The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser With which is incorporated the "Evening Echo"). WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1879.

Stray Dogs.— The licensed nuisances have been at it again, and complaints are rife of mischief done among the sheep flocks by canine marauders. On some farms poison is being laid down, and we have no doubt this mixing of the war paint will have its usual effect upon the idle curs.

The Valuation op the Borough.— Tenders are invited, from persons compe tent for the duty, for the work of making the valuation of the Borough and com pleting the roll for the year 1880. The whole work has to be finished by the 7th of January next.

Tonic Sol-Fa Class. —Mr Savage gives ]iis first lesson to-night at 7.30. His pupils and those who intend to become so. are reminded that the lessons are in series, and the first one is of great importance.

Dentistry.— MrCattlin, the well-known dentist, may be consulted at Quill's Hotel until Thursday afternoon.

Hoad Hates. The Wakanui Road Board notifies its intention of striking a rate of ninepence in the £ on the rateable value of all property in the district, for the year ending 31st March, 1880. The meet ing to strike the rate will be held on the 6th November next, and the rate book lies for inspection at the Board’s offices, Moore street, Ashburton, The rate will be payable in one sum on and after Thurs day, 13th November.

j5Tr. Sankey was anounced to sail from Englis&dl9 n tfm 17th July ‘‘to join Mr. Moody for the autumn and winter cam paign in America.”

Miss Thompson (Mrs. Butler) has been requested by Queen Victoria to paint for her two battle scenes—one of them being the field of Rorke’s Drift.

Criminal Offence. —Mr C. P. Cox to day remanded till Friday James Wells, a man from Rakaia, ivho was accused of assault with a criminal intent upon a girl aged live years, living at Rakaia. Wells was not admitted to bail.

Drunks. —William Lambert, who has two or three times recently been before the Court for drunkenness, was to day fined £2, with the alternative of 48 hours’ imprisonment. He chose to work out his treedom, instead of buying it for £2.. William Commie, another man who has before this made his bow to the Bench, was similarly sentenced, and chose the same thrifty course as did Lambert. Commie had been drunk and kicked up a great row in the Somerset Hotel, disturb ing the house so much that the washhouse of the hotel had to be temporarily con verted into a lock-up until the arrival of the police, when Mr Shearman and his men were relieved from their warder duties.

Tub Borough Officers. —In Com mittee of the whole Council on Monday evening, the question of reducing the permanent staff of the Corporation was discussed, when the following procedure was entertained To retain the Town Clerk at his present salary, with the duties of rate collector added to those of the clerkship ; to dismiss the Engineer and present Foreman of Works, and to invite applications for a foreman who will also be inspector of nuisances ; to dispense with borough solicitor after his term has expired. These arrangements, of course, may be influenced by circumstances. A CARGO of 1007 bags of rice meal from Genoa was recently destroyed at Liver pool, because it was proved to be adul terated with marble dust.

The Manchester correspondent of the Press Association says a movement is on foot in that city to organise a subscription to present Lord Beaconsfield with a coro net.

It is suggested that Mr. J. E. Calder, of Hobart Town, should be asked to write a “History of Tasmania,” he having in his possession many old and valuable records of that colony. Chertsey Cemetery. —The following appointments of trustees for the main tenance of Chertsey Cemetery are gazetted : William Alexander Brown, Alfred Rollings Markham, William Beder Patou, Thomas Walker Wilkinson, Ronald Campbell, Harry Childs, Wil liam Leslie.

Minister oe Marine. —Major Atkin son has been gazetted as Marine Minister and Administrator of the Naval Training Schools Act, 1874. Trout. —A very large number of young trout have this season been liberated in the Ashburton and Rakaia tributaries and creeks, and now a great many thousands of them are in the rivers. In the “Gazette” of the lGth inst. the con ditions are published under which licences are granted to anglers, from which it will bo seen that the “open” time is between the 16th October, inst., and the 31st of March next year. Licenses are not transferable, and are to be pro duced and shown on demand to any person holding and showing a license, or to any police officer or-constable ; failure to so produce a liceiifc rendering the illegal angler liable to a penalty of £2O. Licenses only permit fishing with rod and line, and debar the use of any “ ground bait,” net, or any other “ engine or instru ment,” under a penalty of £SO. All trout less than eight inches in length that may be caught by the holder of a license must be returned alive to the water, and an infringement of this regulation sub jects the offender to forfeiture of his license, and also to a penalty of £2O. £IOO is the fine attached to the offence of introducing into any river dynamite, or other explosive substance, or any matter or liquid deleterious to fish.

The Scotch evangelist, Dr. Somerville, is laboring among the English-speaking people in Paris, and has his son to assist him. He intends to hold meetings in other cities on the Continent.

A claimant has arisen for the whole of the land between Prince’s Bridge Mel bourne and the bay at Sandridge, a dis tance of about four miles. The land has been valued at five millions sterling.

Negrete, commander of the Mexican army, has pronounced against President Porfirio Diaz, and left the capital with 3000 adherents. President Diaz, at the head of the troops has started in pursuit of Negrete. A branch of the Farmers’ Union has been formed at Tongala. Another branch, to be called the Lake Marmal, Terraffee, Buckrabanyule, and lower Avoca Farmers’ Union, has also been succesfully estab lished. Te Whiti Wanting a Convert. —A traveller who was on a journey from Hawera to New Plymouth (says the Tara naki “ Herald ”) was stopped on the road, being unable to ford the creeks near Pari haka on Friday last owing to the heavy rains. He was met by some of the Pari haka natives, who kindly conducted him to the settlement, and provided him with food and shelter. Te Whiti was anxious that he should remain altogether at the settlement, and said he would be provided with a wife if he would only become a convert and settle at Parihaka. The allurements offered by Te Whiti, although very tempting, were not quite strong enough to entice the wanderer, and he thanked the prophet heartily, but said he had a pressing engagement at New Ply mouth, and could not therefore stay at Parihaka. Te Whiti allowed the travel ler to rest until the next day, when the floods in the river had subsided, and then sent some of his followers to conduct his guest safely over the worst portion of the road. A Volunteer Executioner. —If the Queensland Legislative Assembly is made up of the human specimen belonging to it who wrote the following letter to the Brisbane “ Telegraph” we are sorry for Queensland With regard to my emotions towards the Chinese, I have to say that I would cheerfully shoot every Chinaman in Queensland, and not feel a pang of remorse. ” Now says an exchange, this°is the right man to satisfactorily solve the Chinese question ; but he must start early. There are about 15,000 Chinamen in our sister colony, and, counting 300 working days in each year, he must pop off' five a day to get through the work in ten years. Captain Bobadil himself was, even in words, but a weakling, when compared with this modern would-be wholesale slaughterer.

Dr. W. 11. Russell, it is echoed, is to have a fee of two thousand guineas for the campaign, as special correspondent of the “ Daily Telegraph,” in Zululand'

Government-iiouse, Simla, has been laid with gas made from mineral oil. The system has also been tried at the Lahore railway station with every success. Wallace Ross expresses his intention of going to Australia to take part in the regatta in which Trickett, the champion oarsman of the world, will participate.

The Emperor of Germany sent the Czar of Russia a sword of honor on the completion of his 50th year of command as honorary chief of the Ist Brandenburg Uhlans.

The Caeul Massacre. —The following are the particulars of the Cabul massacre : Certain regiments, twelve in number, had lately returned from Herat, where they had already shown strong symptoms of mutiny against the Ameer, and had assem bled in the Bala Eissar to receive the pay which they demanded. They subse quently broke out into violent mutiny and stoned their officers. They next pro ceeded to swarm the Residency, which is inside the Bala Elissar, and burst open the gateway leading to the Courtyard, but were received with a heavy fire from the British escort in the city. The mob then poured into the Bala Hissar and plun dered and destroyed the Ameer’s arsenal. Latest intelligence states that the muti neers attacked the residency in over whelming numbers. The attack and de fence continued all one day until evening, when, finding they could not storm the place, they set fire to the doorway below, and when that gave way swarmed in and up to the upper storey. The defenders, charging out sword in hand, were all slain, and the place was completely wrecked. It is reported that 1,200 Cabuls were killed. Queensland Rice. —For the first time, something like a mercantile quantity of rice has been harvested here. The rice was grown on the ground of the Board of Inquiry, at New Farm, near Brisbane and included fully 20 varieties. It was grown on both flooded and dry soil, and has done well on both, the crops as a whole being satisfactory, the ears heavy, and standing upon healthy stiff straw from 2ft. to sft. in height. There is a considerable dif ference in the straw of the different varieties, and no doubt selection would do much towards securing sorts suitable for the different districts of the colony. In appearance the rice at maturity looks something like particularly well-grown wheat. In Java the average is about 6001 b. clean merchantable rice per acre. At the price in Queensland, one-half the weight, or 3001 b. would pay handsomely. —“ Brisbane Courier.” Lady Byron’s Letters. —From “A Lady’s Letter from London ” in the “ Aus tralasian ” we take the following : —“ It is long since a revelation has been made in which the reading world takes so deep an interest as that which has been excited by the publication of certain letters addressed by Lady Byron (Baroness Wentworth) to Byron’s half-sister, Mrs Leigh, and com municated to the ‘ Academy ’ by Mr E. Maude Thompson. Several years ago, when Mrs Beecher Stowe scandalised the world by her atrocious statement of Lady Byron’s terrible accusation against Mrs Leigh, I was tokl by a lady who had known both Byron’s wife and sister well, that a correspondence which would shatter the wretched story to pieces was in exis tence, and that my informant had seen Lady Byron’s letters. Those which have now come to light are no doubt the letters in question. They form part of the papers of Mrs Leigh which have lately been purchased for the British Museum, and were written at various periods, be ginning on January 16, 1816, the day after Lady Byron left her husband’s house, and ending in 1851, just before Mrs Leigh’s fatal illness ; and they testify to the constant esteem and affection which Lady Byron entertained for her sister-in-law. They also hold a curious and strong corroboration of the witness borne by the life and letters of the Rev. Francis Hodgson, to the estimable character of Mrs Leigh, and her constant endeavor to make peace between the ill matched and unhappy pair.

Hares. —Hares have become a nuisance in Nelson province, and the Governor has withdrawn them from the provisions of the Protection of Wild Animals Act.

TELEGRAPHIC.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, Oct. 22.

Considerable disappointment is felt by the Auckland Catholics at the non-arrival of Archbishop Stein by the mail steamer. Mr James Makay, Native Cotnissioner, in an address to the volunteers at Pareora, expressed a hope of being able to settle the native difficulty without recourse to arms.

The Orange lodge have celebrated the purchase and transfer of the Protestant hall, Newton, by a soiree. Wellington, Oct. 22.

The unemployed are petitioning the Mayor to call a public meeting to consider their grievances. Ellen Jane Gowel, a child aged eighteen months, was accidently drowned in a stream at Stokes Valley, oh Monday. Boisterous weather prevents the steamer working at the cable. The case of Richardson v. bank of New South Wales is being heard at the Supreme Court. The plaintiff' seeks damages from the bank on account of having stopped his credit after it had advanced half the amount promised to him upon a letter of credit, and upon the strength of which he had entered into arrangements for starting in business, and made himself liable for a considerable su n of money.

Westport, Oct. 22.

The case of perjury against Eugene Joseph O’Connor occupied the Reefton Court for three days. He was committed for trial.

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

LAST NIGHT’S CABLEGRAMS.

London, Oct. 21. The “ Daily Telegraph ” publishes a telegram from Peshawur stating that the Governor of Jellallabad reports that Rus sian troops have occupied Merv. This is unconfirmed from other sources.

Bombay, Oct. 21

It is stated that the Indian Govern ment are going to construct a railway through Scinde Valley to Quettah, thenCe on to Candahar.

Madrid, Oct. 21,

Disastrous floods continue in Spain. A thousand persons have been drowned, and great loss of property has been caused.

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, Oct. 21

An accident occurred on the northern railway line this morning. Three car riages became uncoupled, and in the shock of their meeting thirty or forty people were injured, but none fatally. Brisbane, Oct. 21. The miners at Mavytown have struck. It is reported they intend to prevent any Chinese from working there. Hobart Town, Oct. 21. The Governor has refused to dissolve Parliament. The Ministry have resigned in consequence of the adverse vote in the Assembly. Melbourne, Oct. 21. The insurance companies are opposing the proposed stamp duties on policies.

ARRIVAL OF THE SAN FRAN CISCO MAIL.

Summary of News

Prince Jerome has visited the Empress Eugenie at Chiselhurst. Earl Beaconsfield is contemplating sum moning Parliament in November. Mr Parnall, the Home Ruler M.P. for Meatli, has advised the Irish farmers not to pay rent until a reduction of rents has taken place. Mr Mitchell, M.P. for Galway, said recently that if Government left the people of Ireland without relief, he would nold Government responsible for a repeti tion of the Irish famine.

On Sept. 28, the British ship Langdale, Captain Jenkinson, which sailed from San Francisco on the 14th June, was wrecked on a point on the Wexford coast. The captain, his wife, three children, and four of the crew were drowned.

The “Republique Francoise ” pub lishes the following under reserve : —Lord Salisbury, during his recent interview with M. Waddington, assured the latter that England would endeavor to obtain the unconditional session of Janina to Greece. The captain of the Cunard steamer Brest, which recently went ashore, has had is certificate suspended for six months. The Newmarket October Handicap was won by Fortitude, 1 ; Lord Clive, 2; Thurio, 3. Eight horses ran.

Three thousand persons in Middle borough are penniless. The Home Secretary, replying to an application for relief, said the Government had no funds. The King of Abyssinia has written to the Queen, charging the Egyptians with poisoning an English general bearing an Abyssinian memorial to the British Go vernment.

The Lancashire coal miners’ wages have advanced.

The Barnsley operatives have formed an emigration association. Meetings in Ireland demand reductions of rent, with radical reform in the land lords’ power. It was urged that the al ternative before the Government was the settlement of the agitation or rebellion. A tenants’ meeting called attention to the distressed condition of the people, and urged a State relief system. The distress in the thickly populated towns in the north-eastern portion of England is intense. Strikes have in creased the distress.

Lord Hartington said that all laws tend ing to aggregate vast properties in the hands of a fevv people should be carefully reviewed..

The grass crop was bad in quality and deficient in quantity. Scobelcorf, commander of the Khivan expedition, and eighty-six young Russians, have been exiled for political offences.

The attendance of students at the Rus sian Universities is decreasing, owing to prosecutions. The Russian harvest was unfavorable. Siberian Cossacks will colonise the Chinese frontier. Works have been commenced to con nect the Black and Caspian seas. A rupture between Turkey and Greece is threatened. Both are arming. Russia proposed to surrender part of the war indemnity and the Asiatic provinces for a Turkish alliance.

Persia co-operates with Russia in the Merv expedition. The Russian press violently attack Ger many. A famine is threatened in Hungary. Deadvvood, the chief town in Dakota, was burned. Two thousand persons were rendered homeless. General Grant was received with en thusiasm. Kierney, who threatened to burn him in effigy, was compelled to recall his threat.

Eight hundred persons suspected of being Federal Republicans, Avere arrested at Catalonia. Arms and important docu ments were found, including a scheme for the establishment of a Federal Republic. As the Sultan of Turkey Avas going to celebrate the feast of Bairim, a Greek believed to be insane, tried to force his way into the kiosk. He Avas arrested after Avounding three police officials. The St. Petersburg journals state that the Russian Government have not received any confirmation of the Simla news an nouncing the defeat of the vanguard of the Russian expedition against the Turko mans.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

[by telegraph.]

FROM OUR, OAVN CORRESPONDENT. Wellington, Oct. 21. The Greyite organs fhere are getting more Avild than usual, and if possible more regardless of truth. The Governor is now their object of special hatred, and Sir George Grey is denouncing Sir Hercules Robinson even more coarsely than he has denounced his predecessors. The position iioav is 41 votes reliable on each side, and 4 doubtful. Jt is quite possi ble that the desperate struggle noAV resolved on Avith such an utterly reckless man as Sir George Grey may lead to a dissolu tion without supplies, but it is hardly likely that J.e Avould be able to keep all his party together to support a step so damaging to the colony. There Avill be some rough talk and Avork in the House

I this week, and we will see who will [ pound longest

Oct. 22,

The two Election Petitions Committees met this morning. The proceedings were merely formal, and they adjourned until to-morrow.

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1879. After formal business, Air Whitaker proposed that the Council should only take the unimportant business on the Order Paper, and leave all debate able matter postponed from day to day till the no-confidence question was settled in the Lower .House.

The Council agreed to this course. In moving for a return, Sir Waterhouse spoke at length on the greatly increased cost of raising loans, which had more than trebled in some instances, too many per sons having pickings. He moved for the return so that public attention might be directed to the question. The motion was carried.

On the motion of Air Campbell, a return in detail was ordered of the expenditure of £7OOO on the Civil list last year for Na tive affairs.

Air Aliller moved for a Seleet Com mittee to inquire into Native land pur chase expenditure for the past fifteen months.

Air Waterhouse said the present un authorised obligations amounted to nearly a million.

After a long discussion the committee was appointed, with the undei’standing that it is to suggest remedial measures for the present unsatisfactory state of matters. The Council rose at 3.45.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, October 21. The House met at 2.30. SECOND READINGS. The Napier Swamp Nuisance Act Amendment, the Primitive Alethoclists’ Temporal Affairs Management, and the Te Aro Reclamation Bills were read a second time. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Hall, in reply to Mr Wright as to whether he will introduce a Bill to amend the Debtors and Creditors Act so as to give artisans and laborers a preferential claim for wages due to the extent of three months instead of one, said legislation was desirable, and a Bill would be intro duced on this subject.

Major Atkinson, in reply to Mr. Finn, said tiie Government might have an in tention of taking steps to amend the Land Tax Act, but could not say for a week or t two if it was intended to repeal

it. Mr Olliver, in reply to Air Andrews, said it was intended to take steps towards a new survey for the East and West Coasts railway in the Aliddle Island. Air Hall, in reply to Mr. Seddon, said it was intended to bring in a Bill this

session to amend the Counties Act, but not until the Electoral Bills were dis posed of. Air Beetham asked the Speaker whether his motion re the petition aganst Mohi Tawhai could not take precedence, and a committee be appointed to dispose of it at once.

The Speaker replied that it could not be disturbed in its order.

THE ELECTORAL BILL. The interrupted debate on the question that leave be given to introduce a Bill to amend the law relating to electors quali fied to vote at elections of members of the House of Representatives, to which the “previous question” had been proposed by Mr Sheehan, and the debate adjourned, was then called on.

Mr Hall then explained that the Go vernment had exhausted every course of conciliation betwen themselves and the Opposition, and were not prepared to see anything done untill these Bills were pro ceeded with. They believed the voice of the House was with these Bills, and felt cei’tain the country was with them in ask ing that these Bills should at once be pro ceeded with without further delay and obstruction.

The question was about to be put by the Speaker, when Mr Hall said he wished to reply to a few remarks made when the debate was on. He deprecated the charges made against Ministers by the member for the Thames, especially to those tending to a personal character. They claimed to be actuated by honest and patriotic motives and regretted this had not been carried out by others, especially by the hon. mem ber for the Thames. That gentleman had said that his Excellency hau been guilty of an unconstitutional act, but he seemed to forget that he was responsible for the message on which the alleged unconstitu tional act was founded, because he ivas at that time his Excellency’s adviser. The hon. gentleman, when himself the Gover nor of the colony, had dealt with the matter of the recommendation of Ministers’ successors in the same way as his Excel lency did. The hon. gentleman had charged him (Mr Hall) witli acting uncon stitutionally in resigning his seat in the Upper House to take a seat in that House. He said he (Mr Hall) had broken faith with Her Majesty in doing so. This was absurd. The hon. gentleman had said he did not know that he intended to contest a seat when he resigned, but the fact was he resigned some time before any election, and his intention was well known. He had been accused by the hon. gentleman with being a representative of the Canter burylandring. Now he (Sir G.) was the only person who had spoken of such a ring, because it did not exist. They had en deavored to promote the beneficial occupa tion of the waste lands of Canterbury, and that was what their action had been most successful in accomplishing. But the hon. gentleman’s laws did not do that, and his regulations were rejected. Where these regulations were in force, outside the Canterbury block, large estates had been accumulated at something like 7s 6d an acre. The Canterbury block was 40s an acre ; at the same time £20,000 offered for 20,000 acres, was refused, even when they were necessitous. That gentleman went outside the block and obtained, under Sir George Grey’s land regulation 80,000 acres for a much less sum, and yet the hon. gentleman now accused them of being a great land ring. The Ministers themselves were really only cockatoos.

Air Rolleston said the charges, especially against himself, wore base calumnies. The yeople of Canterbury had honored him repeatedly, and they knew whether the charges were well founded or otherwise. Sir George Grey said the lion, gentle man claimed that they had a cockatoo Government. Now, he had thought of the words those birds had frequently uttered, “poor eockey,” aiul found them applicable on this occasion. [Laughter.] They were told that in a few hours a strong Government could be constituted On a former occasion, but he argued against it, and he now saw his argument confirmed in the leadership of a gentleman of the Upper House. He maintained that the lion, gentleman for party pur poses had no right a second time to come down to that House. That was what he contended, and what he repeated again ; that had not been answered. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. PRIVILEGE.

Air Hale said, before proceeding with the Orders of the day, lie wished to speak to a matter of privilege. The hon. member for the Thames had stated he had not advised his Excellency to accept his (Air Hall’s) resignation as a member of the Upper House. He had communicated with his Excellency as to what transpired on that occasion. The substance had been given to him in a document, which he wished to lay before the House ; but, as it was a private communication to himself, lie could only do so with the sanction of hon. members. He had therefore to ask permission to make known the substance of the communication.

The House having given consent, the document was read as follows : Memorandum for the Hon. John Hall.

(1.) Sir George Grey is reported to have said, when speaking of Air Hall’s lesigna tion of his seat in the Upper House for the purpose of taking a seat in the House of Representatives: —“Isay that he ought not to have been allowed to resign his position in the Upper House without the Governor’s having been advised to receive his resignation. A resignation is not com plete until the Governor approves of it, and I say the Governer, in having accepted his resignation without advice, meant that the putting him back into this House for the purpose of leading a party was a per sonal act, Ac. If I had advised it I should not have disclosed that advice. I did not advise it. I say, therefore, that he sits here as a personal representative of the Governor in this House. Sir, tills is the case. Without that had been done, lie could not have been here.”

(2.) Anyone reading this report would infer that "the Governor had accepted Mr Hall’s resignation without the concur rence of his Alinisters, and that the act was the personal act of the Governor, for which Alinisters were not in any way responsible. But that is not the case. The facts are these :

(3.) Upon the ISfcli August the Governor received a letter from Air Hall tendering the resignation of his seat in the Legisla tive Council, and the same day sent in one to the Premier with the following endorse ment :—“For usual course. Has it been customary here for the Governor to accept such signatures by letter, or is the accep tance notified in the ‘ Government Ga zette V (Signed) H. R. 18—8—79.”

(4) Upon the following day, the 19th August, the Premier called upon the Governor, his business being, as he stated, to speak about Mr Hall’s resignation of his seat in the Council. The Premier said he considered such resignation a most im proper proceeding, and opposed to the spirit and intention of the Constitution Act, as the appointment being binding on the Crown for life the obligation implied mutuality. He said Mr Hall had twice before lefl the Council to stand for the House of Representatives, and that it was within his knowledge that that was the object of the present resignation. He said he had always deprecated such a pro ceeding, and as he considered the necessity for the Governor’s acceptance of the resig-

nation gave the Governor a discretion in the matter, and enabled the Governor to judge of the propriety of the resignation, he could not advise in a case like Mr Hall’s, that the resignation should be accepted. The Governor replied that the Constitution Act specified that it shall be lawful for any member of the Legislative Council to resign his seat, and that the Electoral Acts imposed no disqualification upon a person standing for the House of Representatives on the ground of being an ex-member of the Legislative Council. He

should, therefore, decline to lend himself to any device for placing one of the Premier’s political opponents under a disability not imposed by law. If the proceedings were held to be improper, such a disqualification as having been a member of the Upper House should be specified by Act, and pending legislation the Governor -would certainly refuse to be a party to such an unprecedented and strained exercise of a mere formal act of the prerogative for party purposes. The Governor mentioned instances in New South Wales m which men had gone from the Lower House. The Premier admitted that there had been repeated instances in New Zealand of members of the Upper House resigning their seats and being sub sequently elected members of the House of Representatives, and said that one of his then colleagues, Mr Gisborne, had done so, hut he, (the Premier) disap proved so strongly of the proceeding and had spoken so often against it in public, that for the sake of his own consistency he should be obliged to record formally upon the papers his proposal and his ad vice that Mr Hall’s resignation be not accepted. He added that, although the Constitution Act left the acceptance to the Governor, eveiy act of the Governor must be done under advice and Minis terial responsibility. The Governor re plied that this view was undoubtedly sound, but that the Governor could always reject Ministerial advice if lie were pre pared to face the Constitutional conse quences, and that in Ibis case, if such ad vice were tendered, he should unquestion ably refuse it, which would leave the Premier with the constitutional alterna tive of resignation or acquiescence in the refusal. The Governor added that unless the Premier were prepared to resign he did 6 not see how the tendering of formal advice would cindicate his character for political consistency. The Premier left saying he would consult with such of his colleagues as were in Wellington and let the Governor hear further on the subject. Upon the afternoon of the same day the papers covering Mr Hall’s resignation were returned to the Governor from the P.iemiev’s office without any adverse ad vice whatever thereon and with the fol- !

lowing endorsement:—U For liis Excel lency.—it has been customary here for the Colonial Secretary to notify the. ac ceptance of his resignation to the resign ing member. Resignations have been usually though it appears not invariably, notified in the ‘ Gazette. ’ —(Signed) W. Gisborne, 19th August, 1879 (in the ab sence of thi Colonial Secretary).” ((>,) Upon inis'the Governor made the following endorsement: —“ The Colonial Secretary is'requested to inform Air Hall of my acceptance of his resignation, and to cause the usual notification to be in serted in the Government “Gazette.” (Signed.) H.R. 19—8—79.” (7.) This was minuted by the Alinister as oilows : —“ To be acted on.” (Signed.) W. Gisborne, 20th August, 1879, and on the same day a letter was addressed to Air Hall from the Colonial Secretary’s office, signed, W. Gisborne, in absence of the Colonial Secretary, informing Mr Hall of the Governor’s acceptance of his ten dered resignation. . . (8.) These facts show that Sir George Grey’s statement, “I do not advise it,” was only half the truth. It was true he was adverse to the step taken by Air Hall, and did not endorse on the papers words —“I advise that the resignation be ac cepted,” but he caused the Governor’s memorandum, addressed to himself, to be returned by one of his colleagues without any advice, which was tantamount to the Premier’s formal acquiescence in the ac ceptance of Air Hall’s resignation, and such acceptance having been officially communicated to Air Hall by a Alinister of the Crown, the Premier and not the .Governor became, under the constitution, solely responsible for the action. The Go vernor feels, however, in some doubt now as to the course that should he adopted in this matter. It is a constitutional maxim that the Crown ought not to notice a de bate in the Parliament, but on the other hand it is equally unconstitutional for the Governor’s name to be brought into the debate as it has been. No Alinister or ex- Minister has right to reveal in Parliament what has passed between the Crown, and himself with the express leave of the Crown, and when Sir George Grey re ferred to things that had taken place be tween himself and the Governor he ought to have been stopped at once by the in quiry whether he had the Governor’s per mission to speak of them at all. As it is, a matter which is known fully only to the Governor and his late Premier, has been alluded to by the latter in Parliament without permission, and placed by him in a light which is not in accordance with the whole truth, whilst the Governor may possibly be held to be technically pre cluded by the rules of Parliamentary privilege from refuting a charge which has in such an unconstitutional manner been brought against him by liis late Alinister. In these circumstances the Governor de sires to place on record in this memoran dum a statement of all the facts connected with the acceptance of Mr Hall’s resigna tion of his seat in the Legislative Council, • and to leave the present Premier free to make such use of them as he may think proper.

Hercules Robinson. Sir George Grey said lie thought the statement fair, hut some things were omitted which were important to the matter. He would not state what took place, but thought sufficient was said toM~ show that lie took the proper course under the circumstances. He was averse to advise the non-acceptance of Mr Hall’s ' resignation, but was left with the alter native of not opposing the acceptance or resigning his position, and as the Alinistry were then appealing to the country, he merely declined to interfere. He thought he was quite justified in tellinn the House that the resignation was accepted by the Governor contrary to his advice. He moved that the paper be laid on the table and printed. On the question that the paper he on the table,

Mr. De Lautour srid he had a motion to propose. It was—“ That the hon. Premier in communicatidg the opinion of his Fxcellency, referring to the speech of a member of the House, had been guilty of a gross breach of privilege of the House.” The Premier said such a resolution amounted to this, that in doing what the House ordered him to do he had been guilty of a breach of privilege. Mr Montgomery regretted that what constituted a breash of privilege, viz., a reflection on a member of the House had been brought before them, but the House having given consent, he thought the hon. member for Mount Ida should withdraw the amendment, and so enable them to get out of the unpleasant matter. After some , discussion this was done. TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS. The second reading of the Triennial Parliaments Bill was called on.

Mr Macandrew moved the previous question as an amendment. Mr Hall and Major Atkinson remon ftrated. The latter said if the present course were persisted in another appeal to lhe country would be necessary. Al though much boasting had taken place on these measures, if the previous question were carried the Bills would be in such a position as to endanger their passing. , Mr Sheehan said the hon. gentleman told them they would not leaye the Ministerial benches because they would not do justice to themselves, their party, or the country, until the measures had passed the House. He called the atten tion of hon. members to this statement. No. 1 was themselves ; No. 2 their party - No. 3 the country, a long way in the dis tance. NoJ truer statement of their sel fishness could be laid before the House. The liberal Bills would soon be passed if the Ministry gave way. If they wanted thd liberal measures jiassed they should pass themselves. No Ministry should re main in office not possessed of the con fidence of the House.

Tomoana rose to say that the Native Minister’s speech had disappointed him. Ha asked Ministers to seek some other native to sit in his place, because, though for many years his people had suffered, nothing was done. He said he would vote and deal honestly with Mr Hall. He wished to go honorably from liis seat. He did not object to anything which had been said, but saw no good would come from it to his people. [The hon. member then walked from the Government benches and sat down alongside of the other natives on the Opposition benches.] Messrs Hutchison, Turnbull, Rolleston, M‘Lean, Hall, and Murray having spoken, a division was taken on the question of the adjournment of the debate, moved by Mr Oliver, with following result—Ayes, 31 } Noes, 37.

Wednesday, October 22, /579.]

THE ASHBURTON HERALD



New Advertisements. WAKANUI ROAD BOARD. 13UBLL0 NOTICE is hereby given, B that it is the intention of the Waka nui Road Board, at a Meeting to be held on Thursday, November 6th, 1879, to strike a Rate of Nixepence in the Pound on the rateable value of all property in the District, for the year ending the 31st day of March, 1880, payable in one sum, on and after Thursday, the 13th day of November, 1579, and that the Rate Book is open for inspection at the Board’s Office, Moore Street, Ashburton. FOOKS & SON, 581 a Surveyors, &c., to the Board. irnONIC SOL FA CLASS. —Intending | Members are reminded that the Class will start at 7.30 sharp THIS (Wednesday). EVENING, in the Sample Rooms, Saunders’ Buildings. The first lesson is of great importance to pupils. J. S. SAYAGE, 582 a Conductor.



[a card.] RCATT L I N, SURGEON DENTIST, May be consulted at Quill’s Hotel, until 3 o’clock on Thursday afternoon. 583 a M ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. TENDERS are invited for making the Valuation of the Borough and com ipleting the Roll for the Year 1880. Valuation to be completed and Roll deposited with the Town Clerk by the 7th January next. Tenders to be sent to the Town Clerk not later than 12 o’clock noon on Monday, the 3rd November next. CHARLES BRADDELL, Town Cleak. Borough Council Office, 22nd October, 1879. 584 a 14 V. R. In the District Court of Canteriiury, Holden at Ashburton. IN THE MATTER OF The Debtors and Creditors Act, IS?6, The Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Act, 1878, and of the bankruptcy of FRANCIS AUGUSTUS FLETCHER, of Ashburton, in the Cclony of New Zealand, a debtor.



Tills IS TO NOTIFY that Francis Augustus Fletcher, of Ashburton, afore said, Cook, has this day filed a statement that he is unable to meet his engagements with his creditors. The hist meeting of creditors to be held at the District Courthouse, Ashburton, on Wednesday, the twenty-ninth day of October, 1879? 11 o’clock in the forenoon. Dated this twenty-second day of October, 1879. C. CAVENDISH HURRELL, Clerk of the District Court. J. E. I-Iyde Harris, Solicitor, Saunders’ Buildings. S^s a NOTICE. THE MEMBERS of the Borough Cricket Club are particularly re quested to keep on the Footpaths and enter at the Gates in going to and coming from the Cricket Grrund in the Domain. STEPHEN E. POYNTZ, *57 7a Hon. Sec. £1 REWARD. LOST OR STOLEN from the Somerset Hotel on the evening of October Ist, a well-bred CHESTNUT MARE, with white star on forehead, no brands. Had a colonial made saddle and bridle on when lost. Any person giving informa tion which will lead to her recovery will receive the above reward. MEREDITH WILSON, Wakanui. Or FRIEDLANDER BROS., 58oa Ashburton. "W TAN TED—A MALE OR FEMALE VV COOK. Apply—Tinwald Hotel, Tinwald. 279 a