POST OFFICE NOTICES.

The following letteis from places beyond the colony were received at the Ashburton Post Office during the month of February, and remained unclaimed on Ist April: Flanigan, Daniel. Howard, Frederick. Norman, C. Pirie, Thos. Keen, Timothy. Smith, John Groves (2). W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

NOTICE.

A travelling Post Office having been estab lished 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.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “ Evening Echo”). WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1879.

It is satisfactory to observe that, though still a very large amount of coal is imported from Newcastle, N.S.W., to New Zealand, the quantity is gra dually decreasing, showing that the opening of our own mines and the steady development of the coal re sources of the colony is having the good effect wished, namely—the supply of New Zealand’s demands from her own pits. Up to June, 1878, according to a Parliamentary return recently issued, the whole quantity of coal imported into the colony from New South Wales reached, for the year ending at that date, 144,478 tons, worth in all, Of this quantity, Christ church, with the Springfield and Mal vern pits near at hand, imported 46,000 tons; Wellington, 36,000; Dunedin, 37,000; and Auckland, 30,000. Timaru only took 7000. Native coal throughout the colony is every day be coming more popular, and as consumers become more fully alive to the fact that the interests of the colony are their own, and, acting on this belief, extend a more hearty and undivided patronage to the pits of their own colony, the time will draw near when the Parliamentary returns of coal imported will register a blank line, and show figures in .the ex port side instead. The mineral re sources of the colony are as yet only tapped, and their full development is only a question of time, but when the full marrow of our underground wealth is reached, and it is shown what really is hid beneath the surface of the country, we shall no longer be depen dent upon either sister colonies or the Old Country for coal, stone, or rnetals, but shall be able to supply ourselves at our own doors, wtth sufficient of each for all our wants, and have something over for others less blest who may be in want of minerals.

The Foresters’ Entertainment. — Last night the only fault that could be found with, the Foresters’ entertainment was the attendance —that was not nearly what it should have been, and the superior character of the entertainment deserved a better recognition. We hope that to-night for Mrs. Hoskins’ benefit a better house will assemble than came together last night, when not many over 100 were present. The first piece on the

programme last evening, after Mrs. W. E. j Paige’s excellent piano solo, was Miss j Annie Permain’s song, “We gathered shells. ” The other musical pieces were “ Her sweet smile,” and another, by Miss Thorpe, a young lady new to Ashburton, but who will be heard again, as she was last night, with much pleasure ; the duet “ Albion’s Boast,” by Messrs. Wilson and Pratt, whose efforts were well appreciated ; and Mi’. Branson’s “ La Pesca,” by Tito Matei, Mr. Branson as usual receiving an encore. Mr. Jacobson delivered with great power the touching poem, “ Boom for the leper,” and last but not least Mrs. Hoskins read, as it is seldom read, “ Mary, Queen of Scots.” The piece has been read so often, and every budding elocutionary genius fancies himself equal to the task of doing it full justice, that when the title is announced most people who know it shudder with the presentiment of agony to come. But last night Mrs. Hoskins undertook a task for which she was in every way qualified, as the result proved, for, beyond the inattention and forgetful ness or ignorance of good manners evinced by one or two at the back of the hall, who ought to have known better than to dis turb the audience by a whispered conver sation that injured the effect of the more pathetic passages, “ Mary, Queen of Scots” was listened to with rapt attention. So also was Mrs. Hoskins’ other contribution, Tennyson’3 “May Queen.” The second part of the programme was. the farce of “ The Area Belle. ” Mrs. Hoskins played the “ Area Belle ” with her characteristic liveliness, and the other parts were played by local amateurs. “ Mrs. Croaker ” was personated by Mr. Pixley, whose make-up was “immense.” “ Tosser,” of the “ milingtary,” was represented by Mr. Zouch, and “ Pitcher,” of the police, by Mr. Jacobson, and between the two the audience was kept in roars of laughter. “Pitcher’s” local song, to the tune of “Far Away,” was a decided hit, and will doubt less be remembered by those who heard it. “ Chalks,” the milkman, found an excellent representative in Mr. R. 11. Pratt. To-night a change will take place in the concert programme, and some other attractions will be added, but “ The Area Belle ” will be repeated, when we hope the public will show their appreciation of local talent by being present in large numbers.

Accident. —Yesterday about 1 o’clock, a son of Mr. Olsen, merchant, about four years of age, had been put to please him upon a horse by a young man in Mr. Olsen’s employ. The horse gave a slight shy, and precipitated the child to the ground. He alighted on his head, and received so serious injury, that he has not returned to consciousness, and the worst results are feared.

The Plains Water Supply. —ln his report to the Council to-day—which we. will publish in full in our next issue—the County Engineer expressed his disbelief in the Rakaia River as a source of supply, and selected the Pudding Hill Creek as a point from which a never-failing and abundant supply could be drawn. He submitted two schemes for conveying and distributing the water —one by a G-ineh glazed earthenware pipe for ten miles, and two branches of 4-inch pipes, the other providing for a smaller supply, with smaller pipes. Testimonial. About 20 gentlemen (residents at Tinwald) met together last evening, at Scott’s Hotel, for the purpose of presenting a purse of sovereigns to Mr. Donaldson, late station-master at Tinwald. Mr. Escott presented the testimonial on behalf of the subscribers, and wished the recipient success in his new sphere. Mr. Donaldson acknowledged the gift in an appropriate speech, and the meeting separated. Rakaia. —We would remind those in terested in Masonry of the inauguration ceremony of the South Rakaia Lodge, in the Town Hall this evening; also the banquet which is to follow. Electoral Rolls.— The Registrar for the County of Selwyn has received the following new claims to vote :—Christ church 179, Coleridge 157, Selwyn 29, Heathcote GO, and Avon 29. Grain at Railway Stations.— ln spit e of the removal of. 12,000 sacks of grain from the various stations on Monday, nearly 30,000 bags had accumulated the same night. . The largest lots were as follows :—Ashburton, 2,300 bags ; Rakaia, 2,000 ; St. Andrews, 1,391; N. Waitaki, 2,000 ; Makikiki, 1,300 ; Horndon J unc tion, 1,300 ; and Chertsey 1,800 bags. ,

Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court. —The April sitting of the Supreme Court will commence on Monday next, when the criminal sessions will be opened by His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston.

Telegraph Extension to Pang it at a. A telegraph office, for railway purposes, has now been opened at South Rangitata. “ The Times ” suggests that should it be necessary for public requirements there is little doubt but that this office might be made available for outside messages if application were made in the proper quarter. A Monstrosity. —A cow, belonging to Mr Henry Meyers, of Oxford, gave birth to a calf on Friday last which had two noses, two mouths, and four eyes. Two of the eyes were in their proper position in the head,, and the two extra one a little above and between the others. The noses and mouths ■were on both sides of its head.— ■“ Times.” A Bad-Smelling Joke. — A Northern exchange tells the following yarn “An amusing incident happened at a recent meeting of the Water Supply Corporation. The turncock produced a lump of a vege table substance which he had found grow ing in the tile pipes which lead into the reservoir. It was passed round and scanned, but not very minutely, for as soon as each member took it into his hand he passed it on to his neighbour, the reason being that it emitted a most ob jectionable odour, closely resembling that of a Maori black bug. It was returned to the fireplace; but still the room was filled with the odour, and a general moving back of chairs 'ensued. The astonished turncock declared that when he brought the stuff into the room it had no scent; but after the members had risen it trans pired that a: well-known member, of the County Council for a country district (and a practical joker) had secretly dropped some eucalypti, or gum leaf essence, on the stuff, which acted on it, causing the odour which pervaded the chamber.”

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the County Council was held to-day. Pros' n . .—Messrs. W. C. Walker, E. G. Wright, John Grigg, and E. S. Coster. chairman’s statement. A copy of the resolution passed at the last sitting of the Council —stating that, unless the Government saw fit to author se the necessary expenditure from the Geral dine County towards the extension of the Rangitata Road Bridge, the Council would, decline any further responsibility con nected with that ' bridge—had been forwarded to the Government, accompanied by a letter from the Chairman of the Ashburton County Council, pointing out that under the circumstances that was the only course for the county to adopt. The Government have replied that it had no power to stop such moiety out- of the sub sidies falling due to the County of Geral dine, but regretting that so useful a work should be jeopardised by the present state of the law. The Government’s answer does not remove the difficulty, and' leaves affairs as they were at last meeting of the Council. The Geraldine Road Board declines to withdraw from the position they have taken in the matter, and sug gests that, as there is ' a probability of the bridge being used as a railway bridge, the Government Engineer for the Middle Island should be consulted before any expenditure is incurred. After referring to the Rangitata Ferry, the Chairman stated that he had agreed on behalf of the Council to a subsidy of £75 per annum for one year for Dobbin’s Ford, at South Rakaia, understanding that arrangements could be made for that sum.; The question of subsidy, however, would be open to consideration at the end of the year. He was advised by the Rakaia Board that such a ford was urgently wanted. Re garding the question of . planting, the Chairman had no doubt the Plantation Board would be able to make a commence ment with planting some of the reserves, but suggested that, if the Council could give encouragement to planting generally over the county, a more appreciable change would be produced upon the peculiarities of our climate. The subject might be entrusted to a committee. Ten ders had been invited for the erection of a poundkeeper’s house, and the building would probably be completed .before the next meeting. He asked power to call for tenders for fencing the site also. Tenders for the County Hospital building would be placed before the Council at its May meeting. The conference between the Borough and the County had lapsed for want of a quorum. The Chairman suggested that Government should be be recommended to appoint Mr. Guinness Judge of the Assessment Court, Mr. Campbell having been removed. The valua tion lists for Mt. Hutt and Rakaia Ridings would be«on view till the 3rd of May, but the others had been signed by the Judge. Several slaughter-house licenses had been applied for. The Chairman then gave a resumd of the routine business done by himself during the month, amongst which lie said he had thanked Mr. Bruce for the design for a seal, and informed him that the Council had adopted a seal which the Agricultural and Pastoral Associatioii could see if they wished when it came to hand. The re jected valuation list for South Rakaia had been returned to Mr. Makeig. The Com missioner of Crown Lands had been re quested to recommend the Administrator of the Colony to declare the. reserve known as “A Public Domian for the Town of Ashburton,” and used as such, to be brought under the Public Reserves Act, 1877. The Registrars of Dogs had been instructed to accept cash only in payment of collars, and to refuse cheques,, and to forward monthly returns of collars sold, for the guidance of the police. >: THE RANGITATA BRIDGE. ; “ The Secretary to the Geraldine Road Board wrote, communicating that Board’s resolution to adhere to its decision regard ing the traffic bridge, and pointing out that, in view of the possible conversion of the bridge into a railway bridge, it would be desirable to consult .the Engineer for the Middle Island before spending money on repairs. From the Under Secretary, Public Works Office, referring (in answer to the County’s recommendation) to the 85th section of the Public Works Act, 1876, which imposes the recovery of the moiety of this work upon the controlling County, and stating that Government had no power to stop such "moiety out of the subsidy due to the_..County of Geraldine, and expressing. ! also . , regret that this state of the law je'opardisec the execution of a usefnl work, but hoping that no difference of opinion among the counties concerned as to their respective liabilities, would prejudice interests which were com mon to both.

Mr. Wright proposed Geraldine Council be informed that the materials ordered for ' the Rangitata Bridge will shortly arrive, but no further steps will be taken towards the construc tion of the bridge until the Counties Act be brought into force in the Geraldine County, or until the . Road Boards in the Geraldine County contribute half the total cost of the work.” Mr. Grigg se conded the motion which was carried.. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Union Bank, informing the Council that the fixed deposit receipt of £IO,OOO matured on the 14th inst. . • From the Rakaia and Ashburton Forks Railway, enclosing- copies -of correspon dence with the Government on the subject of the extension of the Company’s line, and stating that after an interview, the Minister of Public Works favored an ex tent! on as forming a section of the pro posed interior main line. From the Mayor of Christchurch, asking the county’s co-operation in . urging the Government to hold the next sitting of Parliament in Christchurch. From Mr 0. Reed,; asking , the Council to use its exertions, to have' the original plan of planting stations maintained on the Ashburton and Mt Somers railway, as he was informed that it was the intention of the Government to establish a station im mediately behind Mr. Allan M’Lean’s homestead, which alteration would entail inconvenience upon the settlers around Westerfield. The land given by' Mr. Reed wa* given on the understanding that a station should be -fixed near Westerfield, and he asked the Council to see justice done.

engineer’s report. After considering the engineer’s report, the Council adjourned for lunch.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

London, March 30,

The Great Powers have accepted in principle the suggestion of the mixed occupation of Roumelia. . Germany and France refuse contingents.

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, April. 1

. The quarter’s revenue shows a falling off .of -£ 74,000, compared with the cor responding quarter of 1878. The fund revenue alone produced Customs have decreased and railways increased.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS.

The Vote of Censure,

London, March 31

Sir Charles Dilke’s motion, censur ing the]Governmentfor undertaking the Zulu war was lost by 60 votes —the figures being,—For, 246 ; Against 306. The Revenues The Board of Tradfe revenue returns show a clear income of being an increase of three millions and a third, chiefly supplied by the income tax and Customs revenue. Garibaldi and the New Guinea Expedition. General Garibaldi vehemently op poses his son Menotti’s scheme for an Italian Colonisation of New Guinea. Melbourne, April. 2.

Beef tallow 335. The Commissioners have decided to request the Marquis of Normanby to invite the Prince and Princess of Wales to open the Exhibition.-

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

INTERPROVINCIAL. : , Auckland, Wednesday. The writ against Mr. W. L. Rees, M.H.R., for damages at the suit of Mr. J. S. M‘Farlane, M.H.R., as trustee in the estate of the late Capt. Reed has been issued, and sent to Napier for service. Mr. George MT.enn, M.H.R for Waikouaiti, has been making a tour of the Thames district, and portions of the North.

The proceeds of the Kaitangata sports were £7O. The half has beep handed to the committee. Goodfellow the athlete, who paid the prizes and ex penses, lost by the transaction. Private letters from Wellington state that Sir Hercules Robinson will pro bably be at Waikato at the Native Meeting in company with the Premier, as the Waikato chiefs desire to see their new ruler.

Dr. Slade, the spiritulist arrived by the. Australia en route for San Fran cisco. He was waited upon by ad mirers, and held a meeting. He went into a trance and delivered a lengthy lecture.. 7..

The Inspector of Miners Rights and Business Licenses at the Thames is making a raid on defaulters. Wellington, Weduesday. The Premier retnrned in the Hine moa last night. The Loch Fergus Affray.

At the Coroner’s inquest on the cook of the . Loch .Fergus,.. who / died from wounds received in the affray with an apprentice of the vessel, the jury found a verdict to the effect that deceased had died from a blow on the head in flicted by the apprentice Jones with a a capstan bar in self defence. Jones has now been committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter. Railway Returns. The following is a statement of re ceipts and expenditure, approximately given but correct, except so far as yet Unchecked by credit Tor the audit fo the four ~ weeks eriding 7th March 187.9 *•—

The excess of receipts over expenditure is £27,600 18s. 7d., . j rf . ; Blenheim, Wednesday.

The Education Board and the Borough Council have resolved to give all their support to the new paper in stead of the Express. *>' ( Invercargill, Wednesday. 332 new claims to vote have been registered for Mataura, and 113 for Invercargill. The train from Invercargill to the Bluff has been so altered as that visitors can reach the Port the same afternoon of their arrival in Dunedin.

SOUTH RAKAIA SCHOOL COM MIT PE E MEETING.

A meeting of the above committee was held on Monday, April 1. Present—Mr. Brimicombe (Chairman), Messrs. Gaarder, Makeig, Shellock,-and Welsh. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Chairman reported having received £ll Os. 3d. for incidental expenses for the March quarter. Mr. Gaarder reported that lie had waited on Mr. Mann re proceeds of the entertainment, and was informed that, as soon as all claims against the fund were paid, the balance would be handed over to the committee.

A letter was received, tendering the resignation of Mrs. Cox as assistant mistress, which, was accepted.

Mr. Cox’s retirement was next con sidered. Mr. Shellock proposed, and Mr. Welsh seconded, that the committee re commend the Board of Education to accept the retirement of Mr. Cox, his retiring allowance to be left to the discre tion of the Board.

Mr. Makeig proposed and Mr. Shellock seconded—“ That the Chairman ask the Board to date the retirement of Mr. and Mrs. Cox as near as possible together so as to enable the Committee to advertise for a new Master and Mistress at the same time” —Carried. The Chairman was authorised to obtain coal and firewood for the use of the school room, and it was resolved —“That the children be allowed one week’s holiday at Easter. ” Mr. Shellock undertook to have the tussocks cleared from the playground. The Chairman was requested to write again to the Board of Education re School Reserve. The Committee then ad journed.

BRET HARTE.

(From Vanity Fair.) One and forty years ago there was born to a poor schoolmaster in New York a son. The schoolmaster died while his son was yet a boy, and left him no inheritance be yond a splendid set of brains, provided with which Bret Harte, at the earliest possible age, set about doing something. He first obtained employment in a store in New York. At 17 he gave up this calling for a more adventurous .life and went to San Francisco, and thence to the mines of Sonora, in a province bordering on Mexico, at that time in a very unset tled state. Here he tried schoolmastering with indifferent success. He then became a compositor and a writer in the office of a local newspaper. He then attempted to found a newspaper. He essayed min ing and every occupation that the time and the country could offer. At this time, among all the other things which had suggested themselves to him, he had no idea of that calling which is, called literary ; he had indeed been taught some what to " despise the literary career, and would himself have preferred to be by profession a lawyer or a rich man. But it so chanced that, drawing upon his own experience, he threw off a short tale called ‘ ‘ The Luck of Roaring Camp. ” He was now twenty-seven, and had somehow come to be the editor of a magazine. This tale made tlie fortune of the magazine and' began the Reputation of Bret Harte, which was carried to its height when, in the fol lowing year, he published the short poem of “The Heathen Chinee.” Those who could judge, and even those who could not judge, saw at once that a distinctly,new man, with a clearly new vein of humor and a new field of observation, had appeared in print; and from that time to this he has reaped the full advantage of an unvarying career of success. No living writer can so seize upon the strong points of a strong tale and tell it so simply and so forcibly. “ Tennessee’s Partner,” which he himself considers to be. his best,- and “ Santa Claus,” which is even more touching, have shown that his is a master hand; and it is a pity that he ever should have written these parodies of the novelists which might have been produced by any literary hack. Bret Harte has been fortunate in his career. No article of his ever was re jected ; he has always been well paid ; and he so enjoys his own work that the reading of. proofs is still to him one oh the greatest pleasures. He is now the United States Consul at Crefeld.

A MECHANICAL ROAD VEHICLE.

Mr. W. B. Tegetmier describes in the Field a form of road-carriage to be driven by mechanical power. The: in vention is so remarkable, and, if it per forms all that is claimed for it, is likely to have such important results, that we reproduce the description : “ Opening the doors of a shed, the inventors pulled out a carriage with closely resembled an ordinary dog-cart, but with this difference —that the shafts were very short and inclined together, meeting about two feet in front of the splash-board ) between them was a •third wheel, working on an upright shaft, which was capable of being turned by a horizontal handle, in the same manner as the driving-wheel of a bicycle. This handle was worked by reins which were held in the hands of the driver. For a few seconds I was puzzled as to the motive power, as I saw no signs of any. Going to the back, Mr. Blackburn lifted an opening, and striking a match placed it in the interior. He apologised for keeping me about a minute and a half whilst he turned a small handle, like that of a coffee-mill) and then blandly invited to get up. Our course lay over a piece of rough waste ground) in some places, there was no roadway) further bn a corduroy road of railway sleepers, was laid to afford a passage for brick carts over the uneven surface ; now we were- on level ground, then we went down a slope between to bushes that barely gave our vehicle room to pass, j Again we turned sharply round an ugly corner, when I mentally resolved to, insure for a thousand if I were but spared this time. During all these wanderings, in cluding some gyrations in a 20-feet ring, we had been going at the rate of

eight miles per hour, when we ap proached a very awkward declivity. I accidentally, as it were, inquired whether it was possibe to stop easily, when the machine was pulled up with a sudden ness that nearly sent me on the horse’s back —I beg pardon—on to the guiding handle. We then started on a slow pace, which /was quickened at will till the full speed was obtained. This amusement lasted about half an Hour, when Mr. Blackburn asked me if I was quite satisfied with the practicability of the caiyand its capability of being directed easily and of being arrested, slowed, or quickened in its action. I could truly answer in the affirmative.

“ The motive power is obtained by the combustion of benzoline, a small jet of which is admitted into the burner. It is then set on fire, and is completely ' consumed by a current of air, which until the machine is in action; is pro duced by turning the - small handle Y already alluded to. The burner, about./ the size of an ordinary chimney-pot hat and quite as elegant, is lined by coils of a copper tube containing water; this; tube is calculated to bear 2000 lbs. on the square inch, and in working receives only 60 lbs. ; so that practically it is' ? not likely to burst, and if such an accident did occur, the result would , not beserious, as the whole tube contains * only a pound of water. The steam generated in this . tube passes at one end into the cylinders/, of. a small torpedo engine, which/ rotates.;. a\ horizontal shaft; it then passes into a cooler,. where it is condensed by the effect of a current of - cold air driven against the outside of the vessel by" a revolving fan, "and;the! water so pro duced is forced back.into the other end of the tubular boiler by a force pump; hence there is riot the slightest escape of steam, ndf there any smoke, as the benzoline is entirely consumed by the current of air.! The’revolving engine shaft works the driving shaft, .hot, directly, but by the medium of two cones placed side by side, their bases being reversed in position. A figure of 8 band connects the two ; and;-as it is moved towards the base of one it nears the apex of the other, and thus increases or diminishes the speed of the driving shaft, which is connected with the driving-wheel, by an endless band. “ With regard to the advantages claimed for. this invention, I cannot do better'than let Mr Blackburn speak for himself; but I may state that I was much surprised at the efficacy of the machinery, and look upon it as a germ of what may ; not; improbably r .proye, a great revolution in our means of convey ance on common roads.;/ f , “ The most important features of this invention are as follows: The steam re quires no attention from the driver during a drive of many hours. , After filling and lighting the burner; all the driver has. to do during the whole of the drive is to guide the carriage by the reins and vary the pace, or stop or start by sliding his foot on the pedal. This entire freedom from the usual trouble of watching and regulating the fire and water is essential to the use of strain in carriages in the hands of ordinary drivers. The next important feature is the impossibility of damage from ex plosion, owing to the fact of there never being-more than about , one pound of water sribject to heat at any one time ; and so small a quantity would do no harm even if it could burst the strong half-inch pipe in which it is contained. An important feature is the facility with which the driver by sliding his foot on a pedal can apply the power of the en gine to giving either speed.on the.level or slow powerful draft uphill. About 400,000 private carriages/pay duty, and about 40,000 new carriages are built annually. ; If the average cost of keep ing a- qis. £.ip6ps. v year, must be spent, annually in private conveyance. ThdTpresent carriage travels, about eight miles on hour on. the level and . about four miles up moderate AhiUs,! ( ;/T!he-> weight of the steam power 'does notaddto the weight of an ordinary dogcart more than about ißolbs. The long distances which can be covered day by day be yond the capabilities of a horse, and the absence of all expense'when not actually in use, combined with the small cost of per mile:* for .'the- benzoline, 'renders -it probable ■’ that light carriages of this description will be: found to supply a great want among a very large number of people to whom cheap pri vate conveyance is of much importance. As these vehicles make no smoke nor objectionable noise, and are as much or more under control ,than a horse, and are not unsightly, it may .be confidently expected that an amendment to the Highways Act will be obtained, freeing carriages of this, description.. from the restrictions Still* imposed on traction engines, . that Act having in view en gines making . loud!noises, arid, of ma chine-like appearance, and not then contemplating carriages .of the present character.” •

The Afghan War. The . Spectator estimates the cost of the war with Afghanistan at twentyffour millions ster ling. A protracted would bring the total to a suni much heyond that figure. “ Atticus,” in the Melbourne Leader of the Ist inst. says The baohelors of eyas of the daughters■; of - her governors. Viscount Canterbury and Sir Hercules Robinson have found sons-in-law at, the- antipodes, and the marriage of Sir George. F. Bowen’s eldest daughter with/the son.of a Mel bourne squatter is on the] tapis. The engagement, was sanctioned'the evening before the lady took her departure for Mauritius, whither, no doubt, she will be followed by her suitor. ”

Wednesday, April 2, 1879.]

■mm mmmmmm



RECEIPTS. £ s. d. Kaipara 440 4 4 Auckland 4,595 13 6 Napier 2,462 17 6 Wellington 2,881 5 6 Wanganui 3,131 19 0 New Plymouth ... ... 601 16 6 Grey mouth ...; ; >.. i 722 16 11 Westport ... 152 12 6 Nelson 574 8 2 Pictonr 422 5 1 Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill ... 55,826 19 0 Total Receipts £71,955 19 0 '■EXPENDITURE.; £ s. d. Kaipara 360 15 3 Auckland 3,304 17 1 Napier 1,483 12 7 Wellington 2,818 19 2 Wanganui ... - : ... 1;842 6 2 New Plymouth 430 3 0 Greymouth 369 0 0 Westport 290 11 11 Nelson 499 4- 7 Picton ... ... 357 9 2 Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill ... 33,196 17 7 Total Expenditure £44,454 0 5



Clothing Establishment. ENCOURAGE NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES. TO THE PEOPLE OF THE ASHBURTON DISTRICT. MESSRS. JJ ALLENSTEIN -gltOS. Desire to inform you that a RETAIL BRANCH of the NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY. IS NOW OPEN IN THE NEW BRICK BUILDING ASHBURTON, (Next Bullock & Co.’s Rooms) To effectually introduce their Goods and drive out the imported article they have decided to sell a SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. All goods are marked in plain figures, for net cash only. Any article purchased and not approved of will be exchanged ■with the same courtesy with which it was sold, or, if desired, the money will be returned. The Success which has attended the New Zealand Clothing Fac tory’s Retail Branches in Auck land, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and other towns, leads the Proprietors to believe that there exists a praiseworthy desire on the part of the public to encourage New Zealand Indus tries, especially where superior advantages are offered, and your support is solicited on this understanding only. WILLIAM SPARROW, Manager 467 Ashburton Branch.



Chemists. HERBAL MEDICINES. PERSONS suffering from liver com plaints, coughs, colds, worms, skin diseases, &e., are invited to try Nature’s cheap and universal remedy, ‘‘HERBS.” James Neil, importer of Herbs, and Bo tanic medicines, George street, Dunedin, has appointed MR. J. M. CAMBRIDGE, Chemist, Ashburton, Agent for his highly-extolled medicines, Composition Powder for colds, Dandelion Coffee and Dandelion Pills for liver com plaints, Headache Pills, Botanic Cough Syrup „ Worm Powders ~ Stomach Bitters . „ Blood Purifyer, &c. Roots, Herbs, Barks, &c. of every kind. 370 CAMBRIDGE’S ORANGE-QUININE TONIC WINE IS acknowledged to be the most agreeable and efficacious Tonic Stomachic yet pro duced. ItcontainsthevaluableTonicproper ties ofPeruvianßark (“Quinine”) with the Stomachic properties of the Bitter Seville Orange, so combined as not to be obj eer tionable to the most delicate invalid ; and, as a “BITTERS,” is far superior to all other preparations. Invaluable to all suffering from loss of appetite, indigestion, general debility, ner vous affections, tic, ague, and derange ment of the system. When the stomach has become enfeebled or disarranged by disease, excess, or irregularities, or the appetite is impaired by mental or bodily exertion, or from any cause whatever, it gives a regularity and tone which is not obtained by any other medicine. One, two, or three wine-glass fuls may be taken Muring the day by persons suffering from the above com plaints, with the greatest benefit. It is highly recommended by the medical pro fession to be taken whenever Cod Liver Oil is ordered. By pouring the required dose of the oil into half a wine-glass of the “Orange Quinine Wine” scarcely a flavour of the oil is tasted, and the wine materially assists the oil in its beneficial operations. Price, 4s. Gd. per wine bottle, and sent (carriage free) in cases containing one dozen, at 4Ss. Sold retail by all Chemists, and manufactured by J. M. CAMBRIDGE, MEDICAL HALL ASHBURTON. 3GO Business Notices. Q_ E 0 R G E L L E N, ACCOUNTANT, COLLECTOR, HOUSE, LAND, AND COMMISSION AGENT, Saunders’ New Buildings, Ashburton.



Public Notices. In the District Court of Canterbury, Holden at Ashburton. IN THE MATTER OF The Debtors and Creditors Act, 1876, The Debtors and Creditors Act, Amendment Act, 1878, and of the bankruptcy of Chas. Smitheli, of the County of Ashbur ton, contractor, a debtor. NOTICE is hereby given that Charles Smitheli, of the County of Ashburton, contractor, has this day Lie! >1 the above Court a declaration that he i- unable to meet his engagements with his creditors. The first meeting of creditors will be held at the Dis trict Court, Ashburton, on TUESDAY, the Bth day of April instant, at II o’clock in the forenoon. C. CAVENDISH HURRELL, Clerk of the Court. E. G. CRISP, Solicitor for debtor. 628 HAYES’ TIMBER YARDS, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. ALPHEUS HAYES wishes to inform his customers and the public gene rally that he has RE-OPENED the above yards with a fresh supply of first-class SAWN TIMBER, all sizes ; SAWN STARES & PICKETS ; BLACKPINE&MIXED FIREWOOD. Also, that, having the Waimate Mills now in full operation, orders for Totara and Black Pine for bridge and other purposes can be supplied of any dimensions. 453 W. H. COLLINS, Manager. Hooper, aitken ‘and co. are prepared to make CASH ADVANCES ON GRAIN, OR OTHER PRODUCE Placed in their hands for sale in the Home Markets. *390 WHEAT.' WHEAT. WHEAT. THE Undersigned require a few thou sand Sacks of Very Prime Wheat for Immediate Shipment, and are prepared to Pay the Very Highest Price for same. Apply at once to ROYSE, STEAD, & CO., 541 Ashburton.