q w}de. He failed to see that two girls wording m a dreesm>ker's shop should constitute that shop a f&aory, or that a m»q employing but two hands should come under its operation j but there oould be no doubt that the workers m large cities had derived great benefit from the working of the Factories Aot. No legislation by any Parliament m the world could, he thought, ! permanently affect the rate of wage 3. That was regulated by a law which no legislation could tQu'9h-~bb6 law of stfpply and debwnd. Legislation could impost conditions upon the emptayraenji qf lafeqr, b.q.'fc it qovfld nevef supersede that natural jaw. After a brief reference to the liquor legis lation, which he said was the most advanced of any on the subject m any of the British oolbnieß, he went on to spesk of THE PUBLIC DEBT.

It had increased by a large Bum In 1893 it stood at £38,146,070, and m 1896 it was £42,271,889, an increase of £4,125.819. He was opposed to borrowing as a rule, but if he could see that by borrowing a pound he would make thirty shillings he was not pre pared to say that such borrowing was ' a rosing game. Now, tfoe 4d vances to Settlers Department had .got some 'of ! fchis four mil lion. A million and a half had been devoted £o i£, but that money wag not filing to cost fchs country a penny. Jt had b^een borrowed at 3J per gent, an 3 had been a.dvance.<|N{;o settlers ab § per gent. He anticipated thab those advances would return a surplus in stead of leavjrig a loss. It was not borrow.;, ing io tllP eeqge io which the word had been understood m the pant when the tax* navtr wogid not be ouo of pocket a sixpence *j A * D d afe b h e same time the settlers on ih& land were enable^ to prosecuto thei'f york profitably for the <?bunlsry; «Th*n, ! |or £ie assiqt^qe of the Bank o\ New Zea'arid, a^nityitjiee, tyVsely n^ade \^p of Qppqsitiqn AQinb.'er§j h,»4 re^nttnendpd t^at tor preferenpe ghappg to t\\e amount of half i nolllioq Bftpnld. b§ hsu§d, apd this hg,d nqt, cost the couatry a paaay as th§ interest those preference shares had been made a first charge on the bank. Thus two millions out of the four were disposed of. r ' L^ND' FOR 'SETTLEMENT; There h^d been a cry f roin'every platform at laqt plect|qa tl^ab |h«uld butf up the Urge' estates; sb that it Was net correbt to say the iiand for Settlemehta was not asked for by the people. The pueation wai before the electors m every cQptesfc, ant W'f^ttU «*f *$* ? ry w ?K^ e passing of the 4ot. Tjljab fpy the expendi ure on the pepurc/hase of w!^^ l^ of £25Q,00Q eyery year for five years.' £750,000 had b,(ee>i (ihe }\XQ\b of the last Parliament's pswer under tlje bijt QDly £389,315 had been raised fdr this purpose. Thejandhad been letout to settlers, Who paid a rgturn £hat res ore the whole qutlay without 0036 to the tajjpiyer, anfl ftt tlje same time the country was being settled by numerous families of good settlers m place of the few owners who had held these estates before. Here Mr Mas lin ma'e reference

to the purchase of the Cheviot Ejtate, which also accounted for a considerable portion of the alleged increase m the public debt, and went on co s,ay thaf; £250,000 had been bor rowed fop land improvement, and £25Q,000 for the purchase of Native land. CONSOLS. Referring to the Consols Ac 6, the speaker said that the £300,000 raised under it was not borrowed to be used m public works at the aweet will of the Minister, but only by the authority of Parliament. It might be used for any legitimate purpose with that authority, but the department using it must pay the interest that accrued upon it. LOAN^S TO LOOAL BOpiES. £200,000 per annum could be raised under this Act, but during jhe term the full amount had not been borrowed, l'he whole ojf whajb had been borrowed .had been spent m reproductive works. >Ut for thjs measure many local bodies Would not )be able to carry out work? that yverp neojessary for the prosperity of their djetnots, go tbub really wjicn the "four

million of alleged increase m the public debt came to be analysed it would be seen that a | valuable asset still remained, and that the whole community would be benefit d while the public' taxation was not increased. Mr Maslin then harked back to the Land for Settlement Act, which he wished his hcarerß to note was passed m 1894. There ) had been no necessity for putting the com pulsory clauses of the Act m force except m the case of the Ardgowan Estate, as. there was plenty of land under offer to the Govern -1 ment without it. Twenty-eight eßtates had been offered at a cost of £377 554, the road ing of which would have cost £11,761 — m all £389,315. Of these estates nineteen had been bought, and on the gross exponditure Government was recsiving 4 76 per cent of an annual return. Seeing that the money had been raised at 4 per cent and under, it could very easily be seen that /cry soon tbe lauds so acquired would become a source of profit. Every., care was taken that the country got fail value for its money! It was not left to the will of the Minister for Lands to buy estates as he chose, giving such prices for them as he elected. ' The purchase was m the . hands of an independent Board of qualified gentlemen, at the head of whom was Mr McKerrnw, a man of large experience who was not likely to err on the Bide of extravagance. Every transaction that Board had made had been profitable, and the speaker had every faith | that all would be mutually benefited. r THE ETERNAL LEASE. Mr Maslin then dealt with the lease m perpetuity. He was not opposed to a long | lease, but a lease for 999 years of land at a I rehtalp'f five per cent on its present value | was not. fair to the country unless provision I were made for re-valuation at stated in tervals. No man could see as far ahead as 999 years, and a revaluation should be pro vided for: It was «U very well to say that it a man bad gob a good bargain — let him keep it. But that was not fair m this case. If the ground grew largely m value by the in crease 'itif settlement, .or from other causes'/nob brought -"about by the holder of this long- lease, the public had a right to a share m the unearned benefit, | and m fact neither the colony nor the tenant was able to. carry Out a lease of the duration of 999 years. . ; ', . FAIB KENT. |' He had a. fear that the Fair Rent Bill

would not be carried. They could n t get all they wanted from Parliament at the first time of asking, but had to wait. The Minister desired that a rent should be fixed for all properties. This would not operate always m cities where properties had been let on lease at a low rental, and would have to be raised \ and m other oases many people fournl it easier and preferable to deal with a private individual than wiih Government. Let Government try to- pass an Act that will apply only to leases of Government property, and they may perhaps be suc cessful. But so soon as they attempted to apply such a law to leases of every des cription they encountered so many conflict ing interests that would be affected that it waß impossible to pass the measure m its present form. The second reading had been passed last year, bub this year bo many ob jections, had been encountered that the second reading was not proceeded with. DUMMYING.

Speaking af the ballot for land, Mr Maslin first took exception to the maximum of ($0 acres of first class land. A. man whQ Qould work that area of good land was Hot- in such a position as to require the assistance of any Act to aid settlement. There was plenty of land available for such a man, and he ought not to come into competition with men who were not m such a position gs, b.iq, He. thought that 2QQ acpea ' ghoulcf b*e. the tnaxi-. muofi and thafproyision should be made for the smaller men m patches within their means of working profitably. The legis lation of last session was intended to remedy dummying at the ballot for land, by providing' that not more than two persons out of any family should be all .wed to go to the ballot, and that the age of those ballotting should be raised from seventeen to twenty-one. This would pro vide that men capable and m a position, to work the land should not be shut ,out by those who were hot so. . There was tjo. goqd end ae-ye4'by men taking u,p land who had tp borrow first half-year's r«nt. How qou'd |uah men go oh and do justice to the land and make any sort of headway £ And the Act was never intended to put land m such hands. The object oi it was settlement of the people upon 'the land, but not the settlement of land upon the people m such a way that it would be like a millstone round their necks for the whole time it was m their occupation. AnrAljggs STOCKS AST. . The Advances to Settlers Act was passed m 18^4, and gaye powep to the Government to borrow J§I,SQO,OQQ a year for two years to lend a.t § per oent wifch a sinking fund of 1 per gent, Only one and a half million had been raised under the Aob up to the present at the low price of money and the difficulty of getting suitabe securities had restricted the business under the Act. Up to the 31st of March last only £429,122 had been lent on mortgage, and the consolidated re venue was 1 charged with £31,159 to pay interest on the loan. Since the 31st March, however, a considerable improve menb "^BB taken place m the buainejs'. \ statement p|e ( pared by. £he fiublio Trustee bringing the operation <|own to VJune |S" showa a considerable expansion m the busi ness of the department, and a good prospect for the future, %t is anticipated that at the end. of t^e year there will b§ a surplus over expenditure after paying mortgage tax of over £5,000. This will soon, repay the amount advanced from the consolidated revenue. In his opinion Government should not have borrowed m London for the purpose. The Government have nearly £4,000,000 m the poßt office and large sums m the public trust. Some of these funds cihould h ive been used until the business got well established, when if necessary money c'dul4 ha^vji' b,eea. rHiepd m Landon to repay tH^ sum's obtajried . |f6'm thege <Jej)artme'itß. The Qoyernmeut b,roughb down, a Bill ]g.nb session to increage t^e limit of loans under the Aot to £4>OQQ, and to lend, on suburban lands. These proposals were objected to m the House, but the Government majority oarrled the BUI, The clauses were, however thrown out by the Legislative Council. NATIVE L4ND PURCHASE. .

, . The parchase^of Native lands was now 1 confined to the Crown. Land) purchased uqdgr the Act bep^tnp Cpwn. |%nds, and a,re b'peJn for Befclej[n>nt u.Qftep tqe Land Aefc. Landg undgr |hiq Aqfc nj'ay he. 'purbhaa'ed, for qaah., qcc^^atiqn yfi^h th.c" right qf puFchase, defei!Fe4 payment, ptp. Under the Land 4-ot, considerable areas are being sold for sash, For the three years ending Maroh 31, 1896, 100,266 aqres were sold for oaah, and 268,578 acres were taken up on occupa tion with the -right of purchase. For the three" years ending March 31, 1896^ there j had been received from- the'ca^h sales of t^ro^fe lands, inglu4ins- deferred' payment &}OB, a aum of fi£i|6.ll§i which had %et paid into the oonsolidatad revenue/ Oghe present)- Government; are certainly receiving less than previous Governments from the oa'sh dales tff land, bdt he contended ' tha^ ft wsjs d(sci4§4l? objectionable }hsb aW }an(t'^oHgli^ with borrowed 1 money sboiia t)e s«I4 tor qaab, ana' me prop'^ ?T, gredffc of the qrdiqary revenge of the colony. T}jJ3 woul4 amount to supplementing revenue l^y b,Qrro??ing. |f it ghquld be found necessary .to sell any lands for cash f/he proceeds should be paid' into V special accQiJnt; {;o bfe used for the purchase of other lands,

WOENSINO LEGISLATION, ' - The present parliament will be remem bered for haying passed the most advanced licensing legislation South of the line. He would impress upon the meeting that the advanced position taken up on this question could only be maintained by constant vigilance. Twenty-three years ago a jfoensJßg Agt was passed by Sir William JPox, whifib recogqjapd 'the' right of the people to control tbe issue of licences. Clause 23 provided that no certificate should be granted if a memorial against the granting of the certificate,- signed by at least two - thirds of the adult residents of the district were presented to the court. Male and female of the age oi twenty-one had the right to prohibit licenses. Householders could also object. This Act was evidently m advanoe of publio opinion on the question, nsleidof getting the machinery clauses of the Act amended not Hiog'wai done, and the power given to 'the people waa practically inoperative.' The Act of 1881 repealed, the Act of 1873, £nd destroyed the right of the people to control the issue of licenses. It waa supposed that ratepayers had the power toauppfeis the lic[uof' fcraQjg by' ©leotyogft

committee for tbe purpose* -^To^B^^^^H of the people 01 Sydenham proved tffl^HM delusion. In the Act nf 1893 the isßue^^H mitted to the people were so involve^^^H the conditions so one-sided,, that it^|^| served to rouse public opinion on thl^^H bion. In 1894 the Premier attempted i^^H a consolidating treasure, but was frati^HH by the opposition shown to the Bill^H 1895 the Act was passed under which the next option poll will be taken. The Bill passed by the peoples' representatives was much m advance of the measure as it became law. It provided for national option, and brought clubs under the control of .the people. These clauses were struck out by the Council. We have, however, m this Act a perfeot local option vote, and mistakes m polling will be almost impossible. Last session the Premier, m fulfilment of his promise, brought down a Bill to reinstate the portion deleted from the Act of 1895 by the Legis lative Go.ur.oil. Mr Maslih regretted this Bill was not brought down earlier m the session, so as to get a reasonable ohance of passing. Although notice was given on the first day of the session to introduce the Bill, it was not brought down till within a few weeks of the end of the session, when the chances of its passing into law were very muoh prejudiced, fflhe Bill, after a hard struggle passed the lower House to be again thrown out by the Legislative Council. On the question of the bare majority, Mr Maslin could not understand how any liberal could object to ic. Which was the fairer? To let a majority decide, or a minority? He quoted from a speech made by Mr Martin Kennedy, of Wellington, m favor of majority rule. Temperance members objected to olose licensed houses by act of Parliament, and only contended for the absolute control of the whole liquor traffic by a majority of the people. He theii proceeded to speak on THE BANKING LEGISLATION, and an enquiry into the causes of that legis lation and other matters by a Parliamentary

committee. He contended that a Royal Commission would not have given greater saiiaf action. H« referred to the Tariff Commission and Horowhenua Commission m support of his contentions The peraonnel of a Royal Commission would be decided by the Government. The Premier tried to get a more representative committee by asking the Opposition to appoint four of their party to serve on it, bet, although they were largely responsible for previous legislation they refused to serve. Mr Maslin was far from being satisfied with the manner m which the enquiry was conducted. Ques tions upon wh eh the public desired infor mation were blocked by quibbles and points of order being raised, although some matters deoidedly outside the order of reference were allowed to be brought up and enquired into, as for example the enquiry into balance sheets of compinies not doing business with the Colonial Bank or the Bank of New Zea land. Notwithstanding, however, the Committee were able to obtain valuable m. formation respecting the terms of the pur chase of the Colonial Bank, and he had no ; doubt that the Bank of New Zealand had obtained a good bargain. Respecting the President and General Manager, he did nob consider it desirable that persons who had been connected with such a mismanaged institution as the Colonial Bank had been proved to have been, should have the control of the Bank of New Zealand, an m Btuution m which the country is bo largely interested. The evidence before the Com mittee showed that Mr Watson had not acted as one would have expected him to act m conneQfoqn with the purchase of the Colonial flank. The evidence would lead one to suppbse that he was more in terested make a good aile for the Colonial Bank than to make the best bar gain possible for the Bank of New Zealand. r- .i*,? 0 * beea for Messrs Buller and Utohfield, Inspectors of the Bank of New Zealand, the colony would probably have been saddled with the accounts m the B, 0, and D lists.,., Mr. Watson resented the Buar£,8 u ar £, g In V r estigution into the accounts of the Co'onial Bank made by these gentlemen, and contended tha,t the cover asked against the B accounts was excessive. He lost his temper with the Bank of New Zealand In •speotors, anoVAOted m such a manner towards them that the Directors considered their ! position was jeopardised, and to protect the inspectors the Directors gave them a three yearaV engagement with the B,ank. Me I ,i5 wa ?.9lso responsible for ai advance ! of ±}ZQ,OQO made on the debentures of a oer-. tain company which, according to Messrs Booth and. McCarthy had hecome more than doubtful and Messrs George Mcteau and fcarnacth stated to the Directors that m i the event of the negotiations for the p«r« j cha?e falling through, the account would be | absolutely bad. This loss, however, together with the sum of £5000 m connection with the same account, had been practically hidden m the price paid for the Colonial Bank premises m excess of their true value. The goo jwiil of thetJolonial Bank was estimated at £75,000, the book value of the premises was £125,000, es imuted by the directors of the Bank of New Zealand to be at least £30,000 to £35,000 above the true value. But m consideration of the Colonial Bank guaranteeing to the Bank of New Zealand the payment of these two advances amount ingto 4J2SQQO, they took the properties at their btftJK ' Y a?ue, Mr Maslin Was ffojßdn that the Government should have dismissed Mr Watson from his office, allowing him any. legal remedies he might have. Mr Maslin then referred to the Banking Bill brought m to deal with the re-organisation of the Bank, and Mb objection to clause 14 dealing with the liquidation of the Colonial Bank, whioh olause was struck out by the House, only to be inserted by the Legislative Counoil m a still more objectionable form. The inolusion of this clause m the Bill ultimately led to its being dropped. Mr Maslin then referred m a generally favorable way to the Elective Executive and Referendum Bills, and closed with a promise to deal with other important questions deal, ing with the future \n an address to hfe deliver^ on a& e>rly date. v He thanked them 'or their patient hearing and invited QUESTIONS, ' Mr W. W. Smith asked if Mr Maslin had supported a motion by Mr G. TV. Russell, that Government should spend £50,000 on planting m Canterbury. Mr.Maslin replied that a private member cannot, move, to expend, public money, or divert a vote from one purpose to another. The -matter, had been spoken of, but no motion waa put • - W-yr Wi.tsoW'vjfisbed to know if Mr Mwliu favqped * penn^ post for New Zealand. T * {i Mp Maslin said it was all a question of finance. If the colony oould afford it, he would be m favor of it, but not to disturb the flaanoe of the oolony. He instanced the sixpenny telegram as likely to be a loas to the colony. .. :

Mr Watson desired to be informed as to whether^ Mr MaSlin was m favor of reducing the honQrHriufcn to. £120, todo jiway witS Weasiooalnftiitiolans. 1 j ' < ? "- "n 1 Mr Masiffi, wfiile^not m favor of en. couraging ptofeastomd poUticianViV did n6lB think $240 fcoo high a sum to pay, consider! ing the 'expenses and char&eo againtib menjbeps of 6en gob t>WO^essfdif» li inlk?Wis I forWWvh.s%.got'49HW«p_ay» ■ * ' I Mr Md asked if the Consols Act had been of any benefit to the people. Mr Maslin-flaid it was intended that the Gondola, should bo an auxiliary to the Eosb pfiice Savings Bank, 'and W* 0 n 9 Dorrowing tfian Was' money dflpqaited iq that institution, r 4-'he Ac.c had nqt been of muoh advantage to the pablio up to the present, as they did not seem to under* stand the form of investment that it pro vided, and' but' little private ■ money had been invested m consols, but those funds

I certainly provided a desirable investment j for trust funds for which absolute safety was desirable. . , Mr Mahood moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Ma«Jin, which was seconded by Mr Spitjng, 'and parried qnanimonßfo '•

THE WEATHER.

Rain fell heavily all yesterday at Timaru, and is very we'eome after the spell of parch ing nor' westers. The fall will do the country generally a vast amount of good. The rain had but. little effect on the river?, as the land was so dry. At Temuka and Geraldine, and up towards the Kaikouras, the foeayjfr raio has bften very general, and fri mariy cases m the northern districts rivers are flooded. : "

THE ASHBURTON GPARDIAN : SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1896.



Chmaru Garrison, 192 points . ... I Wellington Garrigoji, 170 points . ,',', g Kaikorai, 165 points , , Mf J In veivargill Garrison, 148 point*... , 4 Dunedin Engineers, 141 points ... . , 5 Tj^ary Garrison, 136 points ... ... .6 StSiumo'e ../ ;... 1.. ... ... 7 Punedin garrison ,V, ..„ , , 8 Dunedin Qti^enß '.".. ".;'. ,;; '..; Q lov^rcargil! iGity •.'., ', \\[ ,; | Punedin SjTayals ... ... "\ ;;; Wujipate ,„ , ; , ;;. "j "^ i%



Have yon tried KdansTpJSA? If <wt do to at onoo j JJr -fr atlwiouji '■ f



If yoji want deUoious GoflFee try the o lebrated Family Brand ; to be obtained



Wanted. 'ANTED— AII Good Templars to attend at Templar Hall, Sunday, '6 p.m., for Church Parade — Pre.byterian Church. 10 210 WESLEYAN Church— To-morrow. Rev T. G: Brooke. Subjects : 'Joseph m Egypt' and • liowa nation was saved.' Solo at evening service by Miss Kathleen Orr, ' The road to light.' Strangers cordially invited. 10-208 CHEQUE Lost-Cheque C 2-20500, drawn on the Bank of Australasia, iv favor -of Railway Department, by Fletcher Bros. Payment stopped. 10 202 "PRIMITIVE Methodist Church Morn- X ing, "The model wife," Evening— ••The Worship of the net." Preacher^— Rev. J. Ulphert. 10 207 T)LEASE remember the Fifteenth of X November. Opening of the New' Tabernacle, Peter Street. Tea Meeting Tuesday, 17th. 10 205 ITALIAN Lemons, Hobart Apples, SevHes, and other Fruits.— Adams, | East Street. 10 209 ROCK Oysters (first o7 season), Flounders, Blue Cod, Crayfish, Groper, Rabbits all fresh to-night. Deep Sea Fishing Company, opposite Mail Office. 10 213 I HEARD a man say that Mellor ia selling Bootß Wonderfully Cheap. p "T^OUNG Ladies' Journal for October X Weldon'a Journal for September Jude the Obscure, Master Wilberforce, Autobiography of a Truth (Edna Lyali), The Crime of the Century, Cheoked Through, Within Her Grasp, Romance of Two Worlds, Sons of Fire, and other new books.— H. M. Jones. rTIHERE is no doubt, no possible doubt, X that you get Good Value for your money at MeiiLOr's. XT7"E lead, follow who 'may. Children's Yt Slippers Is. Mellor's Tancred street. WANTED Engagement/ Wool Classing or Shed Management, coming season. Apply, Mail Office\ 10 180 COUGH, Cough, Cough— l am stil making my celebrated Cough Drops, None genuine unless stamped Flower's Cough.— H. A. Flower, Confectioner, East street. 5 24 BA.NANAS, Bananas, ripe and sound, also sweet D.E. Oranges at H. A. Flower's, Confectioner and Fruiterer, East Street. ' XT7"ANTED Known— Men's Mercery, T T Clothing and Boots. For Goods that wear well, fit well, and look well, try that old. established firm — Mitchell and Turner. NOTICE.— Are you going to build ? Because the cheapest shop for Roofing, fron Ridging, Gutters, Nails, Lead, Spout- ing, Water Tanks, Pump?, Ranges, Register Grates, Locks and Hinges, Washing Boilers, and ajl sorts of Ironmongery, is J. W. HABDLsy's, Ironmonger, P-lnmber, and Tinsmith. - Telephone 3§, "TT^ANTED Known— We are clearing out t T ■ all our Macintoshes, Jackets, Lined Cloaks and Dressing Gowns. No reasonable offer refused for anything soiled or " not up to date." — Mitchell and Turner. FYOU WANT the Newest and" Nice m Millinery, Trilby Muslins, and Dress Goods, go to Mrs Alcorn's. Di eases made on the premises. Fit guaranteed. j-j-^A^TED Known— Go to the Corner ~rsZr~~~ tatl z *?evs§t StyleeinJkfljjßrjLjftnd Millinery— W?r£*p&phsft^ I **_ " '" ' - *7 "T* ; TY^ANTED Known—The "Economic" V T Kid Glove, four buttons, Is 9d por piir, is the Glove for every day wear. — YV. H. Collier. -"jyfaLLJNERY.— Mss E. Barnes (late JJfXr of Messrs Jaiji.es ' and* Cubison, West $ud, London, and for some titfy? milliner m charge of jjallantyne and CqJa Millinery Depirtment, Christchuj?cb*, ha? secured premises m Tancred street, where Ladies may rely on fecurlng Millinery of the Very Latest -* ty le and Best Quality, \Q lg



I Business Notices. 1 "VT E W fi o Q D R- N.Z. C.F, - 37^ dozen New Straw Hate. "V" E W p O 0 D S N. Z. 0. F. 109 d zm Ties and Bows* "T^T E W Q.OODS N Z. C F. 56 d< z n Shirts. TWT m-w . ri o o p s KZ, C.F. [ *62 dozen Hard and Soft Felt Hats. TVT E W G ° ° D S N. Z. C,F. h'\ ' . 103 dozen half-hose THE Largest and Best Assortment of Men's Mercery m the diatriob. — New Zealand Clothing Factory, . —SPECIAL— ■■'■>> TfOR SHOW AND HOLIDAY SEASON Tweed Costume, 25f9»~\ Complete Tweed Costume, including 33s Oct. Material, Fancy aho*-. alpaca, dress, > Lining, 33s 6(1. Furnishing, 1 Choice fancy alpaca, and _ : 33m 6d. J making. SPFCIAL COSTUME LENGTHS. A nioe line of Fancy Tweed. 5s lid. Lovely fancy shot Alpaca, the very cream of fashion, J.3s 6d. 12 yards good Washing Print for £s Ud, New Spanish Lawns for Blouses. Fancy Silks for Blouses. Black and white striped Prints for Blouses " The Cream of Fashion." MEHS/IBPYS, & YOUTHS CLOTHING n Oreat Variety ap4 at|prices to meet the ' times. Ashburton Drapery Company, AROADE HOUSE. j IL. I Wanted. SHOW NIGHT, Grand Concert and Entertainment m aid of Cricket Club Funds. Watch papers for Programme. H. C. PERCY, 10 179 Hon. Sec. T¥T ANTED Known— Mb? SjtfrrH, Drebs * < and Habit miker, Haveluck tstreob. Ashburton § Jg "T ETTS' Diaries. Letts' Diaries for 1897. 11 Colonial Kditious for Office and private use now to hand. Large assortment of Mercantile Stationery. New lot of Foreign Stamps. luspection invited. Andbewes, Andbesom, and Co. _. NnW Mangel, Carrot, and Turnip Meeds. The favorite sorts at low prices. — Carson and Co. 10 84 WANTED KnownreJust opened, ex Pakeha and Gothic, Flanne{jet^es. white, stripes, and colours ; velveteens, black, all prices ; Colours, large variety, including new shades m Reseda, Humboldt pnd, Hungarian — Mitchell and Turner. DID yo,u ejrer hear the like ?*'"' Men's best Canvas Sho,«a #8 6d, at Mellor's, Tancred street. • ' ' '• WANTED Knowri^-ldOo pairs'ofjßqot to be sold m twenty-one days at Msllor's. BARCtAINS m BarthenwAPe this month at Carson ani> Qo/a. jf irsp-^Bg goods. • j". . AD»FELIOWS j TTAII, SHOW NIGHT, : GRAND CONCERT and VARIETY EN- TERTAINMENT. 10 178 FECULINA, Feculina. The~ "perfeot|o» of Cake Flour, 3|d per packet. Flktchkb Bros., Cash Supply Stores. OfISED Potatoes. Seed Potatoes. The k!; very best from 241bs a Is, at Fletcher Bro$ ; Aahburton. WAjfTED ftnown— Large delivery of the " Economic 'J Jf id £Hove§, four buttons, Is 9d per pair, worth nr.uch more.— W. H. Collier. • BIDE the Best — Kent's Championship B.Lcyc}es are the best Built to your owu measure. Tyres and accessories of all sorts'— Carson and C,0., Agents 10 86 NOW'S your time to Buy. There is a Big Safe af; Mgllor's £eajandia Boot Store. MOlu^S and fathers who h»ve to provide Boor" and ihoiiid oalt at Mellor'a Zealandia Boot Store. WHAT do I see before my eyes ? A I Cheap sale of BooLs at Mellor'e, I ' * I



- Business Notices. REACTS ARE STUBBORN M THINGS. ■H m II ERE ARE JWELVE STUBBORN FACTS THAT CANNOT P BK DENIED. W lat— That G. J. NEILL is Bel ing gocd | 6th— That G. J. NEILL is selling Men's m^ strong White Miulin at 3 11J d<z. Tweed Trousers at 5a lid. flk 2nd— That G. J. N ILL is selling good 7th- That G. J. NEILL is selline Bojb' W*" - . Washing Prints at 4£d a yard. j Sailor Suits m navy blue or fawn |l ; 3rd— That GJ. NEILL ban pretty "serge, at 4a lid the Buit. Wk Summer Dress Tweeds at 9i 6d a Bth— 'that Q.? d. NKILL is selling WF. dress, that can't be beat. •. Women's Shoes at 4a lid. ML 4th— That G. J. NEILL is selling Ladies' 9lh— hat G. J. NEILL is selling Men's and Children's Summer Hats of nailed Shooters at 7a lid. U every description, the very latest 10th— That G. J. NEILL is selling Men's etyle, cheaper thau anyone m Ash- j light Balmorals at 83 lid. H burton. ... ' . j 11th— That G. J. NEILL is selling Ladies' B sth— That G. J. N fcILL it selling Men's ' and Childrens' Tan Boots and Shoes V Heavy Tweed (colonial) Salts at 24s of every description at very low W\ 6d. prices' &£" * '■"■ : -=• -'>.!•; '.;■.' . -.. 12th— THAT -,•,= .. I j(3k NEILL'S SHOP- Hi Well— He sells Millinery, General Drapery, Clothing and Boots, of every n| Description — . J IS AT FBIEDLANDER'S CORNER, »\ East Street, Ashburton. r ' . ' . •' ■ ■ . " '["■ ". • ;• i - tf Kaiapoi House, Ashburton I October 1, 1896* To Our Friends— * I Having completed arrangements with the Trustees f ' under the Will of the late William Mitchell for the \- purchase of their interest m the business carried on [ under the style of Mitchell and lurner, Drapers, toe have much pleasure m informing you that we hope to continue the business on greatly improved lines, Lsuck as importing thejtulh of each season's goods and quitting them at CASH PRICES, refitting the ■premises, and re-organising the staff \ so as to bring tlte Establishment quite up to date. Our Country Friends will be well served with full ____.. ranges of samples of the newest goods* 'ihn magnHtttP alLJ)zdg£s_by Post will r receive prompt attention. ~~~- " ~~~" r MITCHELL $ TURNER, "'''.*. Tancred Street. PRELIMINARY NOTICE. : ;; irw.,B. MITS.gJU LATE WITH MITCHELL & TURNER, M R XT TT "OKODRIBB 8 J_. XX. X> R0 D B IB B, HAVE ARRANGED A PARTNERSHIP FOB THE PUROttASE OF ■ THE BUSINESS, 'L-TE-LY KNOWN A3 I "THE.BLUS HOUSE" DRAPEEY ESTABLISHMENT. Thu Business m future will be carried on under the name and style of i MITCHELL & BRODRIBB, CASH DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, MILLINERS, etc. ft WK. -would like to draw the attention of the Public generally, that Mr Mitchell being well known and intimately acquainted with most of the inhabitants of Ashburton and district, and through having business con- nections directly with them, is m a position to say that he thoroughly under- stands their requirements, and can guarantee to all his friends the BEST VALUE IN THE TRADE FOR HIGH CLASS GOODS. WITH THIS ASSURANCE THE CLOTHING & MERCERY DEPARTMENTS Will *b^ wader his personal supervision, and by strict attention to Business and carefully studying the requirements of all his Friends and the public generally, Mr Mitchell respectfully solicits a fair share of their patronage. TAILOBING Under the Chart-Order System a Specialty. JHE MANCHESTER & DRESS DEPARTMENTS Are now being Stoclied with all the requirements necessary for carrying "on a Large Cash Trade, and by giving only Good Honest Values, combined with the desire to work and build up a substantial business, MITCHELL & BRODRIBB Have no hesitation m challenging the trade by giving the beat value m Ashburton. THE MILLINERY & UNDEBC£OTHING DePARTMENI Will receive the most careful -attention, and by Always being to the r front for Style, Variety, and a desire to please we can with confi- | dence assure the Ladies of Ashburton and district; that their orders will receive Hie best attention. A. NEW BOOT DEPAKfMENT j is now being Fitted and Stocked with all tLe beat makes, and m this Branch of our Business we intend to be ever foremost. LOOK OUT FOR SPECIAL QUOTATIONS IN FUTURE ISSUES, OPENING DAY— SATIfsDAY, the 17th. MITCHELL & BRODRIBB, THti CEtfiHAL CASH DRAPERS, Uetwecn J, O.r <k Co., and the Clothing Factory, Ashburton.