FAREWELL SOCIAL TO REV T. G. BROOKE

There was a crowded attendance at the fare well social to "Rev. Mr and Mrs Brooke m the Wesleyan Church and schoolroom on Wed nesday evening, although the strong nor' wester which commenced shortly before the opening doubtless kept some away who would otherwise have been present. Mr J. W. Baker, senior circuit steward, occupied the chair, and spoke of the high esteem m which Mr and Mrs Brooke were held by all throughout the ciicuit. The three years during which Mr Brooke was with them had passed very quickly, and everybody was sorry that Mr Brooke wa» going to leave them. But he was leaving the circuit m a good financia 1 position, a credit balance now being m the hands of the treasurer. The local preachers, Sunday school scholars and teacherß, society stewards and trustees also conveyed their regret at the departure of Mr and Mr B Brooke, and wished them every prosperity m the future. After a racy speech by the Rev C. Abernethy, Mr Brooke replied. He thanked them all for the kind things they had said. He did not re quire a farewell social to know that his efforts were appreciated. He and his wife had received kindness all along. He wan not going very far from them—only about half a day's travelling by train—and he hoped to soon see them again, and he might possibly be again appointed to preach to them. (Applause.) He thanked the ladies for the work they had done during his term of office. It waa through their efforts that the circuit debt had been wiped out, although the men usually took the credit to themselves for doing such things, He also thanked the choir and officers for the pleasant way they had all worked with him. He was very sorry to leave, and would now say good-bye, hoping very soon to meet them all ag^in. During the evening solos were given by Miss Rose Williams, Mies Fanny Baker (piano), Mr E. A. Peachey (flute), with ac companiment) by Miss R. Bonnington, a pianoforte duet by Misses Fox and F. Baker, and a violin duet by Masters Reggie and Melville Collins, with pianoforte accompani ment by Miss May Collins. Refreshments were provided by Mrs J. Baker, Mrs Burr, and Mrs Collins, and were dispensed during the evening. The social was closed by the singing of " God be with you till we meet again," after which a few words ot prayer were given by the Rev T. 6. Brooke.

PARLIAMENTARY.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph. Wellington, April 6.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington, April 7. There was a large attendance 10-duy m the Legislative Council Chamber, both of mem bers aud the public, when the acting Governor, Sir J. Prendergast, delivered his speech. His Excellency was accompanied by Oolocel Pole Penton, Major Mad^cks, and Mr Wright, his private secretary. Ihe foreign Consuls, who usuaLy put m an Appearance m force, did not ai tend on this occasion, LEAVE OF ABSENCE. In the Legislative Council leave of absence waß granted to Wahawaha for the session. NEW MBMBJIBS. The Hons. Harris, Kelly, and Pinkerton were sworn m. THE UPPKR HOUSE. The Hon. W. C. Walker gave notice of a Bill to amend the Legislative Council Act, 1891. Mr Oliver asked if the correspondence between the late Governor and Mr Chamber lain, relative to the appointment of members of that House would be laid on the table, »nd upon Mr Walker replying m the negative, he gave notice to move for it, THE ADDEESS-IN-KKPLY. Mr Pinkerton gave notice to move the Address-m-reply at 2.30 to-morrow.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Willington, April 6. BWEABING IN. The firafc busine&a of the House of Repre nentativea was the swearing m of members, who took the oath m batches of four. THE SPEAKEBBHIP. Mr Larnaoh briefly proposed the election of Sir G. M. O'Korke as Speaker, remarking that this would be the seventh time he had been chosen to fill that dignified position. Mr Montgomery briefly seconded the nomi nation. After waiting for a short time, and a3 no one elae was proposed, Sir Maurice Q Rorke thanked members for the honor conferred on him. He little thought when he first entered Parliament m 1861 that m 1897 he alone would be left of those who then aat m the Chamber. Last session Mr Sauaders had been the only one besides himself who was m that Parliament, and by the fortune of war be too had now disappeared from the scene. Sir Maurice referred to the object of this session, and expressed a hope that mem bers would smooth the way to a proper re presentation of the colony on so memorable an occasion as that which would Bhortly be celebrated at Home. Sir Maurice then took the {Speaker's chair, and was congratulated by the Premier and Captain Buaieil, The Premier, m moving the adjournment of the House, said that the debate on the Address in-Reply would be taken at 7.30 p.m. to-morrow. Wellington, April 7. The House met at 2.30. QUESTIONS. Notice was given of a large number of questions, including one by the Premier for the adoption of an address of congratulation ' to the Queen. TUB COLONIAL BANK, Mr Taylor gave notice to ask whether steps would be taken to prosecute the directors and officials of the Colonial Bank. SUBUBBS ELECTION. The Premier gave notice that the first business for to-morrow would be the issue of a writ for the Suburbs election. THE ADDRESS-IK-REPLY. The Standing Orders were suspended to enable the Addresß-in-Rejly to be taken at 7.30, anei on the motion of the Premier it was agreed to sit at 10 a.m. to-morrow. GOVEBNMENT BUSINESS. Mr Seddoa then moved the suspension of the Standing Orders to enable Government business to take precedence on Wednesdays atid Thursdays, ■ This gave rise to a brisk debate, the Opposition objecting that such a course would enable Government to refuse to answer questions and supply returns. The Premier said that unless the motion were agreed to, they would have to-morrow spent over local bills and no aces of motion, fjfhat was not the object for which the Session v was 'Called. Eventually i heagreed to giy"e the"*Fpeaker a list of those notices of motion which would not be ppposed, and promised to copfer wjth the leader of the (jppositiop about the remainder. With re gard to questions there might be some Government would not undertake to answer, lest it should merely lead to a waste of time. A division was called for, and the motion was carried by 44 to 26. The House rose at 4.28 p.m. The House resumed at Y.3G p.m. SHE AD^EBSS-IN-REPLY. Mr Hutchison, the senior member for "Wellington, mo>red the Address-in-Beply, He said that the reason why they had been palled together was to arrange for a com memoration of the record reign of Her Majesty, All would admit that Her Majesty's reign wag unparalleled. Notwith standing the conditions of life of all, they were true to their social position and loyal to the Empire. The consensus of opinion as to sending a contingent of the forces Home was that the Government should accept the invitation of the Imperial Government and send the men Home. Such a step would be appreciated at Home and welcomed m the colony. The presence of ifctf Prpmiera at Hogie would give an oppor tunity, for discussing questions of; great interest to the self-governing colonies. They ghould«s« th,afc ths New Zealand 'Frtnuer

was sent Home with the same prestige as that of ihe othur self gov. ruing colonie . .<t was absurd to think that the function could be performed by proxy, or that the Agent-General should be asked to represent the colony. Mr Alien, in seconding the Address, said (hit there were only two reasons for calling , Purlinniflnt together. They were the sanc tioning of the Premier goini? Ho.ne, and ihe extension of supplies. He hoped tha the invitation of the Secretary for the Colonies would be accepted iv full, and that New Zealand would be represented in a i manner that would uotonly do honor to the 1 colon v, but to the Empire. He instanced the progress of the oolony as regards popu lation and commercial matters, and thought that thos o should create boundless feeling of appreciation, and tend to impress all with the necessity of our being nepresen ed at Home He supported sending troops an-i rinVmuQ to England, and declared that if it ere not done, it would to a large extent discount New Zealand's professions of loyalty. ', Captain Russell would not attempt to show the misdoings of the Government, *n invitation had been received from Home, and what they should do was to send Hume the man in the position to do hen ur to the colony. No doubt the Queeu's reign, while unique, was a record for the world, but another thing that was unique, was that the Premier had informed them that his colleagues were really able to carry on while he' was away. Yet he insisted that Parlia ment must be closed before he went, and should not be re-opened till he returned in September. He questioned whether it was a proper thing to vest che whole power in the hands of one man. It should be in the handa of the representatives of the people. The arrangement with the Premier was that Parliament be convened not later than September 30th. [The Premier denied this. What he had said was that he would submit the matter to the Cabinet.] Capt. in Russell, continuing, said that was an after thought. The Premier could easily return before the middle of September, and if not why could not his colleagues prepare matters for discussion ? If Parliament did not meet before the middle of October there would be no time left to discuss questions in a proper manner and at length before Christmas came, when it would be impossible to keep the House together. If they gave the Premier ten weeks in England that should be sufficient. He was not in favor of sending Home either cavalry or Maoris, and dressing them in a uniform , v to which they had no right. As to the Premiers discussing matters at Home, he thought and insisted that before anyone went Home he should disclose the attitude which he was to take on certain questions, ''his was a right that members were entitled to. Mr J. McKenzie, replying to Captain Russell, said that the Mii istry could carry on in the absence of Mr Seddon, but they consideied tt at it was only light and proper that the Premier should be present while the Parliament was in session. It had been reported that the question whether the Premier or he should go home had been dis cussed, but he could inform the House that he never had any intention of strutting round in borrowed plumes. As to the refer ence to the misdoings of the Government, he assured the leader of Ihe Opposition that when the proper time came, the Government were prepared to meet and refute any charge levelL d against them. He thought the colony should send Home a proper represen tation to the Queen's record leign. Mr Scobie McKenzie amid much laughter referred to the Premier's Danevirke speech, iv which lie had called upon the press and peop'e of New Zealand to treat the Govern ment iightly during his absence, therefore the Minis- er of Lands' remarks in reply to Captain Russell were not called for. He chi Singly contended that the Premier's speech indicated that the Government could not carry on without him. Hs would make a generous offer to the Government, and that was that the Opposition would lend one of their party to carry on the business of the country during Mr Seddon s absence. He did not want the position himself. A more generous offer had never been made by any Opposition. The first despatch containing an invitation from Home was dated January 17, and the House could have been called together much earlier, but, said Mr McKenzie, this would Dot suit the Premier, who wanted to give them only a four or five days' sitting. He quite agreed with the project to send the Piemier Home, but there was no necessity for a lengthened •• tay. The matters which had been mentioned as likely to be discussed at Home could be easily transacted by letter or by the Agent- General. When the ordinary Pa<Jiament met he had no doubt that a very stern account would be demanded of the Govern ment as to the finances and to their admini stration of the last year or two. Mr Gilfedder and Mr Taylor approved of the Premier's visit to England. 'I he latter said his opinion was that the reason the Op position wanted the Premier to visit England was that hie absence might brinp disaster to the Liberal party. Mr Taylor added that the proposal to send troops was no more or less than a burlesque. He thought that the Agent-General should have greater powers; in fact be an ambassador, and be empowered to deal with a number of questions auch as those which are now proposed the Premier should deal with in England He thought the Premier should only go on a holiday, aod that the ordinary session be called earlier than proposed. There were many matters, laud regulations, banking affaire, police reform, master and apprentice bill, eight hours bill etc., which required urgent attention and were to be held over until the Premier re turned. The Civil Service, too, was sadly in want of reorganisation. Servility and not merit he said had been recognised in the past. He opposed the Premier's connection with any mining company. Timber and mining rights were being handed over to private companies, and, said Mr Taylor, if those on his side of the House knew the a. b. c of demo cracy, such a ataue of things would uot exist much longer. Mr Hutchison briefly replied, and the motion was carried- JINANOK, Mr Seddon delivered the following memor andum showing approximately the position of the public account on March 31st 1897, laid on the table by the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, with the leave of the House: — The necessity for laying this memorandum on the table of the House arises, as hon members are aware, from the fact that it ■ was deemed advisable to hold a special ! meeting of Parliament for the purpose of enabling arrangements to be made for a fitting representation of the colony at the j celebration in honor of the sixtieth anni versary of Her Most Gracious Majesty's reign. To get the accounts audited and I passed is impracticable, for members will remember that, according to the existing law, the Treasury has thirty days allowed for preparation and printing of the abstiact of the revenue and expenditure of the year, and within this period the abstract has to be sent to the audit offices, who have a further period of fourteen days allowed for the examination and passing of the accounts. Hon members may think this is a long period to be allowed, when it is compared with I»he rapidity with whichthp publip obtain some what similar information of the' years result)) oi the Australian coloniea; but a little reflection will show that the cases are dissimilar, inasmuch as th.sy hp,yp jn eaph colony oajy one or j iW o oenfrds, and, more important still, the information supplied has nob been audited, while in our colony, with quite ten centres, we are obliged to wait until the accounts reach the Treasury from long distances, to be afterwards examined and passed by the audit oi^ce before they pan be finally included in thepublidacoounts of the oolony. With this explanation I will now proceed to give you a close approximate result of the past year's financial operai iops, which will be sufficiently accurate for all practical purposes^ The information which I kjiow you are all anxious to ascertain is as to the surplus, for there really ia «, surplus, and a handsome o»p, too. Well, I make this to b,e at least £340,000, arrived at thus ;— --.Receipts for the year ... £4,796,000 Expenditure of r,he year ... .£4,671,000 Excess of receipts over expenditure £125,000 Add ralance to to begin the year with, £215,000 Surplus at end oi yea* , #340,000 7 his ia an exceedingly satisfactory resulti lam sure you will be willing to allow ; arjd these figures would have been better efcilj

had ife not been for the necessity to charge three half-yearly pa> mentß of interest on the Advances to Settlers Loan of £1,500,000 during past year, so as to bii'-g accounts m ■me with the dates upon which interest is paid over to the Bank of Kngiaad in Lou lion. This extra half-year'u interest having to be met, has decreased the surplus by £22,500. The advances to settlers office is ihnnn well, for notwithstanding it h s to pay £67 500 within the year, it has only re quired an advance from th»- Consolidated Fund to the extent of £26,000 for this current, year, and heteafter of course only £45,000 per annum will require to be paid for interest on the £1,500,000 loan, and i here is a certainty that the office will soo: be able to prov.de tor each year's charge >nd to pay off the arreais of debt due ;o the Consolidated Fund. I do not propose to weary you with a mass of figures connected with ihe results of last year's Treasury work. I have already reminded you that such figures as I shall be able to place befoie you iiiUat not be considered final, but only approximate, and therefore I am sure you will excuse me if I confine myself to the main features of our receipts and expendi ture. As to the receipts for 1896-1897, the receipts for the financial year 1896-97 were estimated at £4,484,000, while ihe actual receipts, so far as I can at present leain, have reached £4,796,000. Customs revenue exceeded the estimate by £148,500, the railways by £8,600, stamps by £38,503, land and income tax by £17,500, territorial by £5,500, and the regaining heads of revenue and receipts by £16,000. These tell their own tale, and it is quite super fluous to observe that they evidence a sub stantial increase in the material properity of our colony. As to the expenditure of 1896-97, the approximate resuitß of revenue can be as certained with considerable degree of cer tainty, but it is more difficult to furnish an estimate of the actual expenditure. It !:as to be remembered that on the close of busi ness on 31st March last, over £230,000 of interest moneys were outstanding against ordinary revenue account of Consolidated Fund, This amount is reduced by the de partments dealing with the imprestee&' vouchers, and charging rates with re spective amounts ]ai>:, and also by cash repayments by imprestee of their re spective balances on the 31st ult. If, on the one hand, we estimate the ex penditure of impre.ts &X too Jarge a figure, we uudu'y reduce the surplus, while on the other hand, if our estimate is too little, the suiplus is proportionately in creased. The Treasury and the departments concerned, however, m ide very careful esti mates, and 1 am able to submit the results with every confidence, The figures, how 2ver, must rut be accepted as final, but the alterations are not likely to be large. I sstimate oixr permanent expenditure, includ ing interest and sicking iunds, subsidies, payments to local bodies of endowment noney, pensions, etc ,at £2,076,000. My jstimate for the year was £2,093,000 For mnual appropriation members were good ;nough to vote £2,458,000. Ido not antici pate, however, that the final expenditure (Vill reach more than £2,403,000 under the ;wo heads, therefore a saving of £35,000 nay be expected. Economy has been tigidly 3ractised by the departments; but members, [ am sure, do not expect large savings to he •ffected, as it would bear 'he appearance of laving asked the Committee for sums in ixcess of what was really required. To this ixpenditure there has aleo to be addei 3150,000, transferred to the Public Works ?und out of previous year's surplus, and also 826,000 advanced to the Advance to Settlers Office. Ido not propose on this occasion o lubmit what I call minor accounts connected with the Consolidated Fund, such as ac :ounts of local bodies, deposits, etc., but I iha.ll at once pass on to the more important tccounts, and take up the state of the Pub ic Works Fund. Part 1. of this fund commenced the year vith a balance of £31,150, and also received 3150,000 from the Consolidated Fund sur >lus of pievious year. Othbr miscellaneous •eceipta swelled the available balance to £196,413. During the year we were able to ■vise £750,000 of the £1,000,000 authorised inder the Aid to Public Works and Land •ettlement Act, 1896, and of this £374,000 vas credited to Part 1., making the total peeipts, including balance brought forward, 8571,413. The expenditure af.er the im jrests have been duly accounted for I sstimate at £420,654, leaving a balance of 3150,758. £250,000 has still to be raised aider the Act I have just mentioned, so here will be further funds available for this account to the amount of £125,000, which, vith the amount in hand and the usual as istance from the Consolidated Fund should >c amply sufficient for our requirements luring the current year. Part 11. had a wlar.ce of £13,900 to begin the year with, Expenditure will be charged so as to clear iff this balance. This account is now prac tically merged in Part 1., where further ippropriationß for the North Island main runk railway have been provided, The 1 Lands Improvement" and the " Native Purchase" accounts have also been ilaced in funds to the amount of £187,500 sach, through the raising of the three [Uarters of a million under the Aid to Public kVorks and Land Settlement Act, 1895, and vith the proceeds of debentures amounting ,o £52,000 raised under the Act of 1894, •he saiimated expenditure of the lands improve nent account is set down at £109,000, leav ng a balance of £134,500 to go on with. In he Native lands purchase account the ixpenditure is estimated at £127,000, leav ng a balance of £97,200 to provide or purchases during the current year. \.a I have before mentioned, there ia itiil a balance of a quarter of a mil ion to be raised under the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, L 896, and when the proceeds have been •eceived the Lands Improvement Account Hid the Native Lands Purchase Accounts >vill each be entiled to be credited with 662,500 of the £250,000 to be raised. With ;he?e sums available I am satisfied that the works in progress to improve and open up ihe roading of the country will be steadily 3ontinued, and further lands can be acquired from the Natives, and our engagements in this direction successfully carried out. Some large estates have been purchased under the Lauds for Settlement Act, 4.894, for which purpose £297,300 has been raised during the year ? and this amount, with some £20,000 derived from rents, has been sufficient to provide for an expenditure of £312,500, leaving a balance in hand of £6000. I shall presently deal very briefly with the opera tions within the public debt and conversion accounts, but at this point I thiuk it would be convenient to recapitulate some of the balances. The surplus of the Consolidated Fund amounted to £340,000, of which I hopß to be able to aid the Public Worka expend! ture to the amount of £200,000, leaving £140,009, Of th,is balance lot 11140,000 I tftink it' would be expedient set agide £50,000 for tha purpose* of assisting the requirements ot the Land Improvement and Native Lands Purchase Accounts, in case the available balances of these accounts should not prove sufficient for the expendi ture which it may be found necessary to incur, With this eufyft assist' anc«a it is quite certain, that I shall have plenty'of funds to ca,rry on the public works services of the country, and for th,e ftp yuisition of Native tyadg for the current i|n&».cUl year, The balance of the Public Works Fund was £150.000, proportion of balance of loan £125.000, aid from Con- Bolidated Fund £200,000; total available balance for current year, £475,000. The balance of the Lands Improvement Recount was £134,500, proportion of b.alance ot loan #62,5ui), aid from Consolidated Fund, say £25,000, total available balance for current year £222,000, The balance o^ the Native Lands Purchase Account was £97,000, pro portion of balance of loan £62,500, and from Consolidated Fund, say £25,000, total avail able balance for current year £184,500. These balances will sufficiently prove that our resources for the current year in respect of Qur Loan Accounts are ample and will cover a|l possible requirements. The operations within the Conversion Aocounta last year were small, and the table speaks for itself. I am able to place before you the usual table of the public debt. The gross total has increased by £1,315,838, and the net debt by £1,280,683. Of this sum, however, one million is absolutely represented by equivalent assets, and the interest thereon ia gaid back to the Treasury by those' who have obtairied the benefit; of the expendi ture. Of the million authorised by the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act s il89&, £?SOjOQO ba» been wiled, deposits

: amounting to £136,015 under the New Zealand Consols Act, 1894, have been re i ceived, £93,800 of debentures under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1896, h-tve beeu issued pm chases mder the Lajd for Settlements Act, 1895, have lequired (he issue of £297,300 of debeu tures, and for the purpose of opening roads and giving access to land £42,000 of deben tures uuder the funds Improvement »nd Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894, have been sold. £70,300 was ißaued as Sinking Fund debentures under the Conso lidated Stock Act, 1884, buoof this amount on :y £20,000 was issued against the accre tion ot Sinking Fund. Of the loans to local 1 odies, ere, £56,891 of stock was insciibeci ;it 3 to 3£ per cent, for purposes of conver sion and redemption vi other Government securities. On the other hand, we have paid off or ledeemed various parcels of de benture stook amounting to £87,068, and havi converted £53,400 of debentuiea into lower interest-bearing inscribed stock. Of course you will expect me to Bay something about the financial expectations during the time between the 31st March last past and the time when further supplies will be granted. In the first place, I .'hall ask you to extend the appropriation from three moiiths (as provided lor by the Public Revenues Act of last session) to twenty eight weeks, or, a*y, to the 14th of Octobtr next. The Public Revenues Act provides that no pay men s shall be made for any services than those tor which provision was made m the respective Appropriation Acts and Eatima es of the preceding year, or m excess of the scale therein set forth. You there fore tie me down m a narrower compass than would be the case if I were to ask you merely for Supply m:der Imprest Supply Bills. Some effect of this restrictive appropriation is to drain the £100,000 provided for unauthorised expenditure, and it happens frequently, so the Trea ury officials inform me, that the limit of £100,000 is practically exhausted by the time that P«r!iament usually meets, and Imprest Supply Bills are obtained. Under these circumstances I am going to ask you for a temporary increase for unauthorised expenditure ; so that the limit of £100,000 may be raised to £150,000 for services uot provided for between this and the 14th October next. You under stand thai all unauthorised expenditure incurred before the estimates are passed has to be included m the estimates and appro priations of the year, and of course the whole of the expenditure made under the extended appropriations. Last year's appropriations for consolidated fund ser vices amount to £2,438,000, one-half of which for services required to the 30th September next, will amount to £1,219,000. Add to this a moiety of the permanent charges £1,047,000, additional estimated expenditure for two weeks £175,000, making a total for the twenty-eight weeks of £2,441 00 required for expenditure. Our receipts during last year produced, as I have stated, approximately £4,796,000, but of this amount £377,500 for laud and income tax was received and will again be received during the second half of the year, so that this amount will not be available until after October The lu'l m mining business m the Auckland provincial district may affect the r^c- ipts from Customs and Stamps, and un happily the aocouut of the grain crops from the Canterbury and North Otago districts justify me m thinking that our railway revenue may also suffer, but let it be under stood that I am by no means deprecia' ing the probabilities of our income. But as I thoroughly believe m strong finance, I thmk it ia best to place the position can didly before you Our leaourcea may be stated thus :-Receipts for the past year £4,796,000, deduct land and income tax £377,500, and sinking fund debentures £70,300, £447,800, £4,348 200. A moiety of £4,348,200 is, say £2,174,000. To thia may be added the unappropriated ba'ance of the surplus £9.0,000, sinking fund debentures to be issued $73j000, additioi al estimated re ceipts for two weeks £167,000, making a total of estimated receipts £2,504,000, estimaed expenditure (as above) £2 441,000, leaving an excess of receipts £63,000. I have put thtse figures before you so as to show you that there ia no uncertainty as to the finances being amply sufficient to meet rfquireme/. Js until Parliament ia again m session. I must at the same time state that the first half of the year is very much the worst half so far a3 revenue is concerned. Ou the other hand, the expenditure ia scarcely likely to reach the figureß quoted. Members will notice (hat I have included a sum of £73,000 for sinking fund debentures, to be issued during the current year, but I am carefully considering whether the time has not arrived, as the finances of the colony appear to ba able to bear it, to dispense al together with the issue of debentures agah st the accretions of Sinking Fund derived from the loans to local bodies. Probably next session I shall ask you to have the law amended m that direction. I hope that m placing before the House thia memorandum and accompanying tables hon. members will recognise the difficulties there are m the way of giving the necessary in formatiou m a more complete form. I trust, however, that I have sufficiently demon strated that there is no cause whatever for anxiety m respect to the financial position of the colony. „, Wellington, April 8. GOVEBNMENT BUSINESS. The House met at ten o'clock. Sir Robert Stout raised a question of pri vilege respecting the suspension of the Standing Orders relating to the precedence of Government business oa Wednesday and Thu sdity, and complained that members of the Government had improperly altered the Order Paper, and^put their own motions before those of privata members whoas notices were tabled first.. 'I he Speaker said the Order Paper was prepared by the Clerk of the House, and the alterations were not such as to constitute a breach of privilege. The House adjourned for a quarter of an hour to allow the speaker to present the address to the Governor, [As we go to press a message reaches us that Mr Seddon's motion had been carried for a Committee to consider the best means of appropriately representing the colony at the Queen's celebrations, j

Ashburton Money Club.

Oa Tuesday evening a very satisfactory meetiDg was held m the Arcade Chambers, at which about thirty persons were present to form a Money Club, m Ashburton on the lines of the one ao successfully carried on m Sydonham for many years past. Some months ago the formation o£ a similar elvib here vtas advocated In th§ leading columns si tins £aper 4 liii't the excitement of the general election in'erveniiiff, followed by the holiday reason, the matter was lefb m abeyance. Thanks, however, to the energies of Mr John McKeague, who ia acting as I Secretary, steps were taken to put the thing m form, and the meeting was hold &3 above stated, Mr Joliffe was m. tfe© chains ia the abjsejgce '■of':Mf' L&wqe, and' Mr l/icKeagujß "e^iained the nature, benefits, linci working *of the proposed Cl\it). The shares were limited ta five, te one person, mi the paym§Rtiß w"""^ be Is per week per ~> nare with " 3d per i month for Working expenses. Loans would be given on personal security (subject to committee's approval) up to £20, bub some thing more tangible would be required for a larger loan, Ihe interest to be charged woQld ba ive per cent. A letter had been received from the secretary of the Sydenham Club to the effect that on Saturday evening he would be glad to give the new club's secretary full information as to the working of the system. It was decided that Mr McKeague should interview the Sydenham officers on the date named and report to a future meeting. About a hundred intending shareholders' names were received at the meeting.

THE ASHJ6CRTO& QdA^DlAh f AML S, 1891



CROCKERY - - - I - - - CROCKERY ENaMSLWA KE. ENA ME LW A BE. OKPACK4GBS rk^PACKAGES A O PACKAGES &k) PACKAGES Ex S. S. WAI MATE. FLETCHER BROS., HI" AYE just reo fved per s. s. Waimate, 25 Packages of Crockery and Enamel ware from , ~5£ l5 c °*' k® *>c"t- Pii"l""iv and on the Coatinent, winch our Ageuti bought »t the LOWEST POB3IBLK PRICES for Spofc Gas  thereby getting * krger discount for us than m usual. This being the o»Be we are deterniined to jrive our Customer* the benefit of this transaction m they will readily see by comparing the undermentioned Price with any others m the District. WE LEAD, FOLLOW WHO CAN. CROCKERY. CEOCKEKY. SO Bedroom Sets from 10s 6d per set of 6 pieces, Full size 100 Sets of Jugs, plain, printed and enameled, from 2s per set of three 50 Dozen Teapots from 6d each. 100 pressed Tumblers, 2s 6d per dozen I9J^ zm Covered Glass Jam Dishes, 6d each. 50 plain Tumbler*, 2s per drsswt 100 Dozen lib Glass Jam Jars, (Lips), 2s 6d per dozen. 50 Dozen 2ib Glass Jin Jars, 3s 6a per dozen tea Mason's Jars, Pints, Quarts, and half Gallon, equally cheap. 100 Dozen Cups and Saucers from 3s 9d per dozen 6 Gross White and Gold China Egg Cops, Is 4d per dozen Lovely Alarm Clocks, 5s lid each, splendid timekeepers 60 Dozen Pudding Bowls from 4d each, etc., etc. E NAMELWARE. ENAMELWAK E.-—* 25 Dozen Enameled Teapots, 2s 3J, 2s 9d, 3s 3d and 3t lid, (4 Colors 5 Dozen Enameled Kettles 2s lid, 3s 6d, 3s Hi ' * 6 Dozen Enameled Chambers, Is 9d, 2», 2s 6d, 3s 4d. 5 Dozen Enameled Ewers, 2s 3d, 2s 9d, 3s 34,3s 9d , 24 Dozen Enameled Basin?, Is 3d, Is 6d, Is 9d, 2s, 2s 3d, 2s 6d. 24 Dozen Enameled Pie Dishes, Is, Is 2d, Is 4d, Is 6d 20 Dozen Eaamled Dinuer Plates, 5a 6d and 6s 6d per dozen. 10 Dozen Enameled Soup Plates, 5s 6d and 6s 61 per dozen 8 Dozen Enameled Saucepans with Lids, from 1b 9d each. 50 Dozen Enameled Mugs from 6d each, or 5s 6d per dozen 5 Dozen Enameled Cups and Saucers, lOd and Is per Cup and Saucer Pudding Bowls 6d, 7d, and 9d each 6 Dozen Enameled Piying Pans, Is 2d, Is sd, Is 8d and Is lid each Fnameled Preserving Pans, 4s 6d, 5s 3d and 5b 9d each Candlesticks, 7d and lOd each. JAM SEASON. JAM SEASON. MAURITIUS SUGAR. MAURITIUS SUGAR. Anyone wishing their Jams and Jellies to keep should get their preserving Sugar from is, as we guarantee to sell only the finest Cane Sugar. PICKLING SEASON. PICKLING SEASON. The finest Vinegar m the Market at prices to suit everyone's pocket. We bay* also on land Pickling Spices of all kinds and of the best quality. PRODUCE EX STORE. Sharps 53 6d per bag. Bran 3s 6d per bap New Potatoes, splendid Sample 14lb Is, 7s per cwt Flour—Kollitt's Supreme at wholesale prices Oatmeal, (Timaru), Diamond Brand, lowest price m town Wheat meal for Btead and Porridge m Tib and 251 b bags To be Obtained from the OHEAPi-ST HOUSE m ASHBUUTON, FLETCHER BROS., CASH SUPPLY STORES, ASHBURTON ANE CHBISTCHUROB. Telephone 24—80 x 67. THIS SPACE EESEBVJfiD FOR M CDONALD & M°DIARMID.. SPECIAL NOTICE TO TIMEKEEPERS. TUST RECEIVED, direct from the Manufacturers; a few HALF-HOUR CHRONOGRAPHS. The Special advantages are— LEVER MOVEMENT. NON-MAGNETIC. ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE TO^FIFTHS OF A SECOND. The finest Watch of its kind and best value ever offered m the district. PRICE (with Guarantee)-^eS5 lOis. TO BE OBTAINED ONLY FROM S.SALEK, WATCHMAKER AND JEWELLER, .— EAST feTREET, AS-HSURTON. MELLOR'S ' ZEALANDIA' BOOT STORE. NEW LEATHERS. NEW LEATHERS. NEW LEATHERS, ■ ■' • 0 THE ONLY SHOP m Ashburton that is selling the Wonderful Crack proof Calf, beautiful m appearance, and m wear practically indestruct ible. Kangaroo Calf, soft as a glove, with all ihe wearing properties of Kangaroo. Kangaroo Kip Cow Hide, dressed on a new and improved principle, equal to the hardest wearing Kip, but as soft and comfortable as kid skin. All these new leathers I have made up m Ladies' and Gentlemen's Boots and Shoes. They are splendid goods, and well worth a trial. Keep up to date and ask for these new goods. Every pair is guaranteed. JAMES MELLOR* ZEALiKDIA BOOT SXytiE, A6JJJJURT&K.



| Business Notices ,' ■" "'' "'' " ' : : : : : : ' * H. M. JONH& H. M JONKB STATIONERY*" STATIONERY. ACCOUNT BOOKS. ACCOUNT BOOKS. ACCOUNT BOORS. F.vNCY GOODS. FANCY GOODS. FANCY GOODS. BOOKS. BOOKS. BOOKS. JUST OPENED UP. a Splendid Variety of PLAIN and FANCY STATIONERY from Makcus, Ward & Co. Liuear Repp Note, Repoliue, Autique, Panel, Floral, Pure Flax, Lhien, Bank and Velum Noiepapers, Cream Laid and 'I iuted. THE ASHBURTON BOX OF STATIONERY. Best Value Ever Offered to the Aahburton Public. i 10 f* A BOX New Shipment Just Opened Up. * & I)** BOX. Ledgers, Cash and Day Books, Journals, Counter and Memorandum Booka various sizes, Letter Books, Copying Requisite. Foolscap, Blotting and Drawing Papers, Pens, Purses, Wallets, Office and SCHOOL Rh'QUIsITEB. CKICKETING & LAWN TENNIS MATERIALS from Wieden and Oo.'«, London. Bat«, Ba Is, Stumps, Racquets, Etc. SCHOOL COMMITTEES LIBERALLY DEALT WITH. TOYS. TOY rt. TOYS. TOYS, A Large Variety of all sorts—-from ald Squeaker to a Steam Engine. Drums, Trumpets, Balls, Arks, Watches, Magic Lanterns, Skipping Ropes, Skittles, Balls, Cubes, Games, Dogs, Cats, Owls, Monkeys, Sheep, Beach Horses, Rocking Horses, Wheel barrows, Engines, Hobby Horses, Carts, Horses and Carts, Trains, Tea Sets; Wood, Wool, Rag, and Rubber Toys too numerous to particularise. DOLLS. * DOLLS. DOLLS U DOLLS. ALL SORTS AND SIZES FROM Id to 10s. Dolls that squeak and Dolla that won't. Dolls that break and Dolls that don't. Wood, Wool, Rag, Compo, Wax, and Rubber Dolls. FANCY GOODS. FANCY GOODS. Work Baskets, Ladies' Companions, Mirrors, Albums, Writing Cases, Writing Desk Work Boxes, Glove and Handkerchief Boxes, Shell Boxes, Brackets, Plaques, Hand Bags Piush and Leather Goods. Klectro-plated Wa» c* Fancy China and Glass Ware, Vases, Ornaments, cheap, pretty and useful. Flower Bulb and Specimen Vas«», 3d to 6d each. H. MrTONES. Friedlander tsros. <£ Bullock. "iOiTpRTVATE SALeT" ~SATURD^~APRILTor. QKf\ ACRE FARM AT WAKANUI, I " OOU — TO FARMERS, DEALERS, AND MR GEORGE COE'S farm not having OTHERS. been sold by auction, we are now __„ prepared to treat for the sale of same pfivately- Oft acres Oft , FRIEDLANDER BROS., LIMITED. o , , . , , 4 7 GOOD Suburban ijand close to Town, 1 L. .,. , oa the Wakanui Creek, j, Hanmer and Graves. R T< bullock has received instruc. ~ . T^ A-tJI tions from the Owner, t> Sell by WAN i hi D, Public Aucionat the Arcade on the above date : — Kffc T A M Q THAT Valuable Coruer Block containing O\J X \J ±.y O 28 acres 0 roods 20 pol> s, fronting Racecourse and Farm Roads auu OR MORE OF GOOD HEAVY Wakanui Creek, and opposite the Grange Homestead. There is a OATEN SBEAP CHAFF. %-& °> a r^Sj.** *"•' 47! HANM K ~ND GRAVE.. to ™S e -J-Jj OAS TOR OIL. =l»<etoTowo. a W,, , T~, - , v . If not sold as a whole will be divided. hi have Just Landed, ex Fazuka, a shipment of CASTOR OIL, and are — — m a position to supply Large and Small INSPECTION INVITED. Consumers. DUN OATS. EaBV Terms of Payment. """"■" Note time of Sale—ll.3o WE have a large line of these fit for seed and can supply orders for any T. BULLOCK, q"antifcy- 5 215 Auctioneer. AGBIOULTUKAL" BALT. A *"- — - fi .- Ynomait - WE have m store a large quantity of jpi~T » ~~« i" Agricultural Salt, for salting Stacks Uloarill2' Sal 6. or destroying Weeds, which we ofier at low ~ "DIP. __ DIP. ■ ™* WE ARE AGENTS FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1897. LITTLE'S DIPS IVf R DAYm THOMAB has received _LyJL iustructions from Wm. Stodoart, an .. . o , , Esq., to Sell by Public Auction, as above, and keep them m Stock. 0Q the Farmj Villowby, occupied by the ~~~" late Mr R, E. Stoddart, — W E rSvt^SS .t IEKS2 THE WHOLE OF THE LIVE AND Saleyards lately m the occupation of Mr DEAD STOCK THEREON, Brooke, and are prepared to dip sheep there nnr. B ;«t; f * at current rates. Littles Dip will be used. consisting or— KAA PRIME FREEZING TWO ______— — <JUU TOOTH CROSSBRKDS. 11" "*""" QAA FORWARD STORE TWO freehold Security. TOO TH CROSSBREDS. X DRAUGHT MARES & GELD ri T7! T7I T"\ fN INGS (as good as any m the h Tj Tj I )n district.) KJ-M^tJ^i*ShJ. -j B , aQk Gelding( b Camel . very /-^ -y-^ -j-^ yv £^ -L broken to saddle and harness S* hj IHj I JSk I Grey Gelding, broken to saddle __. J- at"i harness. Turnip Seeds, Ryecorn, Cape Barley, etc., YEARLING, bj Kbg^ride. XXiTLXI ±TXX!iXV <X «-> Fat Heifers, 10 Bacon Pigs, 4 Sows, 30 Store Pigs. 1^ ~D A T7"X?Q O FIRST-CLASS SHEEP DOGS. -i- r^r~~A —^i^^r^^^^r " „ " Maesoy-Harris Binder (new), English Grain T AM A CASH BUYER OF Drill, Massey-Harris Grnbl)£ and Seed -A- Sower combined, I>une>an Broadcast (new), Retd and. Gray Drill and Grass GOOD OAT SHEAF CHAFF Seed Row^r attached, Massey-Harris Grass Mower, 2 Farm Drays and Frames, Tip Dray and Frame, Turnover Horse Rake, McCormick Binder, Four-horae A Kp. T\ rPTXAM AQ Cambridge Roller, Four-leaf Harrows, 4 °° D. IIiMMAb. Donble-furraw Plough by Duncan (new), —, ; &win^ Plough, Avery'a Weighing Machine, New iSpring Oart aud Harness, PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT, Chain Harrows, Leading. Shafting and " " Piough Harness, New Riding Saddle, j[ Vyce, Stack Oat Sheaves, 100 Bushels v Wheit, 100 Bushels Seconds 1 1Q Acres Turnips. Large lot of Tools # Sundries IN THE ESTATE OF - numerous Id lne^up.isiojaeer. would strongly recoramec d a.tt@nda.nce at this Sale, as everything o^ the T V ATJ-nRPWRQ £ ann,h°! & P'T'^ d"eti PtJSh, and must Li. Jb. AJN 1) JfV Jpj W Jpi to* be sold to wind W p the , w .^, - Sale at 1 p.m. i , ,-, , Luncheon provided. mHE successful Tendons beg to announce _JL X that the P- op D> THOMASf 4 69 Ashburton. WILL BE CLOSED TILL — — — — CLEARING SaLh*. SATURDAY, the lOtli inst., SATURDAY, APRIL 10,1897 when the entire Stock will be offered to —~- the Public. RIOr IO BLACKSMITHS, WHEELWRIGHTS, „., . .„ ..„.. f _, ' FARMERS, AND OTHERS. Ihe sale will only last for 20 days. The jL^-^ivu. whole stock T HAVE received instructions from Mi X J- R" Steel, who, having disposed of MUST BE SOLD. his Business to his two Sons, to Sell by Public Auction at his Yards, on the above Premises are to be vacated by the end of date, the month. A la rgE ASSORTMENT OF SUNDRIES Instructions are : Every line MUST be m connection with the Trade, viz. Pair of Bellows, Vyce, Sledges, Tongs, Notice to Merchants, Road Boards, Tyre, bed, Shoe-turning Machine, County Councils, Clubs, School Committees Quantity of Goachbuilders' Ironmon- Libraries, Storekeepers, Hawkers-Bo not g6l"^ Nu. *ou * t6B' SK ok, c8 > miss thia opportunity. The entire Stock !*«„« Wh »WCM|'• J'°" must bpsold m days.J eaPPr? r ,W . V-3 IWindimilß'lWindimilß' 5 Buggies, Brake, tjigs, Dray, DrilliDß _ „ Machine, 1 Screw Cutting Lathe 94 Fuller particulars m future issues. m. Centres, 14ffc. Bed, 1 doz. Com bine Felloes, Office Furniture, and a H,N. ANDERSON, Wantixv_of s ONDWES . Sale 11 o'clock. 4 58 MANAGER »^s> ihwiah. «» Auctioneer,



T. Bullock. ON ACCOUNT OF THE MORTGAGEE. FOR Sale, Lot 13, containing 1 acre, fronting the continuation of Cox Street West. -£<* A /A PRICE Required. Terms can be ot?4fcU' arranged if necessary. Healthy locality. T. BULLOCK, Agent. WANTED Known—For good boob wear try Mjji&oh^ 2Jeal»n<li» Boot) S^ore.