POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close as follows: —

For Christchurch and North at 10.20 a.m. 4 p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10.20 a.m naily. For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m and 4 p.m daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.20 a.m, daily. For Temuka. Timaru, and South at x 0.20 a.m and 3 p.m daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.m. daily. For Wakanui and Seafiehl, on Mondays and Thursdays, 7.30 p.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

NOTICE

Mails close at the Chief Post Office for the iollowing places (subject to the necessary alte rations) as under :

The next mail foi the United Kingdom via San Francisco will be closed at Christchurch on Friday, Sept. 12, and will be due in London on Oct. 28. The next mails for the United Kingdom, via Brindisi and Southampton (for specially ad dressed letters only) will be closed at Christ church on Sept. 24. The mail via Brindisi will be due in London on November 17th, and the mail via Southampton on November 24th.

A travelling Post Office having been estab ished on the Southern line of railway, letters bearing a late fee of 2d. may be posted at any station in the mail carriage attached to the express train, and they will be included in the mails made up in transit for offices on the main line and branches. Sydney J. Dick, Chief Postmaster.

NEW POSTAL REGULATION.

Letters posted within the colony haying the names and addresses of the senders printed on the address side of the envelopes, accompanied by a request that the letters be returned if not claimed within a stated period, will be return ed unopened. Provided, however, such letters shall have remained in the post office to which they may be addressed, at least ten days.

UNCLAIMED LETTERS.

On the first daj of each month a list is ex hibited at each Pc .’t Office in the Colony of the addresses of all letters received from places be yond the Colony that have remaind unclaimed for one month at such Post Office; and such of these letters as remain unclaimed at the end of a further period of two months are then for warded to the Dead Letter Office, to be return ed unopened to the countries where they origi nated. Unclaimed letters originating in the Colony are not advertised, but at the end of two months are forwarded to the Dead Lettei Office, Wellington, there to be opened and re turned to the writers.

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST.

BIRTH.

011 August 30, at Ashburton, the wife of Mr. J. Robertson, of a daughter.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser With which is incorporated the "Evening Echo"). TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1879.

Held Over. —A correspondent’s letter and other interesting matter is crowded out.

The Licensing Court. —The Clerk of the Licensing Court notifies in our adver tising columns that the meeting of the above Court called for Thursday next is adjourned until Saturday, the 6th inst.

Coleridge Election. Mr. E. G. Wright addressed the electors of Waterton district in the Longbeach schoolhouse last night. Mr. Thomas Taylor- was in the chair and introduced the candidate. Mr. Wright mentioned that he was rather late in coming before them, but he could assure them it was not because he thought the district an unimportant one, but be cause of the number of previous engage ments. His remarks which were, for the most part, but a repetition of what has appeared in print before, were listened .to by a quiet and attentive audience. At its conclusion only three unimportant ques tions were asked, when it was moved by Mr. Dawson, seconded by Mr. Moore, and carried unanimously, “ That Mr. Wright is a fit and proper person to represent Coleridge in Parliament.” Encouraging to Farmers. —-The highest price realised in the Home market was for a shipment sold on accouut of Messrs. Friedlander Bros. The prices obtained were from from 48s to 50s 6d per quarter. The higher figure was for a parcel grown near Dromore. This is an important fact, as it shows that although the yield was limited last year, our plains can turn out a very superior quality. Tho Home markets have a very encouraging look at present for colonial farmers.

The Borough By-Laws. —The new by-laws, which have been considerably altered and extended are now in bands of the printers, and will be published again in the Herald shortly. Entire.— Mr. John Carter’s draught entire, from Scotland, which arrived about a month ago, was paraded in town to-day. He is certainly a noble-looking animal, and no doubt his services will be in good request. His pedigree will appear in due course.

Liquor and Tobacco. —The statistics of Colonial customs revenue show that wine, beer, spirits and tobacco produced during 1878 as much revenue as all the other duty-paying articles put together. It lias been computed that the duty on drink alone amounted to 225. per head of the population, which is equal to a poll tax of about £4 10s. 011 every grown-up man in New Zealand. Taking into consi deration the first cost of the liquor con sumed, with a half-a-million sterling of duty added, the yearly grog bill of the colony is assuming alarming proportions. Customs statistics go to show also that, notwithstanding the depression prevailing during the past twelve months, there has been a considerable increase in tho quan tity of strong drink imported into the colony. We hear a great deal about the tyranny of capital over labour—of the wealthy over the poor working man—but very little about the self-imposed tyranny and taxation-to which too many working men, with a gladsome heart, voluntarily submit themselves. Thomas Carlyle, in his own quaint fashion, shows the British workman who is his taskmaster, and the passage is characteristic of the Chelsea philosopher : —“ No man oppresses thee, O free and independent franchiser ! But does not this stupid pewter pot oppress thee 1 No son of Adam can bid thee come or go, but this absurd pot of heavy wet can and does ! Thou art the thrall, not of Cedric the Saxon, but of thy own brutal appetites and this accursed dish of liquor. And thou pratest of thy ‘ liberty/ thou entire blockhead !”

Smokers. —The danger of putting lighted pipes into the pocket was illustrated by a son of Mr. Hines, of the Grudgery Hotel, N.S.W., the other day. The young fellow drove into Forbes township with about £SO in bank-notes in his pocket. He put his lighted pipe in the same receptacle, and when he got to town found the bank notes represented by a heap of ashes rest ing in the lining of his coat.

Holloway’s Ointment and Pills. Multitudes suffering under a complication of disorders might obtain relief through these healing and purifying remedies, which should be employed without a day’s delay. When the weather is variaule and colds and influenzas are prevalent, this Ointment, well rubbed upon the throat and chest, gives the greatest ease, and checks all tendency to inflamation in the lungs and other organs. dhe Pills assist the curative action of the Ointment, inasmuch as they purify the blood and so quicken its circu lation that congestion is rendered almost im possible. Holloway’s treatment deals most successfully, 100, with that very troublesome and often tedious aliment, indigestion, which is the bane ol thousands from overwork and fast living in the present day. —Advt,

COLERIDGE ELECTION.

Mr. Hart at the Town Hall.

A crowded meeting was held in the Town Hall last night, and Tlios. Bullock, Esq., Mayor of Ashburton, was voted to the chair. He alluded to the disgraceful scenes which had taken place at political meetings at Timaru and Christchurch, and hoped for the credit of Ashburton that such scenes would not occur here. He then introduced Mr. Hart to the meeting.

Mr. Hart, who was received with ap plause, said he wished to make one or two explanations before giving his views on the political questions of the day. First, he had to apologise for not appearing be fore this as a candidate, and as there had been some misconception as to the dates he had not been able to meet them before. Another explanation ho wished to make clear was, that he had been accused of trying to work this election on the cheap ; far from this, he had proposed at first to Mr. Wright that their meetings should be held alternately ; Mr. Wright did not agree to this, but as lie had attended his (Mr. Hart’s) meeting at Hororata, lie con sidered they were square on that point. He thought that all the speeches which had been made since the dissolution showed that the vote of want of confidence was justified, only question now before the electors, was the choice of a candidate. As the nomination took place place to-morrow, and the election a fort night later, now was the time for them to decide who was the best man to represent them. The most important matter likely to come before them was that additional representation should be given to the Coleridge district ; tho district was so large and. the interests so various that a division was absolutely necessary. He had lately visited the northern portion of the district which was a few years ago a wilderness, and was now thickly populated. When he was first elected the Bealey was the oniy polling place. At the next elec tion the nomination took place at Rakaia, and there were five polling booths. Now the nominations was to he held still farther South, and had reached Ashburton, and there were twelve polling places. (Cheers.) This shows that the district is altogether too extensive to be represented by one member. The Nelson members were attempting to oppose the question of redistribution of seats, because if it takes effect there will be a reduction of three members in that province. The proportion of members representing the two islands should be fifty-three in this island whereas at present it was only thirty-five. He did not think that popu lation should be the basis of representa tion, as Canterbury and Otago paid five sixths of the taxation of the colony. It may happen that this question of redistri bution of seats will not take effect this session, but as it was nearly a certainty that the Triennial Bill will take effect next session, then a new election must take place. (Cheers.) Triennial parlia ments in themselves were of very little effect. Owing to the rapid progress of the colony, a period of three years in the colony was equal to five years in the old country. He was however of opinion that members should return after each session and report to their constituents more fre quently. (Hear, hear.) The electoral laws were very much in want of revision, the lodger franchise as an instance. He considered that any person entitled to register should be enabled to do so at any period of the year. He had been informed that in place of 1295 electors being on the Coleridge roll that there should be from 3500 to 4000. (Cheers.) And he believed there were few men in the County but were entitled by some qualification to be registered electors. On the question of. borrowing, he was of opinion that tho taxation should be so levied as to bear on all classes in the proportion they coidd bear it ; that if directed against one class alone it would have the effect of driving capital away from the country, and conse quently limit the profitable employment of labour. The idea of lowering tho duties on tea and sugar was a great mis take, as the £IOO,OOO lost to the revenue by this would liave paid a similar amount due to the Canterbury Road Boards ; and moreover the best way of taxing the Maoris was by indirect duties of this description. [At this stage Mr. Tyson Hodgson who appeared to have dined on stimulants, created great uproar by shout ing “ Hiroke,” and gesticulating for some time, amid cries of “ turn him out,” &c.] The native question was a grave one, but it was a good sign that the Maoris had agreed to have their land disputes settled in a legal manner and in accordance with the customs of English Courts and with out bloodshed. He felt great sympathy with those settlers who had been inter fered with in endeavouring to make homes for themselves in the disturbed districts. The recent disturbance at the Thames had nothing to do with political questions. (More interruption—“Hiroke” and “ Te Whiti. ”) It would be a serious matter for the colony if they became involved in a native war, as it would have a bad effect in the floating of a loan in England. He considered that if any native had com mitted murder or any other outrage, he should be given up to justice. (Cheers.) He had been accused of being a “slow coach,” Far from that indeed, he had invested his money in all sorts of direc tions, mercantile and otherwise, and he had gained money in some and lost in others, and he could not see the point in the accusation when he had endeavored to foster and encourage every kind of industry. With respect to Sir George Grey’s speeches—[Tho interruption here became so great that the Mayor informed the audience that unless order was kept he would call in the assistance of the police to remove a drunken man in the body of the ball.] With reference to loans, he was in favor of borrowing money for reproductive works, and as the New Zealand Railways were now returning three per cent on their cost he considered the Government would be justified in borrowing money at five per cent when colony could realise three to four, but see ing that the North Island Railways only returned one and a half per cent, it was unfair to Canterbury to bo placed on the same footing, and unless railways could pay a fair interest it was wrong to construct them. Mr. Blair’s report on the West Coast railway showed that the cost of that work would be a millkn, lie thought that that amount would be better spent in con structing such lines as the Alford Forest and Mount Somers branches, so as to open up our own resources. He could not approve of Mr. Blair’s recommendation to spend £600,000 on the G-rcy mouth bar, as

it might all be swept away in one night. (Cheers.) On the question of immigra tion, he was in favor of it to this extent: It was well know r n that the depression in England was such as to cause the farmers there to turn their eyes to other countries, notably to our own colony, and the greatest encouragement should be given to that class of immigrants, and they should be brought out at shell times, and to such places, as were most suitable. He would not support any attempt to stop immigration, as the heavy debt on the colony required an increase in the popula tion to divide the taxation. (Interrup tion.) There were great inequalities in tho licensing laws in the different pro vinces, both as regards licensed victuallers and auctioneers, and it was necessary that the fees should be made uniform through out the colony. He agreed that a Local Option Bill w r as necessary, but it should be accompanied by a compensation clause. (Interruption, and the Chairman begged the meeting to have some respect for themselves.) Mr. Wright had no friend in the editor of the Ashburton Mail, as a short time since a paragraph appealed in that paper referring in no complimentary terms to Mr. Wright’s candidature, where the editor’s opinion of the other candi date u r as that he would sit on a rail, and vote any way. The Chairman then announced that Mr. Hart wias prepared) to answer questions. Mr. Y/illiamson asked if Mr. Hart would use liis influence to have a separate traffic bridge erected over the Ashburton, and also endeavor to obtain a refund of the £9,000 granted to the General Govern ment in aid of the construction of the pre sent railway bridge by the late Provincial Government.

During Mr. Hart’s reply, the Chairman warned Mr. Tyson Hodgson that he would, be removed. That individual how ever, used some very forcible language, and the scene in the body and back of the hall for some five minutes was anything but creditable.

Mr. Hart thought that the £9,000 due to the Ashburton district should be re paid, also a sum of £7OO which had been allowed quietly to subside. The question regarding the Court-house had been in quired into by him in Wellington and he could not have done more in the matter as he could not have taken any further action than he had done till later in the session, when the vote would have been considered in the estimates. His opinion was that a large vote should be granted for public buildings, instead of frittering the money away in a quantity of small offices. Mr G. Catos, amid uproar, was under stood to-ask a question about Chinese im migration.

Mr. Hart thought they should be regu lated by a poll tax; Mr. St. Hill, received with an ovation of hisses, cock crowing and howls, handed up a written question. Mr. Hart thought the Government banking account was one of grave re sponsibility, and believed the Government were the best judges of liew to deal with it. Mr. Sando tried to ask a question but was hissed down.

In reply to Mr. Bradley—The question of honorarium had been a custom from the initiation of the constitution and he could not exTect any change. To G. Cates —He would be proud to see the day when rails and rolling stock could be manufactured in the colony at a price to compete with the Home markets. To Mr. Bradley—Did not consider the working man was paid too high in the colony but that the working man in Eng land was not paid high enough.

To Mr. Mi unis—The distress here was caused by two successive bad harvests. We cannot contend againstjnature ; and public works should now be pushed ahead to provide work and still further develope the country. To Mr. Anstee —The question of reser ving waste lands for charitable institutions was now too late, as every acre worth buying was already taken up. All endow ment amongst the snowy mountains would be of little value. To Mr. St. Kill—the reason his name did not appear in “Hansard ” was, that the Opposition were constantly taunted by the Government with endeavouring to delay tho Loan Bill, and that they were delaying the business of the country. To an elector—Was not in favor of land being taxed unless shares, &c., were also taxed. He could not see the justice of taxing the farmer who had invested his money in land. Mr. Ivess asked whether a general property tax would not be sufficient with out other taxation. (Cries of “ Give Joey a pill,” cat calls.) Mr. Hart considered the rates on land excessively heavy, the rates levied on land should be spent on the land. Mr. Ivess —Would you tax a garden higher than a large landed estate ? Mr. Hart thought he had already said that the tax should be on acreage and not on value. (Cheers). Question— Why did you vote against the loan 1

Mr. Hart—No one voted against the loan, and wo were all impressed with the necessity of it. To Mr. T. Williams. —On the question of protection he thought moderate pro tective duties were necessary to foster certain industries, as for instance the Kaiapoi Woollen Factories. Query —Why should not locomotive engines be made here ? Why did drain pipes have to be imported from England ? Because there was 110 firm in the colony large enough to take the contract. To Mr. Andrews. With regard to man hood suffrage, he considered that every elector should be on the rate roll, or have some interest in the district ; he did not believe in every traveller or passer-by having a voice in tho government of the country.

To Mr. A. Orr.—Ashburton would be a more central site for the railway work shops than either Christchurch or Dune din, but it would be a question of where tho railways could be most conveniently served.

To Mr. Collins.—The system of educa tion now in force could not possibly be interferred with, nor for the country dis tricts could it be improved ; the necessity for country districts was a system of secular education. (Cheers.) To Mr. Williams.—iso far as his name only appearing twice on the division list, he had attended every sitting of the House, and paired to vote against the honorarium.

To Mr. Harris.—Did not think there was any land left worth taking up on the deferred payment system, except some of

the railway reserves. The system was deceptive, as it took all the money out of the pockets of small capitalists, and left them nothing to make improvements with.

To a question - Thought that every facility should be given to open up our local resources, and when opened the question of imported coal would cure itself. Re bankruptcy laws—They had been fre quently altered, and never seemed to suit, and the Government were now wait ing for the passing of a better law in Eng land, and there was no doubt that it would bo a difficult subject to deal with. . To Mr. Bradley—Was opposed to Sun day trains, and would support the measures which Sir George Grey had been talking about but not doing. Mr. Hugo Friedlander proposed, and Mr. John Carter secended, “ That this meeting begs to tender Mr. Hart a vote of thanks for his address.”

Mr. Ivess then addressed the meeting with his usual well-worn platitudes, and appeared to have his vanity highly grati fied by the manner in which the larrikin element at the back of the hall greeted his effusions with jeering and hissing, and concluded by moving the following amend ment, which, was seconded by Mr. W. A. Brown, “ That this meeting records a vote of thanks to Mr. Hart for his address, and having heard both of the candidates, is now of opinion that Mr. E. G. Wright is the more eligible candidate for the seat, and that the important interests of Cole ridge are more likely to receive attention at liis hands, he being a local resident.” On the motion and amendment being put, a scene ofjndcscribable confusion ensued, a large body of non-electors and boys holding up their hands, on both sides, so that the show of hands was no test of the meeting. The Chairman gave his decision hi favor of the amendment.

The Nomintions.

The nomination took place at noon to day, about 150 persons being present. Mr. G. L. Lee acted as Returning Officer, and stated the object of the meeting, and read the writ authorising the proceedings. Mr. John Grigg, who was received with cheers, proposed a gentleman who he said would bo well received. He proposed Mr. George Hart as a fit and proper person to represent the Coleridge constituency in the next Parliament. Those words were time-honoured words, and lie could, with the greatest confidence, rely upon Mr. Hart as a man of local and general knowledge, education and in tegrity, as being a ‘ ‘ fit and proper person. ” This election, more than any other, was one where character was more to be con sidered than at auy other. The late Go vernment were thrown out on the question of character by a large majority. A ci’y of liberty had been raised, but there was nothing in it; they were happy in having a candidate of Liberal views. He was not afraid of universal suffrage, but he would not have a fleeting population given the power of election. There was a great difference between the two. He had more confidence in Mr. Hart’s consistency, and he was much less likely to be carried away and join in hand with those who stand convicted of maladministration. Mr. Grigg referred to the disposition to give a special wire to a few papers ; it was neither free-trade nor justice. The Thames railway had been begun, the neighbourhood of Sir George Grey’s con stituency : had we then the slightest hope of justice at the hands of Sir George Grey. Another sad feature of the existing de moralisation, was the plot to have an elective Governor. This meant the cut ting asunder of all that is nearest and dearest to us, and make us Americans in stead of Englishmen, and would do away with the purity of the Supreme Court. Many people would prefer to be shot if •they only knew the tendency of Sir Geo. Grey’s intentions. As a matter of honor he considered that the electors were bound to return Mr. Hart at the head of the poll. What he did in the House was most im portant, and that was to stay the hands of those who tried to do wrong.

Mr. 0. P. Cox seconded the nomination. There was a strong claim for Mr. Hart, who came forward when no other candi date could he found, and the electors should now endorse his action by return ing him. They should show so much fair play. It was a mistake to have brought Mr. Wright forward, (hisses and interruption) but hoped that when a re distribution of seats took place Mr. Wright would also obtain a seat. Mr. Ivess said Mr. Grigg had made it appear that Sir George Grey had thrown a glamour over the people of this colony. He could trace the course of the Oppo sition to the squatting interests and the Bank of Hew Zealand, and the country had now woke uji to the iniquity, and would turn out the do-nothings and put men in who would work. There was a set of gentlemen before him who were trained-to applaud Mr. Grigg’s sentiments. They had awaked to-day to a new feature and the barrier wo'uld be knocked down and the scales would fall from their eyes. Mr. Wright had risen from the ranks and his experience of two years showed that he worked for the county alone. Mr. Hart was not fit to stand. Mr. Grigg was known to be in the interests of the squatters. Mr. Hart said he would not be in favor of imposing a tax on the squatters, but would tax the farmer and his improvements. Mr. Grigg must be totally ignorant when he stated that three papers had special privileges. Mr. Grigg nad no right to accuse the Government. If he was a candidate he would cut the ground from under Mr. Hart’s feet. He then proposed Mr. E. G. Wright as a fit and proper person to represent the con stituency of Coleridge.

Mr. David Wilson seconded the nomin ation.

Mr. Hart, on coming forward, was re ceived with cheers. The electors already knew his views, and he would remark that Mr. Wright’s proposer stood there in the position of a disappointed candidate. He did not think that under any circumstan ces Mr. Ivess could ever have obtained the seat for Coleridge. He failed to see why all the sin 3 of the Fox, Yogel, and Atkin son Governments should be borne by his shoulders, as his action had been to oust the Grey Ministry from office. The course of his life had been more in the direction of work than talk, and he had no wish to go to Wellington inflated with gas. The size of Coleridge precluded the possibility of a member living in all parts of it, and tbis would answer the question of loca, residence. Ho had already served iheml and claimed a right to their suffrages, at

the same time, ho would have preferred for an opponent a supporter of SirG. Grey. Mr. E. G. Wright was received with applause. He would remark that he had been so well received in all parts of Coleridge he had yet visited, that he had been so to speak lulled into a feeling of security as to his returnj at the same time he would caution his supporters not to undervalue his opponent. He had taken a prominent part in many public works and companies in Canterbury and could claim a success for all of them which was more than Mr. Hart could say, as some of his commercial ventures had been failures. An unwarrantable charge had been made by Mr. E. Saunders at Seafield, who had stated that he (Mr. Wright) had pledged himself not to stand for the election. This he indignantly denied. In reply to Mr. Megson he said he had tried to have a goods shed erected at Dromore but the Government refused. The Returning Officer called for a show of hands with the following result —

Mr. G. Hart, 27. Mr. E. G-. Wright, 42,

Mr. Hart demanded a poll, and a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer ter minated the proceedings.

MEETING OF ELECTORS AT SEA FIELD.

A meeting of electors was ,held at the schoolhouse, Seafield, on Saturday evening last. There were about thirty-five persons present, and Mr. H. W. Parsons occupied the chair.

The Chairman briefly explained that the meeting had been called by Mr. Buckley, he presumed with the object of affording the electors an opportunity of discussing the respective merits of the two candidates now seeking to represent the Coleridge district in the House of Repre sentatives. Personally, he was young in local politics, but considered the choice of a member to represent them in the Par liament of the country a matter of such vital importance, that he hoped gentlemen would come forward and freely express their views, and he was sure that a Sea iield audience would afford a patient and impartial hearing to the different speakers. Mr. Lambie rose to explain the origin of the meeting, saying that the idea of calling it had been suggested at a Road Board meeting, the members having noticed that similar action had been taken by residents in other parts of the constit uency. The details of arrangement had been left with Mr. Buckley, but he regretted to learn that that gentleman was prevented by other business from being amongst them. Mr. Jones noticed that members of both Mr. Hart’s and Mr. Wright’s committee were present, and suggested that one of these gentlemen on each side should, as far as possible expound the views of tlie candidate that he favored. Both were equal strangers to the majority of the electors, and before expressing any opinion they required some information. (Applause.) Mr. Buchanan, in response to a call, said that he was A ery proud to be present to take part in the evening’s proceedings, although ho was not himself an elector. After a brief essay on Grecian mythology and political economy, the speaker went on to point out the attributes of a desirable man to represent the district in Parlia ment, and concluded by saying that he considered Mr. E. G. Wright eminently superior to his opponent on this occasion. Mr. Edward Saunders said that he avou ld not, like his friend Mr. Buchanan, quote to them from the classics, they Avere altogether irrelevant to the matter in hand, but he Avould like to say a few plain Avo/cis to them in refeiencs to the candi dates now soliciting their suffrage. He wo ,dd readily admit that Mr. Wright had displayed very considerable judgment in the management of everything directly affecting his oavii interest, and, as a mem ber of several local bodies he had been useful and energetic ; but he could not discover sufficient merit in the new aspirant to justify the electors in allowing him to supplant their old member. Mr. Wright’s supporters Avere never tired of telling the electors that their friend Avas a local man and a farmer, and that Mr. Hart was an absentee and a run holder. As a matter of fact both Avere local men, any difference on this score being rather in M'\ Hart’s favor, as his landed interest was almost exclusively in this county ; and a long residence in the district had given him a wider and better knowledge of its requirements. Their respective ' occupations Avere \-ery similar, although probably Mr. Wright possessed more sheep of the two, but these matters Avere very undesirable class cries. Mr. Hart had been called a “ slow coach,” and Avith no knowledge of the private business Avhich Avas alleged to the cause, he (the speaker) Avould not attempt to excuse the somewhat tardy manner in which Mr. Hart had come before the electors, but he could assure them that as their member attention to their requirements Avas not the fault of either of the gentlemen liuw before them, but the speaker hoped that the Seafield electors Avould refrain from any expression of opinion until they had had an opportunity of meeting the candi dates and getting some definite pledge from them on important questions. (Applause). Mr. Buchanan apologised for troubling tlie meeting a second time, but simply rose to propose a resolution Avhich he hoped Avould meet with the favor of the meeting, A-iz. : — “ That Mr. E. G. Wright is a fit and proper person to represent Coleridge in the next blew Zealand par liament.”

This was seconded by Mr. Brick. Mr. Jones said he thought such a reso lution in favor of either candidate alto get her premature, and although the friends of Mr. Hart were in great force he was sure that they would content themselves with the amendment he now proposed— “ That no expression of opinion should be given until both candidates have ad dressed the Sealield electors/’ (Loud applause). Mr. Joseph Ivess had much pleasure in seconding the amendment, as he thought the claims of Mr. Wright might safely be left in that gentleman’s own hands. Both gentlemen were well known in the dis trict, but the speaker thought that the unanimous opinion of all intelligent elec tors must be strongly in favor of the younger and more energetic member. Mr. Hart was in every sense of the word a slow coach, and his brief parliamentary career was altogether unproductive of good to the district, and a dummy might as well be sent to the House. The accept ance of a paltry £SOO for a Court-house

for Ashburton, the voting of £2lO to him self for his three week’s sojourn in Wel lington, and the ousting of the Liberal Government, Avere works very character istic of the man now held up by Mr. Saunders as a good and Liberal represen tative. (Hisses). [Some remarks of this speaker, referring to several members of the Saunders family and other irrelevant matters, which AA'ere received with evident disapprobation by the meeting, Ave have expunged from our report]. Mr. Edward Saunders had no intention of replying to the last speaker. He had been amongst them some seven years, and; was confident that the mutual respect that existed between his Seafield friends and himself could not be disturbed by the heated remarks of a person of such well known antecedents. As the Asburton contingent of Mr. Hart’s supporters had been referred to, he would suggest that the residents only voted on the questions now before the meeting. He Avas a decided supporter of Mr. Hart, and Avas well aware that that gentleman Avould receive the support of nearly every elector in the room, but lie thought the amendment courteous to both candidates, and much preferable to the foolish pledges Ave had seen adopted at packed meetings in different portions of the constituency. On the amendment being put, about twenty-five hands were held up in its favor —two only for tlie original motion. With a vote of thanks to the Chairman, ■ f the meeting adjourned.

TELEGRAPHIC.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS.

(Special lo the Melbourne Age.)

Bond ox, Monday.

Tlieobau claims sovereignity over Kar ranee, a portion of British Burm’ah. Lord Lytton threatens war unless the claim is AAuthdrawn.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

THE NATIVE DISTURBANCES IN THE NORTH ISLAND. ! ff. Auckland, Tuesday. Rewi lias sent a number of men from Punui to watch the crossing place to the King country, in case native offenders retreat in that direction. He says if they come near his territory he will deliver them up to justice. The constabulary at Kihikihi, under Sub-Inspector Minnit, are on the alert. Grahamstown, Tuesday. At four o’clock this morning a large piece of ground n ear the Pialco Gold Min ing Company’s engine-house collapsed owing to insecure timbering in the upper levels of the mine, and carried away a -winding engine and tons of brickwork, gear and tranmay, which have entirely disappeared. The damage is estimated at several thousand pounds. It is feared that further subsidence Avill ensue. The Bank of New Zealand holds a mortgage on the property. Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan were the only candidates nominated to-day for the Thames, and Avere declared elected.

A HEROIC LAD

Tlie Neiv York “ Tribune” recently had the folloiving : —“ Lady Layard, the Avife of the British ambassador at Constan tinople, L a handsome Avoman, gifted Avith a large heart and great energy.: ; Her kindness to the suffering Turkish refugees lias won from them the most enthusiastic gratitude. And it is not in Turkey alone that her self-devotion is appreciated. While her husband Avas stationed in Madrid as British minister, Marshal Serrano, the cx-regent, pursued by the republicans on an accusation of conspiracy, sought refuge at the British legation. As this residence was considered unsafe for him, the Layards carried him in disguise to San tander. On arriving at the railway station the marshal gave his arm to Mrs. Layard, Avhile Mr. Layard Avalked behind with the bags, and in this manner they got safe into the train, through a crowd of excited republicans. At tlie principal stations on the road the “Reds” searched the carriages, but Mr. Layard stood at one door of their compartment and Mrs. Layard at the other, and prevented the men from entering, claiming the right of free passage as British representatives. At Santander a tug was engaged to take Serrano to Biarritz, and at the last moment two civil guards came up and demanded permission to search it; Mr. Layard stood in the gangivay and refused to admit them, saying that the strange passenger was a messenger being sent by the British minister. They desisted, the tug started, and Serrano Avas saved. For the part she had taken in the matter Mrs. Layard received tlie thanks of the British Government in a special the only instance on record of a lady being so honoured.”

Dangers of Postage Stamps. Dr. Hassall has discovered that a danger of disease, if not of death, lurks in postage stamps. Having submitted a number of penny stamps to analysis, he found in all of them lead in large quantities, derived doubtless from the red lead employed in the coloring of the stamps. Unhappily this coloring matter, whatever may be lift constituents, is very easily removed -srhett once the stamp is wetted, and it would therefore be possible for peocle to receive serious injury whenever a laige number of letters had to be stamped, unless a rpecial “damper” was employed for the nurpose. Dr. Hassal does not say whether other descriptions of English stamps are in a similar condition, but it may be so, for recent analysis lias establishe the fact that other wall papers besibes the bril liantly green are colored with rrsenic. Be that as it may, we are quite agree with Dr. Hassal that the Post Office authorities ought to discontinue the use of the present penny stamps with the least possible delay. • M

Tuesday, September 2, 1879,]

THE ASHBURTON HERALD



Butter, inferior to best $ lb s. 1 d. 2 to s. I d. 6 Eggs, 1? dozen I 3 to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, D? lb 0 8 to 0 xo Bacon, prime smoked, 1? lb 0 9' to 0 10 Hams m cloth, $ lb I 0 to 0 0 Flour in bags, bf? ioolb 14 6 to 0 0 Oatmeal, is 1 251b 6 0 to 0 0 Lard, lb - O 9 to 0 0



Clothing Establishment. ASSIGNMENT OF THE ESTATE of MESSES. AITKEN, PASOOE & CO., j CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS, TO Mb. J. H. Mobbison, Manager Mosgiel Woolen Factory, AND Mb. John Ross, Of Sargood, Sons & Ewmg > Trustees. rnHE above large Clothing Manufac | turing Firm having had to succumb to these hard times, and assign their sstate, we have been induced by the frustees to purchase the whole of their [ar"e Manufactured Stock at a Very Heavy Reduction, and have resolved to sell the same again in our Branches direct to the public at prices at which we could not legitimately sell our own Goods. In fact (without exaggeration) during ;he next few weeks we are in a position ;o offer NEW GOODS IN MEN’S AND BOYS’ ATTIRE, Of Colonial Manufacture, at from ONE THIRD TO . ONE HALF THEIR USUAL COST. HALLENSTEIN BROS., New Zealand Clothing Factory. The assigned Stock will be for Sale in our Ashburton Branch from and on SATURDAY NEXT, 28th JUNE. New Zealand Clothing Factory. 12a tanvelopes, notepaper, EN VELOPES, NOTEPAPER.— The cheapest ever offered in Ashburton, at tlie Hebald Office, Wholesale Stationery Dep6t, Saunders’ Buildings.



Special Notice. COLERIDGE ELECTION To the Electors. VOTE FOR Mr George Hart, The Old and Well-tried REPRESENTATIVE. 366 a