The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo") WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1879.

A recent decision by the DunediiT IL-M. is likely to attract some attention. do not know but that it is the first ca.se o.t the kind that has been disposed of in the Colony, and as such it is a very important one involving as it does the seats of a*- number of representatives at the Borough Council Boards of New Zealand. I The Municipal Corporations Act expressly provides that no Mayor nor Councillor i who has any pecuniary interest in “ any • ,contract or work done” for the council of which he is a member can hold his »aa/t at such Council; and further that ! he is liable to a fine of LSO for every ' offence under this clause. The case de nied by the E M. at Dunedin was one in y rliich the successful candidate in the M T ayoral election was accused of being in ter vated in a contract held from the City Cou 'neil at the time of his election, and in accordance w ith the provisions of clauses 97 an. i 98 of the Municipal Corporations Act tihe Magistrate had no choice, the evidence of connection with the contract being forthcoming, but to oust Mr. H. S. Fish i'ram oflice. We give the clauses 97. Upon jprima facie proof by affidavit or otherwise v * that' the Mayor or any Councillor or Auditor is or has become in capable under the provisions of this Act of holding his offioie, the Resident Magis trate’s Court, in o.r nearest to the borough mav grant a sumndons, calling upon the persons holding suc.h office to show cause why he should not be adjudged to be ousted of the same. ■...... 98. If uptfn the return of such summons it appeal's 't/s ‘the Court upon affidavit 01 oral evidence upon oath,, that such per son is incapable under fahe provisions of this Act of holding the aaid ofiice the Court, may adjudge sucli person to be ousted of the same, and such person shall be ousted of such office accordingly. It does seem hard that a holding the confidence of the ratepayers, and securing the highest honor in the gift of his town, should have to yield up that honor to his rival simply because he i happened to be a participator in the profits accruing upon a contract held from the City Council. But then it so happens , .that the municipal corporations of the colony have at their disposal a large number of valuable contracts, and were the law not as stringent as it is, the way would be open to unheard-of abuse. Human nature is human nature all the world over, and there are men living in plenty who would have no hesitation in aiming at a seat on a well-to-do Council for 110 other purpose than that of securing, by the influence they might be able to exercise and the knowledge they might possess in virtue of their position, , such fat contracts as may be going. The law is very explicit, and very comprehen j B 've, and if any councillor comes to grief | mader it he has himself to blame. It de j taiifis who are incapable of holding the offiee of councillor, and from sub-section ! 4, ,of (clause 61, which we quote below it ! will he seen that the line is not drawn at a “contract” as the term i 3 generally understood, but extends to any work done i for the .Council. Thus read, no Councilloi \ nor Mayor of a borough could do a single iota of work for the Corporation, and re- I (naive payment for that work, without for fesfciiig his seat at the table and rendering fnaiuself liable to a fine of £6O, recoverablem tl'aw (nearest R.M.. Court, and at the suit of aißVitatepaver. .. , . (,&. The foliowing persons shall be ln | capulile of being, or of being elected to be 1 Couuuiillors, that is to say (I (l.'ft A bankrupt or insolvent wiio nas if not obtained his final order of discharge.

(2.) Any person attainted of treason, or convicted of felony, perjury, or of any i infamous crime. j (3.) Any person of unsound mind. (4.) Any person holding any office or , place of profit under, or in the gift of, the _ Council, or being concerned or paiaacipa- . ting (other than as a shareholder in a com- ! pany or partnership of more than twenty persons) in any contract with, or worn , TO BE PONE FOR THE COUNCIL. ' . I 62. (Requires the customary declara tion of fidelity and impartiality to be signed). 63. If anj r person does any act as a Councillor, being incapacitated as herein provided, except for unsoundness of mind, or before he has signed the declaration aforesaid, he shall be liable to a penalty of fifty pounds for every such offence, which may be recovered by any pei’son with costs of suit in any court of competent juris diction. But any such act done by a per son so incapacitated before the recovery of the penalty'' shall be as valid as though he had ;not been under any such incapa city. - -The works a municipal body wants done are of a kind calcinated to exclude all builders, road contractors, printers, news paper proprietors, and even lawyers, who may hold seats at the Council table, from having the Council as customers in their business. It does seem hard that men willing to give their time and ability to the. service of the community in which tliej r live should be prevented from honestly and deservedly sharing in the ordinary way of bona fide trade in any public work that may be put up to public tender or otherwise offered by the body of which they are members; but then again, the law was passed with a view to purify the Councils of the colony from any possibility of jobbery, and when a man contests the position of a Borough Councillor, lie does so in the full know ledge that as soon as he signs the statutory declaration he is required to make, he surrenders all chance of doing any work whatever for the Borough for payment, no matter how trifling that work may be, and subjects himself to the penalty pointed out in the clauses we have quoted. _

There will he no issue of the Herald 7V on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The Rivers. —Owing to the flooded state of the river, three waggons have been “stuck up ”at Digby’s Ford. One with wool, from Buccleuch Station, belongs to Mr. Hay T. Smith, the bottom teer of wool being in the water ; another is Mr. Corsbia’s, of Alford Station ; and the third is Mr. J. Spencer's. Mr. Cors bies’ waggon is wool-laden, and Mr. Spencer’s is loaded with timber. Two days incessant rain in the lulls no doubt caused the Hood, not only in the Ashbur ton, but also in the Rakaia and Rangitata. County Council Offices. — An adver tisement in another column announces that the County Council’s offices in Baring Square, will be the Council s official domicile after the 22 nd inst.

in Railway Expenditure.— We understand it is the intention of the Railway Department to economise its expenditure. At present there are four waymen on each six-mile length of the permanent way. These sections are now to be extended to seven miles, thus doing away with about 20 per cent of the labor •employed. This,is the sort of economy •1 which is usually the outcome of Parlia mentary debates. The highly paid officials are retained, even where there is a sur-olus of them, but the men who do the ready necessary work of keeping the line in working order are to have a larger share of work to do, and those considered superfluous are to look elsewhere for the means of livelihood.

The New Zealand Musical Magazine. —We have received from Messrs G. R. West and Co. copies of 00. 2 ot their “New Zealand Musical Magazine, just issued by them. _ It contains 12 ot the most popular drawing-room pieces', waltzes, schottisch.es, and songs. The first piece is a charming valse de salon by Turner, en titled “The Fairy Wedding,” brilliant but not difficult. Next follows the uvU known scliottische “ The Mountain .Belle, by Kinkel. : after comes Strauss’ world renowned “ Blue Danube,’ by the charm ing strains of which every votary of Terpsichore has been delighted. Next fol lows the two well-known songs, “ Still thine own,” by Thomas, and Bishop’s “When green leaves come again. Me have also Lange’s beautiful melody Blu menlied,” with its characteristic modula tions ; Mallard’s “ Waiting,” and five other well-known Christy ballads making altogether one of the cheapest shilling’s worths, we suppose, ever published. _ The work reflects credit on all engaged in its production. The Change of Tariff. —The Wel lington correspondent of the Auckland “Star” writes-.—Upon enquiry it is stated to be quite erroneous that large sums were made by clearances in anticipation of the tariff changes. The only firm here which did well on its clearance was that of Turnbull and Co., and they are not in any way connected with politics or poli ticians. That firm alone cleared fully half the tobacco taken out of bond. They also took out their.oilmen’s stores. They acted partly on their own judgment and partly on that of a commercial friend, who said the duty on tobacco would certainly be raised sixpence. The firms who came oil worst were Johnston’s and Levin s, each of which fog* a representative in the House and are Government supporters, having cleared out tlie day before the change an unusually large amount of sugar, but ie markably little of those Articles on which the duty is increased. Johnston s firm wae much about the same. Neither firm made anything out of tariff Changes, but rather the reverse.

Zulu Beauties. —We were talking (says a writer in the “ Court Journal ) the other day to a friend of ours who re sided for some time at Natal. He tcLs us that the Zulu men are good-natured, cheerful beings, and that; the Zulu girls are excessively pretty, most decorous in their behaviour, but addicted to flirt and joke. If you wish to marry them you have to pay the father about 1.(40, Should you desert your wife her relations assegai you, but if she misbehaves herself, the re lations, as part of the bargain, kill her. The girls go about in bands : when they see a'vonng Zulu warrior they surround him, and make him tell them which of them he thinks the most beautiful.

The Demagogue. —Democratic, legisla tion may be admirable ; the very free and independent tone of criticism adopted by

popular candidates on the hustings when they “ go for ” the bloated squattocracy, express a holy horror cf a large estate, and depict a ..indovvner who holds two or three thousand acres of rough mountain land as a robber of the people s land, may be in part sincere and is cert.'on amusing ; bm all this kind of stump eii-auencs is d . ..Hinted by tec more in

te/ligent part of the public, 1 they smile and say. “That’s only a Title soft sawder for the poor working men.” The latter are, as a rule, quit; able to assess such language at its true value. —“N.Z. Times.” A Delicate Scavenger. —The “ N. Z. Times ” says :—“ The latest from Sleepy Hollow ! Last week a gentleman from Wellington paid a visit to Nelson, and— will it be believed?—he informs us that he found one of the Corporation laborers sweeping the streets in carpet slippers !” ' 1 A New Afplication.—A correspondent of a scientific contemporary claims to have discovered a new application for magnetic electricity, by which the mind of a patient has acquired the power of apparently re leasing itself of the trammels of matter, and of transporting itself to places distant from the body, which remains in a condi tion of repose, resembling the effect pro duced by anaesthetics. Whilst under this electric influence (the manner of which is not disclosed) the mind can be directed to any spot or scene, and is susceptible of the same impressions, and conditions as would be experienced in the person and patient himself. Scenes thus visited- and im pressions thus received are not only quite accurate, but the patient whom released from the electric influence, is said to retain a perfect remembrance of information so icquired. ~A Poem by Richard Cieur, de Lion.— \.t the recent meeting of the Society of German Philogists and Schoolmasters held in Treves, it was announced that among the manuscripts in the municipal library of that city a fragment of an old French poem had been discovered. It had been prepared for the Press and annotated by Her Kauffer, teacher in the Real-schule. This interesting fragment consists of seventy-eight verses. The editor, who describes it as part of a poem on St. Nonna and her son, St. Devy, attributes the work to Richard 1., or Coeur de Lion, of England. A Centenary. —Arrangements are being made for celebrating the centenary of the late Rev. Dr. Chalmers, which occurs in March next, in Edinburgh. Various sug gestions as to the shape which the celebra tion should take have been made, such as the erection of a memorial church, the founding of Chalmers bursaries and some charitable institution. The movement promises to be a most successful one.

FI.M.S. Pinafore in Court.— During the hearing of the celebrated grog case on Dec. 11, considerable amusement was caused by Mr. Fitzherbert asking if spirits were never watered before being sent out. On receiving the answer “ never,” he looked up and remarked, “ What, never,” and the answer was given with increased emphasis, “ No, never.” The temptation was too great, and pat came the “ What, never,” "and the answer “ Well, hardly ever,” amid the prolonged laughter of those in Court, in which the Bench heartily joined.—Wanganui Chronicle.”

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE

TODAY’S CABLEGRAMS,

(Age Special.) London, Dec. 23.

Latest news from Afghanistan states that General Stewart has been dispatched with a strong force to Candahar for the purpose of relieving General Roberts.. The Empress of Russia is seriously ill with pleurisy. It is feared it will end fatally. Edison is reported to have overcome his difficulties in connection with the general use of electric light, and a heavy fall in gas shares has attended the circu lation of the report.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

Hew Plymouth, Dec. 24. In HiU’s case, for indecent assault, the second jury were locked up all night, and this morning were discharged, without finding a verdict. The Judge then ordered that the prisoner should be again indicted for the same charge at the next Criminal Sittings of the District. Court on the 22nd January next. The opinion of many is that no jury will be found to agree, and that the case should be removed to another district. Wellington-, Dee. 24.

At the Magistrates Court, P. K. Watty, for an alleged perjury in a declaration made before the Deputy-Commissioner of Stamps, wa» dismissed. Another charge of the same nature arising out of the case is now being heard. The annual meeting of the Wellington Building Society was held last night. The report and balance-sheet showed a satis factory result. An inquest as to the circumstances of the death of young Robertson is now pro ceeding. Dunedin, Dec. 24.

A large public meeting of the sympathi sers with Mr. Fish was held last evening, when resolutions expressing sympathy with Mr. Fish, and disapproval of Ml*. Walters’ conduct, were passed A peti tion. was numerously signed, calling on the Mayor to resign. For Mr. Fish’s ospswses subscription lists were opened, and dona tions from 10 guineas to five shillings eacn were freely given. Mr. H. Driver, M.H.R., moved one of the resolutions.

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

LA«f NI^TTSCABLSGPuAMS.

(Reuter's) London, Dee. 20. Arrived —Loch Dee. Paris, Dec. 21. The Ministry have resigned, and Monsieur Freycinot is forming a new Ministry. Calcutta , Dec. 22. General Gough was continuing to ad vance yesterday. The GhiJzais harassing; his troops, he attacked and detected them, driving them from the heights. P.righv reports that a, general advance of reju forccme its Ac., reaches Gandamak shortly, and will then co-operate with General Gough,

AUSTRALIAN

{Reuter's. 1 Sydney, Deo. 23. The Executive will consider the bush rangers’ cases to-day. .v, rived —City of Sydney.

( Special.) Sydney, Dec. 20. '’ he Sunday school teacher charged with violent assault on a pupil was acquitted. Pastor Ohiniquy shortly proceeds to New Zealand. He __ states that lie has netted L 4,790 during Iris Australian tour.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, Dec. 23. The City Council Works Committee, after considering the petition received from the unemployed, ha 3 recommended the Mayor to urge on• Government the ne cessity for immediately starting work on the Newmarket contract and Dempsey’s re clamation.

Mr. G. E. Alderton, of the “Northern Advocate,” leaves for England to bring out 100 immigrants to settle on Captain Colbeck’s 25,000 are block in the North. Ai'chbishop. Stein, the new Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, obtained a public reception at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to-night, it was crowded to excess. Ad dresses were presented to him from the clergy, laity, the '.Christian Bodtrine So ciety, and Hibernian Benefit Society. He s'poke in reply at some length. He hoped to have the co-operation of the clergy and laity in his work, and tliat the latter would guard the faith they had received, and hand it down to their children. As to the education question it was difficult to say much about it, and he would refrain from speaking on the subject at present. The nigger troupe of H.M. S. Cor morant gave a very successful entertain at the Lome Street Hall in aid of the widow and children of the late James Boyle, who wa3 killed at Fort Britomart. Stephen Horne has been committed for trial for stabbing his wife ; also, for felonious assault on a man named Ray mond, who endeavoured to protect tho woman. Bail vims refused. Tho Harbour Board declined to make a grant to the Regatta Fund, on the ground that the expenditure was contrary to law. GpAhamstowk, Bee. 23.

The Alburnia mine is looking well. 'The Manager expects SOOOon. by the end of the month.

Steps are being taken to make prepara tions to receive the Minister of Public Works, who is expected to visit the Thames in January. New Plymouth, Dec. 23.

The case of James Hill, for indecent assauli, is still going on. All the wit nesses have been examined, and Dr. O’Carrol was called on behalf of the Crown, as a witness to give rebutting evidence. The Counsel for prisoner and Crown have addressed the jury, and the Judge summed up. The jury have retired to consider their verdict.

Wellington, Dec. 23.

Colonel Reader has been appointed Commissioner of the Armed Constabulary for the whole Colony. The schooner Jane Anderson, owned by Mr. Keith Ramsay, of Dunedin, went ashore on the Manawatu bar, while being towed out by, the s.s. IJuia, yesterday afternoon. She is very badly damaged, ■and likely to become a total wreck. The vessel is insured for LBSO, and the cargo for L 350 in the National. A fearful accident occurred on the tram way to-day to a young man named James Robertson, a cadet employed at the Tele graph Department, who was killed instan taneously. It appears that deceased was riding in the first carriage, and on attempting to get off he was thrown under the wheels. The body was fearfully mangled, one leg and one arm being broken, and portions of his chest, besides several parts of his head, being completely smashed. / Im mediately the accident was obf e-wed the tram car was stopped, and medical assist ance procured, but it was of no avail, life being extinct. Deceased was 19 ye irs of age, and universally respected. The accident has caused quite a gloom over the town. An inquest will he held. O amartj, Dec. 23.

Henry Fell, charged with forging the signature of Messrs. Wilson and • Go. (Dunedin) to three cheques, was committed fcr trial

Duxetust, Dec. 23.

In the Supreme Court to-day, Mr, M'Donald, Mr. Williamson’s attorney, ob tained injunctions against Messrs. D’Orsay Ogden, H. F. Towle, and H. M‘Lean of the Juvenile Troubadours’ Troupe, with costs, to restrain them from performing “H.M.S. Pinafore” in Hew Zealand. Proceedings are to be taken against other persons. At the City Council meeting to-dav, Councillor Webb moved —“That the Council-request the Mayor to resign his office, on the ground that he does not hold it by right of popular electior, as intended by the Legislature when framing the Municipal Corporations Act. As there was an objection to the suspension of standing orders, the motion could not bo put. It was eventually decided by a large majority that the Mayoral salary for the ensuing year should be LI. Councillor f'j.sh did not vote. There are great complaints among the men employed at Mullocky Gully on the Government contract, Qfflgo central line, about non-payment of wages, ' n The ship Bruce, from Calcutta, strucg the middle bank at the entrance between the iiorth and south channel at about 2 p,m. She came in without a pilot, .and in defiance of a signal that the bar was dangerous. The tug Ifopurai j&wed her off.it 4 p.m, James Brpgden, .of the firm of Messrs. John Bi'ogden and Sons, is op his way .to the Colony in connection with matters in dispute between that firm and the Govern ment.

Holloway's Ointment and Pills.— Rheumatic Pains, Tic-Doloreaux.—' These dis eases are unfortunately very prevalent in th>s country, and are frequently most distressing, sometimes for -years baffling all medical skill to alleviate the sufferings' .of tff e victim. Inno case have Holloway’s Ointnjent and Pills 10 produce a cure. The Ointment produce's :i peculiar and soothing influence over th.e nerv.es and musc’es, relaxing spasms and subduing pa : n. The attack soon becomes milder and jlie intervals between the paroxysms longer ; until they cease altogether. The Pills restore the hprly from a weal: and riebilknt. d condition io' a c,Lv.y. of health and strength. Persons bedridden for months with rheumatic rains and dwell bigs, after using the Ointment have been cured in an incredible short period,—ApyT,

CANTERBURY' CORN EXCHANGE AND FARMERS’ CLUB.

(by our special reporter).

A special meeting of members and sub scribers of the above Com Exchange was held at the rooms, Tattersall’s, Christ church, at 2 o’clock on Saturday after noon last, for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisableness of further carrying on the institution. There was a fair attendance.

The chair was occupied by Mr. Tho 3. Bruce, of Christchurch; who opened the proceedings by reading the notice con vening the meeting. As Chairman of the Board of Directors, he thought it advis able to read to the meeting a statement which he thought would throw light upon the present position of the Exchange. The Chairman then read the following report:— “ Christchurch, Dec. 20, 1879. “Gent emen, —You have been called together in terms of the notice which l have read to you. Before proceeding to the business of the meeting, it is my duty to submit to you the financial statement with respect to the monetary position of the corn exchange. The subscription list shows that 307 members have been en rolled during t)>e current, year. The state ment of the accounts stands thus : — 1

“ As those figures now appear there is a balance of Lll 4s (hi short of making full provision for all the liabilities in connec tion with the management of the Corn Exchange for the current year. To pro vide sor this balance there' are .40 sub scribers in arrear, out of which, your Directors think there may be collected sudi-reid funds to meet this obligation, youi: Directors have had under consider aci >u several sites, which have been re commended for erecting a Corn Exchange upon, but no definite action has been taken in this ivattev. Having placed before you the financial statement, it is my duty now to cail your attentionto the more important point for your reflection, and that is : How do you propose to conduct the Corn Exchange for the.future t It is, as you are well aware, universally, admitted that' •the principles which regulate the business of the Corn Exchange are of paramount im portance in sustaining the position of such an institution. By this means the farmers would be enabled to obtain, not only re liable, -but': important information, with respect to the ruling of the .local market rates, as well as other intelligence with refer ence to-the values outside-in distant parts. It is clear, on the one hand, that if those interested in agricultural and pastoral pur suits do not come to an understanding with regard to this vital matter, by making most strenuous and determined efforts - to support, the maintenance of such an establishment, by which great power and' facilites are so directly afforded to . them, the . fault is theirs ; neither can they expect such a valuable, and I may say necessary adjunct as a Corn Exchange to be of any use unless un remitted support, pecuniary and other wise, is bestowed.’ You are well aware that, at the termination of last year, the footing upon which the Corn Exchange was started by. Messrs Henry Matson and Company, was rearranged ; with , a view of meeting the wishes of the large buyers of . gram and produce, the object being to obtain their presence as purchasers. It was; contended, by some of the former subscribers, that the large local, buyers, had .shunned the Corn Exchange,.because,, as was alleged, the. interests of the then institution were too much bound up_.with those of the influential .and'original pro-, motors. You will, I think, all agree with' me, in regard to the large attendance of the large local buyers'that these expecta tions have not been realised. It is, there fore, for you to consider, whether it would not be a prudent step for you to take in these circumstances, to place yourselves, as grain producers, in a more satisfactory and independent position. ' It is clear from the past year’s experience that the Corn Exchange, as now constituted, could pot be carried on with that success which we would wish to see. Of course you are all aware that a number of those who’took a lively interest in supporting the Corn Exchange, became responsible to Messrs Henry Matson and Co., for the lease of these rooms : that arrangement will now he terminated on the .'list of this month. Some of the farmers interested have suggested that, if grain could be shipped to the Home markets, through the Corn Exchange, greater 'facilities could be afforded to the farmers generally than 'they can now possess; and, at the same time, the accrued profits, instead pi as at present supporting the intermediate msu in regard to business which might more profitably be managed through the agency of the Corn Exchange, would directly go to the growers. buck a course would insure to the farmer the highest market price for his grain ; and by this means the Ctfi’P Exchange, it is expected, would be self-supporting i and thus place tfie farmers in "a mope independent posjtibii, in the event of the prices offered here being not considered satisfactory. I have asked several of the present members of yppr Corn Exchange to kindly submit to you their vfewg respecting the important 'suggestion I Kaye yeptnipd to tp ypii. lit is’ejear,' iinless a pore Spontaneous'effort is made by you for the move general pppipotipK fif it) t K r , e P ts i the great advantage*} expected tft bp derived by means of this Exchange, will not be forthcoming. There seems to.be a general feeling that, the important class, the agriculturist, is solely dependent upon the local buyers for his market. There fore., jf you fire resolved to confine your-' 'gelyes to'flip'local bityK'b as hitherto', I am afrfiid ‘ i'Shgt fbe medium of the'Corn Exchange will’not suffice for your require ments, K s the attempt to induce the large I local biiyi rs ‘0 atlsn.d jlffg b;i3e4,”

He wan Sony to &* t y thbvb were sti some forty members who had riot p;.i

their subscription, and it was questionable whether they would or would not pay. He thought-, however, that at least ten or

•V -S-^■g|g|g|| i. rt'elve would bo hoiiorahile enough to and if so, the balance. would b} right side. In mention in respect ho .that part' of his inent that there were several sites for.their consideration .for the purpose ofi ' a Corn Exchange. Some of them were,, however, in such out-of-the-way places', that they wen?; unsuitable for the require- \ inents, and there were others that were in ! vary eligible places, but the purchasing y prices were not witli-n the moans of the institution, unless the farmers and sub scribers generally became more energetic and bound themselves together in a more ' determined manner. He for one, as well as others of the Directors did not deem it advisable to involve the Society in any such undertaking as. that of purchasing a site for a Corn Exchange—(Hear, hear) ' There was one more thing hjy would-like to refer to and tlmt was'the matter of -the '* guarantee.' When " the ' present Exchange '' i. was first established they were to a certain . ;T extent bound'to -the promoters of; it, and- -is the Directors considered ‘that they were in h the position of having to guarantee the, / • rent —L2O0—to Messrs Matson'and Co., "<• ■ for the use "of the rooms, •furniture, etc. ;!." That guarantee they had decided to main- ; - tain, but foiind themselves Lll.shor.t v at.i|u the end of the year. If those subscribers A. .whi >. had not yet 'paiiV-wbuldv ;in f.' their guineas the Society would not only be able to meet' the liability /but "} ■ would have • a .balance'.-; j o ..• the ‘gobd. ~;' He sail he was very, much as : tonished that with--'oOZ; subscribe s who had, as farmers, the sole benefit' of i& 'Ex.vMnge'"fr’,ifej shoulcL exhibit' .so, nuid ji apathy in regard to their 'coaling.' forward in a a mire determined manner . than what , they ■ 'had , hitherto.- dptiel ' If they would only support; ■ the’ Corn ' E vcliauga" a -little more- it . Would eventually become firmly established, and id time, he thought it would be. self sup .op. porting. HeWould, however, leave the matter, in their hands, and hoped the '- • members present would give their views ' upon it. (Applause.) . ' Hon. Colonel Brett, • said, that lie had . always felt a. deep interest in the Cortv Exchange, and had endeavored to estab- V Jish one many years ago under the most favorable auspices, that is to say—the GpH~?. verument liad granted LSOO towardS'-Aitj, . but after days and months of; labor he was unable to raise a sufficieriefsbui'tpr'sup- . .-. piement the grant:... A site was; otfered- f ' them by Mr. Peacock, .and taking that,; into consideration and tlie’total he; . A thought they would agree with him that •: it would be both an insult and absurd, and insane to attempt to establish a Corn' * Exchange to be their own .property. To • build one on an unfavorable site would be ... preposterous, particularly as they were of fered a Corn Exchange on ' reasonable - ■*. terms. He thought the directors, should : , have written a friendly letter to those gentlemen who had not paid their-sub--; script-ions ; and if they would only do so, he felt sure those who were in. arrears' would be honest and honorable enough to. ; come forward with the subscriptions. If g such did not come in he, .was. quite pre-, pared to assist in making., up the Me- ..r fieieney, and, no doubt, others would do the same. He considered that it would . be an utter disgrace if they did not put. ~ , their shoulder to the wheel. The agriculr . i tural industry was the - backbone of country, and in regard to those gentlemejaH who had not paid their subscriptions, if -^B^i

was found that they would not pay—wh;

let’the othqr members do it themselvei

He would be happy to give a sovreign .two towards it. . He considered Hrs£*|h had derived great advantages from Am

Corn Exchange, and had himself' gmjMjP by coming to the> institution for seed. J- J: and which .lie had always, got of. the very, best quality and on the 'most- favorable terms. He had just arrived from Wel-f;:. lington, and had reason to believe that alii the seeds which he had obtained from the . Corn Exchange had so far turned out we 11,,; - tie hoped they would continue ,to carry - } . on the institution, and they would enter . into an agreement with the proprietors of the place who would, doubtless, come for ward to assist them-in every possibly way"; , He considered the thanks of the meeting were due to the Chairman and the-Direc tors of the Exchange for their exertions : during the past year,, and would, there fore, move a vote of thanks to the Chair man and Directors of the Society. Carried by acclamation. Mr. Alexander Paterson, of Kirwee, bogged to move —“ That the report' of tfiq Chairman be adopted.” ' The resolution'after being fiqly seconded / was carried. "• • ~ .-.

The Chairman wished to know whether any other gentleman would like to address ’ the meeting, and . Mr. Allan said he thought it would;lie’, an advantage if certain districts, such ;as ; . Templeton and Leeston would come fofc?.. ward and subscribe their names for ..the ensuing year. It also occurred to him that it would be advisable • to have the annual statement published, so as to show the amount of money : received, and ex-• pended. The expense of publication would not be great. r -• ■ .. -' i. o : , The Chairman said it would be neces-. sary to appoint a day for .their annual meeting, which would have to-be held one day during the present month as if it was decided, not' to carry on the it would be necessary, to give up possession of the rooms a,t the end of the month. He wduld suggest that, auditors be appointed for the purpose Of auditing the accounts for the past year, In reply to the Hon. Colonel Brett* tjw Chairman said the rooms .were ,to. he given up on the 31st December, Vliibli Voulq ' come on q Wqd^sday. 1 ’tf wqnlS, tl}er§; • fore) beforifiehi toffs ft 'dayjhp. we m riual meeting. _ ’ ;,V It was duly duly proposed and seconded —“ That the annual meeting take place at 2 o’clock oh the 27th inst.” —Carried,

Mr. Charles Bourn, of Southbridge, thought it tyoulc} be advisable' to fake popnls nov/ helff by'"the Hx ! eiiahge,' 'ap? otHer" year, arid suggested tHa-t;' a’cqjjjb miftee b'e 'apppTpte4'tpjv'scqpfcain 'the|prp^ : Up yop|4 ipid§§fl he’aony to see the thing fall through, They all knew that farmers’ were rather dull and did not. look after their own interests sufficiently. For hi* own part he had reaped many .advantages both directly and .indirectly-frop' formation he ihaf|. rsqeiyed iKrbugh in* phchaiige. .''Farmers had'- always been treated with courtesy and kindness,, and received the most valuable information at the Exchange. With reference to had fallen from a previous .speaker, in gArft U>. the vlesirabienesß.of’appointing a' special coniuiittee in various. districts, he believed it was the. iiifantio.n. to du, Sudani year, but it had been neglected. In reply to Mr. Bowen, the Chair

WEDNESDAY, ' DECEMBER yf'tVJP' w *3 n <i- v K^-‘r-'Uxnxr,-i.'zsi rTTiii—T—bss I ™—<w



Dr. £ s. d. To Secretary’s salary ' ... 150 0 0 . ,, Kent 150 0 0 ■Expenses’—stamps, print- mg, stationery, papers, . &e. > : v. 41 10 3 ,, Kent to provide for, £50 ; sundry accounts do £5... 55 0 0 399 10 6 Or. ' ' By cash received on account of subscriptions ... 230 0 . 0 ,, Entry fees, &c. ... 123 0 0 ,, Balance to be provided ... 11 4 G 399 10 6



New Advertisements. V\TANTED IMMEDIATELY V V APPRENTICE'S’ for Dressmaking I Ladies’ Jacket making. Apply to T. HO DOER & COMPANY. 801 rflO LET.—A Four-roomed COTTAGE . A in Peter street, hoar the Foundry../: Apply to J. Olsen, 845 -A.-NOTICE. QTRVYEDon pay land at Tin wald, Brown' kj Horae, saddle marked; and branded No. 2 on near'Shoulder. If not claimed and expenses paid within one .month from this date, will be sold. Apply— D. M‘LEOD, Near Tin wald. 6th Doc., 1879. ' 783 a WANTED KNOWN,-the season for transplanting is. at hand, and we can supply, many thousands Cabbage. Cauliflower, Y Broccoli, Savoy, Brussel Sprouts, Ceh vy, and other Plants, for winter supply. \ . _ 74g a " •. ’ SEA LI- BROS. H A Ll-, ASHBURTON. m ova: ; "ENTERTAINMENT . • • JSV T TIE ' AS HB URTON TRMT*E R ANOE DRAM ATIC A’LUB, ; -On \ FRIDAY:-, DECEMBE R 00, BOXING - NIGHT,’ \ Will comprise that Laugha' he Parce . “ WHITEBAIT AT GREEiJWiCH, A Musical Melange, ‘‘ A MOT HE R’S MY STER ’ New Scenery, New Dresses, Unrivalled Mechanical Effects. See Handbills. 844 a: Ball programme cards in . very neat styles, with Pencils and Ribbons, printed at the Herald Office, East street, neap-Railway Station. JUST ARRIVED. PAPER BAGS, PAPER BAGS.



|ONFECT lONERS, Fruiterers, _ j Grocers, Drapers,, Seedsmen, &c., can be supplied with Paper Bags, all sizes, and Printed or Plain. tr WEEKS AND DIXON, General Printers, East street North. POE 1880. THE- . PKESS ALMANAC And Diary Can be obtained from the undersigned. a; Price—One Shilling. WEEKS AND DIXON, Herald Office, Near Railway Station. DIARIES ! DIARIES ! ! DIARIES ! ! ! w have just received a splendid assortment of LETTS’ DIARIES for - _ * ; ' ; .w,;- ' _ * ' / ) OFFICE DIARIES, POCKET DIARIES, SCRIBBLING DIARIES, DIARIES OF EVERY desci iption WEEKS & DIXON, * f Herald ” and “ Guardian ” Offices, Near the Railway Station. TO PRINTEI IS. MACHINE FOR SALE. FOR SALE, at an. early date, — One Second-hand Double Demy Tape Printing MACHIN E, in thorough working order, with rollei s, moulds, &c., complete., We are replaoi ng this machine by a Double Royal Wh arfedale, which * necessitates removal of tlj a Double Demy Maejiine. now used fo: r printing the “ Herald:;” and “ Guardi a n,” for hf-nd or steam power; Can be see, n and all jiar ticulars obtained at bur off ice. "WEEKS '• & DIXON. Ashburton, October 14, li* 179. 565 a



K. , : NEAV ..ZEALAND UAII AVAYS. FARES—CHR ISTMA S Ht I LID AYS. ORDINARY Single Fare- Tickets from any station /to any station issued on SATURDAY, 2i Ith. DECEMBE R, 1879, yrridtfollowing uiysAlp to SATURDAY, 3rd JANUARY,;. 1880,. inclusive, will be available for the* return journey any day up to, and including MOF. DAY, sth JANUARY. | Wlj r. CONYI ‘Commissi; mer of Rai Iways. Commissioner’s Offic a, Chris tchurch, D ec. 13, 1879. 340 a LAYING TION STONE.'- SOMERSET mS JNIC HALL In Connactro n with SOMERSET LODUE , 1811, E.CI, A3HBUR3 ON. A LL BRETHREN .«», re requested ter All.'" meet in FalßMfcso nic Dress, at the Somerset Lodge at 1 p.m., on . TUESpAY, 30t&« insfc,. j aid march from to’ the ’site «f4‘N£w Masonic Hall to witness tlie leyiaggo&d ? the . i oundation Stone. Installation- gAGiS'certi l « at 5 p.m. i’nnqui.t s& TowabHaUs* 7.30 p.m. lIR'vRYf Z ANDER. f4b«3, • Secretary.



New Advertisements. LOST— Yesterday, Pad of'*'a Ikdy’s STIRRUP. Reward at Herald office. 856 a TSjVtviPAY and SATURDAY the 28th _|j : and 27th December, having been. Gazetted Public Holidays, the office at the RESIDENT- MAGISTRATE’S COURT will be CLOS ED. By order . . - U; UAyEN-DISH HURRELL, 857 a ' Clerk-tQ.the Court. * R, In the District Court of Christchurch. < ‘ Holden at Ashburton. IN THE MATTER OF The Debtors and Creditors Act, 1876, The Debtors and Creditors Act, 1876, Amendment Act, 1878, and of the bankruptcy of JAMES M‘KEN7IE, of the Hinds, Farmer, a debtor. TpHIS is to notify that James M'Kenzie, of L the Hinds, Farmer, has this day hied a statement that he is unable to meet his engage ments with his creditors. The first meeting of creditors to be held at the District Court house, Ashburton, on WEDNESDAY, the thirty-first day of December instant, at eleven o’clock in the forenoon. Dated this twenty-fo'urth day of December, 1879. ■ C. C. MURRELL, Clerk of the above Court. I>ranson and Purnell, Solicitors for the debtor. 857 a



MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD. 11HE next meeting of the Board will he held on MONDAY, December 29, at 1 p.m. ' -n, i + All outstanding claims on the Board to he presented beforethat dat J LKER> RAWING PAPER, all sizes, just Drawing \ pt, ned^t EEKS AND DIXON, East street. are invited for the purchase * of Pouf Acres Standing Crop of 1 °^Ftfu**™***>-'* tender not accepted. _____ ____ T "IT ANTED kno.vn, E. A. GARNETT i XlhU KUO.’* 1 * . | c VV has a large Curistauw Stock of FANCY GOODS, at pnces to ineet g ™® times. ' --