The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “ Evening Echo”). WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1879.

fcrhe much vexed question of the Tri enmSj Parliaments Bill has at last passed througtx~all its stages in Committee in the Lower House It has still to be criticised and torn to pieces by the Lords. Although almost every member in the House when on the hustings made a point of stating his political creed to be principally in tl e direction of having this Bill passed, rs well as the Redistribution of Seats Bill It appeared that the members were by n > means unanimous on the subject when

culled tip:m vo give their votes. There seem* d to be a wish on the payt of a section of thr House to liave an extra year's grace accorded them for this Parliament, probably on account of the expense in obtaining their seats, as they wished to nave them secured till February, 1883, but it was eventually decided by 34 to 26 to determine its existence on February 20th, 1882. The present House will thus have two more sessions after the existing one in which to legislato on the affairs of the Colony. There was more unanimity on the Re-adjustment question, as the Government consented to do all in their to endeavour to carry the Bill through this session. Should it be passed there will of course be a new election before the next sitting of the House, and the Coleridge district will undoubtedly gain a member by tire passage of the Bill.

Nkw Telegraph Station. —A telegraph station has been opened at Penrose Junc tion, County Eden.

Drunk. —The Mayor this morning sentenced a man named Leslie, to a fine of 40s or 48 hours’ imprisonment for being drunk last night. Leslie is an old offender. Licensing Court. —The usual quarterly meeting of the Licensing Court for the County of Ashburton and Mount Somers is advertised to be held on Tuesday, 2nd December next.

The Fire Brigade. —At a largely attended meeting of the Fire Brigade last night, some rather severe strictures were passed upon the only employe of the Borough Council, who is supposed to have control over the streets of the town. He was facetiously described as the remains of the engineering staff. Mr Brown appears to have raised the dander of the Brigade in a very simple manner. Some months ago several pump wells were sunk by the Borough Council for the use of the Fire Brigade ; they all acted well except the one in front of Saunders’ Buildings, which had to he driven below the depth at which the pressure of the atmosphere will allow the engine to lift water, and in this case all that was considered necessary was to sink a hole two feet deep in winch to put the engine, and the valves would then be able to overcome the pressure of the air; the whole cost of the work being some eight shillings, and the foreman was instructed to do the work some month or so ago by the engineer. It has not been done, and the members of the Brigade are irate, as, should a fire break out in the block, they have no possible means of controlling it ; and some very severe strictures were passed upon the present engineering staff (Mr Brown). The Bri gade intended doing the work themselves to-day, and practicing at that well to night.

A Terrible Ordeal. — lt takes a great deal to squelch a newspaper reporter, but the way how has been found out in Wel lington. Miss Fiddler is giving lessons in cookery there, and the “ Post ” thus yarns over the “ intensity of the situation” in which the pencilists found themselves :

A table had been placed for the “gentle men of the Press” in front of the platform, and in full range of 200 female eyes of every degree of penetration. It was too much. Fearless as the unhappy reporters usually are in the discharge of their functions, their well-known modesty in this instance got the better of their rigid attention to duty, and they shrinkingly retired to the rear of the imposing array of female loveliness and took their notes in a furtive and fear-stricken manner, which ought to have melted the heart of every female beholder.

TELEGRAPHIC.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE

( Reuto' s Telegrams.)

Constantinople, Nov. 4.

The Porte has declared its intention to execute the reforms embodied in the Ber lin Treaty.

Sydney, Nov. 4. Arrived—German war vessel Nautilus. The admission to the Exhibition is fixed at a uniform rate of Is.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, Nov. 5.

A man named W. Hudson Dickson was found dead in his bedroom. He had been drinking heavily. The Mayor of Thames left for Welling ton to-day to watch the interests of the Borough in the Assembly. Wangarei Heads, Nov. 5.

A seaman named Eady, belonging to H.M.S. Cormorant, who was thrown from a horse, is in a critical condition, having an arm and leg broken, and his skull fractured.

Wellington, Nov. 5.

An inquest was held last night on the body of Robert Seale, who died suddenly at the National hotel on Thursday last. After a short consultation the jury re turned with a verdict of death from an overdose of chloral, and the following rider was added : —“ We find it a duty we owe to the public at large, to express our condemnation of the reckless manner in which chloral has been handled and dealt outonthepresentjoccassion. Also we would urge upon Government the necessity of putting such restrictions upon the trade as shall prevent the recurrence of such deplorable consequences in future.” The ship Wairoa is off the heads. She brings 200 passengers but no Government immigrants.

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

LAST NIGHT'S CABLEGRAMS

(Render's Telegrams.)

London, Nov. 2,

Orders have been given to the Med ter ranean squadr m. under Adn i.al Hornby, to proceed to Voelas.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 2.

Sir A. H. Layard, British Ambassador, has explained to the Porte that, he British fleet has been ordered to Voelas o 1 account of Great Britain insisting on the

promised reforms in A-uutie-Tipjjey being carried out.

AUSTRALIAN.

Melbourne, Nov. 4. Mr Graham Berry has resumed office as Treasurer. Several arrests of persons using the fotalisator were made last night.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS.

Wanganui, Nov. 4. Kereopa was brought up at the Supreme Court charged with using threatening lan guage. The words used were, “I will work the work of Hiroki and go to Pari haka.” Articles of peace were sworn against him by Major Brown, Civil Com missioner, and he was bound over to keep the peace until the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Wanganui—himself in £SOO, and two sureties of £250 each. The Agricultural Show, to be held on Thursday, is anticipated will prove a great siicces-s.* Special trains will be laid on from Rangitikei. The Manawatu Spring Races are on Friday, and the cricket match between Wellington and Wanganui on Monday. Wellington, Nov. 4.

Yesterday a Committee on the Govern ment banking arrange/ lents met and examined Mr Tolhurat relative to Mr Murdoch’s letter, intimating that the existing arrangements must determine in six months from Oct. 1. Mr Tolliurst’s reply was that the letter being from his superior officer he could not venture to put any interpretation upon it. The letter itself was before the Committee. It is understood that the Committee will report adversely to the suggestion that tenders for the banking account be called for ; but the Committee will not make any positive recommendations as to what concessions should be made to the Bank of New Zealand. It will leave the Go vernment to settle that question. Greymouth, Nov 4.

The winners of the first prize in Cameron’s sweep on the Melbourne Cup are the engineer of the Dispatch, be longing to this port, P. Splaine, em ployed on board the same boat, and Mr Casey. The holders of the first prize in Tonk's sweep is a company of ten Grey moutli residents. The second prize has gone to Reefton, and the third to Mr Carter, of Marsden, in this county. Timaru, Nov. 4.

The principal exports from Timaru last month were 78,000 bushels of wheat, 25,820 bushels of oats, 1750 cases of pre served meats, 154 bales of wool, and 200 casks tallow, besides minor quantities of flour, pollard, skins,&c. The first vessel was brought alongside the Timaru breakwater this morning, where she was unloaded, ballasted, ancl hauled out again by 4 p.m. A great crowd witnessed the event. The formal ceremony in honor of the successful com pletion of the first section of the break water will take place on Friday next, when a grand banquet will be held on the breakwater, and a general holiday be ob served. There are 14 feet of water now alongside 150 feet of the breakwater. Dunedin, Nov. 4.

A little girl named Dolan, living at Southbridge, near Milton, aged two years, was burned to death on Saturday morning through her clothes catching fire.

The City Council to-day resolved— “ That the Town Clerk be instructed to intimate to the proprietor of the Princess Theatre that the continuation of the ob jectionable portions of the performances now being given by the Loftus troupe, or the recurrence of such entertainments in future will involve the suspension or can cellation of his license.” The national industrial Association has sent a telegram to Mr E. C. J. Stevens, M.H.R., Wellington, suggesting altera tions in the tariff as follows : That sugar be admitted free of duty, tea 6d per lb, coffee 4d to Gd, wines, other than Aus tralian, 6s per gallon, sparkling wines Bs, spirits 153 per proof gallon, jewellery and plate 25per cent ad valorem, cigars 7s 6d per lb, tobacco 3s, manufactured tobacco 2s 6d.

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, Nov. 4.

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The House met at 2’30 p.m. THIRD READING. The Napier Swamp Nuisance Amend ment Bill was read a third time and passed.

NOTICES OF MOTION. Sir G. Grey gave notice that he would move for leave to introduce a Bill to establish an elective Legislative Council. Mr Montgomery gave notice that he would move in Committee on the Elec toral Bill —“ That no elector be allowed to have his name placed on more than one roll in the Colony.” QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that Government recognised the impor tance of rendering less expensive the procedure in the Divorce Courts, so that it shall not he necessary for suitois to appeal to the Court of appeal, hut they doubted if the question could he dealt with this session. As far as possible Government would cause an equitable adjustment of expenditure upon public works to be made as between the different Provinces. If possible, a Bill would be prepared to reduce fees payable for patents by half the present amount. Government would, during the recess, consider the expediency of amending the “Offences against the Persons Act.” Government was not yet prepared to state what steps would be taken with the Maori prisoners. Provision had been made for the erection of a Court-house at Cambridge. The next section of the Lumsden-Mararoa Railway would be ready for inviting tenders in two months. The amount paid for the Piako swamp was £13,152, the capital value of the property £200,300, and the value set down under the Land Tax Act, £12,080. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—Gold Duty Abo lition, Rating Act, 1870, Amendment

(Mr Seddon), to regulate the laying out of towns on private land (Mr ThoiijS"})), to amend the Otago ij »ys’ and Girls’ High School Act, 1877 (Mr Hqlleston), tp yegu late and restrict the immigration of Chinese (Hon J. Hall). salaries. A message was read from the Governor, recommending the making of provision for the payment of salaries, &c. In Committee £400,000 was granted, and an Appropriation Bill for that amount was passed through all its stages. THE MAORI PRISONERS. Messrs Tamoana and Tawhai complained that the Government had not given more definite information as to the Maori prisoners. The Hon W. Rolleston replied that at present Government had no intention of interfering with the ordinary course of the law. The matter, however, was one of impoi’ta ice, and would be carefully con sidered. REDISTRIBUTION OF SEATS. On the motion of going into Com mittee of Supply, Sir G. Grey pointed out that from the position of the Readjustment of Seats Bill on the Order Paper, Government evidently did not intend passing that measure this session. Some distinct pledge on the subject should be exacted from Government. The Hon J, Hall said Government was anxious to deal with the. subject this session, if possible. There were certain Bills that would have to be passed, and when they were gone through, the Re adjustment measure would be pushed through if time permitted. Mr Moss urged that there was a unity of principle running through the whole of the measures, and if they were taken piece meal that unity should be destroyed. Mr De Lautour moved as an amend ment —“ That the House was determined to do all in its power to pass a Bill for the readjustment of representation this ses sion.” The Hon. J. Hall said Government was prepared to accept the amendment, which, on being brought to a division was carried by 55 to 5. MAORI REPRESENTATION. The Hon. J. Hall moved the second reading of the Maori Representation Bill. The subject was a difficult one to deal with, and Government were prepared to receive suggestions in Committee. Mr Macandrew objected to the Bill, saying it would give double the present number of representatives to the Maoris. Mr Sheehan said the Bill was defective, as it precluded half-castes from being re turned as Maori representatives, and not unfrequently that class were found to be the most eligible from which to elect re presentatives. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.

EVENING SITTING.

On the House resuming, Mr Kelly continued the debate. Modi fications were needed, and with the view of providing for these, he would move the adjournment of the debate. The Hon. J. Bryce admitted that the Bill as it stood, was not so well adapted as it might be for enabling the one race to merge into the franchise exercised by the other. He would propose the ad journment of the debate, as the shortest way for arriving at the solution of the difficulty. Sir G. Grey said that the Bill proposed a great wrong to the Natives. In the early days the Maori protected the Euro peans on the distinct understanding that they woidd be provided with equal rights and privileges with Europeans. This Bill would have rhe effect of witholding these. He advised that it should be abandoned altogether. The Hon. W. Rolleston denied that a wrong was intende* to be done to the Maories. He would agree to a postpone ment of the measure, so as to enable the amendments to be made in the direction indicated.

(By Telegraph To Day.) The debate was continued by Mr Bal lauce, Colonel Trimble, Messrs Moss, and Tainui, who all objected to portions of the Bill. Ultimately Government con sented to the adjournment of the debate. TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS. The Triennial Parliaments Bill then passed through Committee. It was proposed to make the existing Parliament expire on the 28th February, 1883, but an amendment was moved to make it expire on the 20th February, 1882. This was carried by 34 to 26. The House rose at 12.5 p.m.

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNTY.

The usual monthly meeting was held at the Road Board office to-day. Present : Messrs Walker (Chairman), Grigg, Cameron, Jackson and Reid. chairman’s statement. Since. last meeting the conference to consider the question of dealing with the storm water on the South Rakaia Plains, has been held, at which conference Mr Cameron, at my request, represented this Council. A letter from the South Rakaia Road Board, forwarding a copy of a reso lution passed at that conference, will be placed before you to-day. A letter from the member for the district will be laid before you, by which you will see that the Government have promised to take in hand the extension of the Rangitata Traffic Bridge, utilising the materials imported by this Council, and complete the work, debiting half the cost to the County of Geraldine. This County’s share of expenditure already incurred will he received from the Government in full particulars. I know you will he glad to hear that at last this matter has been so satisfactorily arranged through the repre sentations of the member for this district. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchurch, forwards a letter in which he suggests that the Council should apply to the Government for all ferry and gravel reserves within the County.

This, I think, will meet your views, and you will he pleased no doubt to act on the suggestions. I suggest that you should take some steps towards obtaining a supply of dog collars for If 81, for if you should decide on inviting to lders for the srpply, this year will 1 e nearly ended he foie the collars can coni' to hand.

Under the authority of the bye-laws for conducting the business of the Council, I

have placet] the Council's seal to the agreement with the pounjkeaper, Hinds, and the ne>v poundkeepev at Ashburton. The Engineer reports that the contrac tor has commenced the Bridge at Digby’s, an t that the work so far is satisfactory.

The balance sheet for the six months ended Sept. 30, duly audited by your auditor, will be placed on the table. I should like you to decide at this meet ing what is to be done regarding the plant ing vote to the Borough, which was held over from last meeting. I regretted to see that the Borough Council at a meeting held immediately after the last sitting of this Council, appeared to take a mistaken view of the manner in which the Mayor was received by the Council, and to have entirely over looked the resolution passed by this Council in reference to the subjects which the Mayor placed before the Council. I felt it my duty to represent matters fairly to the Mayor, hoping lie would see fit to withdraw all statements resulting from the misunderstanding. I regret that no reply has been received to my letter. By the Counties Act, 1876, Section 07, the annual meeting is to be held on the fourth Wednesday of this month, to elect a Chairman. I would suggest the advis ability of holding our next meeting on the same day, as the new offices will probably be ready for occupation about that date, and it would be convenient not to hold the meeting during the process of changing our offices.

The Acclimatisation Society has been offering trout gratis for distribution within the County. I have accepted 2500, and have incurred small expenses incidental with their transit I trust the Council will endorse my action in this matter.

RIVER CONSERVATION. Mr E. G. Wright wrote as follows : “To the Chairman Ashburton County Council. “ Wellington, Nov. Ist, 1879.

“Dear Sir—l want the technical descrip tion of the boundaries of the land which you desire to have brought under the con trol of a Board of Conservators. Mr Fooks will be able to write it out in a few minutes if you will indicate to him on the map the limits of the proposed district. “ The only information sent to me is ‘ from Digby’s to the eastern boundary of the Town Belt ” which is not sufficiently precise, and to my thinking too small a district, but whatever you decide upon let me have the information at once.

“ Yours faithfully, “E. G. Weight.” It was resolved to forward the necessary information. RANCITATA TRAFFIC BRIDGE. On this subject Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.R., wrote, “ Wellington, Oct. 28th, 1879. “Dear Sir—After considerable trouble I have got a promise from the Minister of Public Works to lake in hand the Rangi tata bridge, and complete the work which we had begun, utilizing the materials im ported for the work, and debiting half the cost to the County of Geraldine. Of course we shall receive full value for our expenditure on the settlement of the ac counts —and with this object it will be ne cessary to furnish the Public Works De partment with a full’statement of such ex penditure together with the invoices of the iron piles &c. “lean explain more fully the objec tions raised to taking over this work when I see you. The main difficulty was with the law advisers.

“ The above question being settled leaves the Council free to adopt any plan they may approve of for the bridge at Peter’s crossing, but I would earnestly re commend the use of iron piles, as I feel convinced that wooden ones will not drive far enough in such a river bed to render them secure against scour, in times of high floods. The difference in cost will not tie great as compared with the advantage of having indestructible piles. “I endeavored to get tenders called for the balance of the Mount Somers Railway, but ar the Estimates are not yet passed the most I could obtain was an order to prepare the drawing and specifications, and get everything ready for inviting tenders.

“ Yours faithfully, “ E. G. Wright.” It was resolved that a vote of thanks be recorded to Mr Wright. STORM-WATER ON THE PLAINS. The following letter was read : “To the Chairman Ashburton County Council. “ Sir, — I have the honor to forward you, for the consideration of the County Council, the following resolution passed at the Conference of delegates from the County Council and Road Boards inter ested, held at Rakaia to consider the report of the storm-water drainage of the plains on the 23rd instant —That in the opinion of this Conference, consisting of delegates from the County Council, Mount Somers, Mount Hutt, Upper Ashburton, and South Rakaia Road Boards, the scheme for the purpose of carrying off the storm-waters between Rakia and Ashbur ton rivers submitted by the engineers, would be advantageous to the district, and is urgently required, they also recommend that roads should not be used for channels in carrying out the works. “I have, &c., “C. N. Mackie. “Chairman of Conference.” HOLIDAYS ON SHOW AND RACE DAYS. The Secretary Ashbutron Racing Club wrote as follows : “ Ashburton, Oct. 31st, 1879. The Chairman Ashburton County Council. Sir, —I am instructed by the Ashbur ton Racing Club to request that you will use your influence to have Wednesday and Thursday, 19th and 2Cth November (being the days on which the races will be held), declared public holidays, under the Act after 12 noon. I have, &c., James Wilkie, Hon. Sec., Ashburton Racing Club.” RANGITATA FERRY. Mr John Marshman wrote detailing the action previously taken with respect to the Rangitata ferry reserve, and stat ing that he would prefer to have it made 20 chains in length and bounded by the top of the tirrace. Concerning the right of the County to have reserves vested in then, Mr Marshman said: —“I see no reason why the County of Ashburton sho Id not have all the ferry reserves wit lin the County, and the gravel reserves abo, as the County of Selwyn has had. Why not make an application to the Min ster to the effect.”

OppSING A HOAD, A letter w;\*i read from Mr E, Chapman, Chairman of the Mount Hutt Road Board, stating that the Board had taken the necessary steps to close a road at Methven. BOROUGH PLANTING RESERVE. Mr Garrick telegraphed that the Council could not make grants to the Borough for planting within the belts but they may expend funds in planting property in their occupation if the tenure is such as to warrant the outlay. STORM WATER— lIAKAIA. Mr Cameron stated that all those at tending the Conference, except the repre sentative of the Mount Hutt Board, were unanim us in agreeing to the recommenda tions of the Engineers. ' Mr Reed said that at a meeting of the Upper Ashburton Board Mr Stitt had stated that there were dry channels which could be utilised.

Mr Grigg said the County had now sufficient before them to show that it was necessary to make a comprehensive scheme, and that the funds of the County would not admit of their doing so. Either a Bill would have to be brought in or the lands taxed to pay the cost. The County's chief duty was to enable ratepayers to help themselves, by adopting tbe measures which night be embodied in an Act, to take effect this session if time allowed.

The Chairman did not consider it ad visable to attempt borrowing, and pointed out that the limit of the borrowing powers of the County was four times the amount of collectable rates, and the probable rating power of the County would be about £4,030 per annum. No Bill could be sent to the General Assembly which would gain the House’s confidence The best thing to be doue then was t a correct drainage plan of the C

the preparation of which the almost imperative. He woul Cameron -whether the advice of

gineers to strip a portion of the Flams with a view to the absorption of the water had met the approval of the Conference.

Mr Cameron said the Conference was not unanimous, but his own opinion was that the stripping might do some good, but it would absorb all the water. The proposal to take water by Allen’s was con sidered too expensive, but there was no objection to the scheme proposed for Barr hill ; and the Conference considered it feasible.

The Chairman approved of that part of the report which objected to the use of public roads as storm water channels. It was resolved that the engineer be in structed to prepare drainage maps, show ing the natural run of water in the dis tricts applying for relief.

Mr Grigg proposed— ‘ 1 That public no tice be given cautioning ratepayers that natural water channels must be left open, and that in the formation of roads this matter be kept in view by Boards. ” HOLIDAYS. Resolved—“ That the Show day be a full holiday, and the race days half holidays. ” MOUNT HUTT BOARD ROAD DIVERSION. It was resolved to call a special meeting in compliance with the Act. [Left Sitting.]

Professor Blackie on the Land Laws.

(From the Scotsman.) The eighth annual assembly of the Gaelic Society of Inverness took place recently. Professor Blackie discoursed on the depopulation of the Highlands, and a need of a reform of the land laws. On this latter subject he argued that we must buckle om-selves to the readjust ment of these laws, and he contended that by universal admission they were in some respects the worst possible, and directly calculated to keep un rather than to break down the unnatural antagonism of interests between the lords of the land and the occupiers of the soil to which our present abnormal agrarian condition was mainly attributable. We must, said the Professor, look upon the accumulation of large estates in the hands of a few as an exceptional phenomenon, which a wise legislature will think it a plain duty to counteract rather than to encourage ; and this can easily be done when the duty is once clearly acknowledged, by modi r y : ng the law of succession, b” • ~r.d/r*r>g illegal all testamentary dis: r.f land under whatever guise to pe-son* not yet living, by declaring war, root and branch, against the entail system, by re moving without mercy the artificial hindrances which our system of con veyancing lays on the transfer of landed property, by adjusting our laws of land tenure, so as to make them always lean with a kindly partiality to the weaker rather than to the stronger party in the contract, by setting a strict limit to the spouting propensities of idle gentleman ship in every case when it tends to en croach on the industrial use of soil by im posing a swinging tax on all absentee proprietors, as persons who, whiie they drain the country of its money, make no social return to the district from which they derive their social importance ; and finally, if it should be necessary, by es tablishing a national fund for assisting small tenants and crofters in favorable situations to buy up their tenant-right and constitute themselves into peasant proprietors with absolute ownership, jii the natural course of things, if Britain is not to be ruined, these changes must come; and it were the wisdom of our aristocracy, than wlu m as a whole a more respectable b< dy does not exist in Europe, to take the lead in a series of well-calcu lated reforms tending to give more in dependence and manhood to the cultiva tors of the soil, rather than by opposing them to fan the flame of a great agrarian revolution which may break out vol canically, and overwhelm them perhaps at no distant date.

Special Settlement. Fitzgibbon Touch, Esq., has applied for 25,C00 acres of the lands of Ranguira and Pahilca, Bay of Plenty district, with a view to planting a special settlement thereon after the Vomy-Stewartplan. Should Government grant Mr Touch's request, lie will at once proceed to the United Kingdom to bring out families, witli capital", sufficient to settle the lands, and he is also prepared to Day the sum that may be agreed on by himself and Government. He proposes to apportion one-fifth of the land so granted for settlement by colonists.

Queen Victoria to Abdicate.

The London correspondent of the “ Dundee Advertiser ” in a recent letter, alluding to the abdication of Queen "Victoria, says:—“l have not hitherto alluded to these reports, but they have become so persistent that it would be useless longer to ignore tlioir existence. It is said that for some time past Her Majesty’s health has not been in a very satisfactory state. The death of the Duchess of Hesse gave her a shock, from which she has not recovered, and the celebration of the marriage of the Duke of Connaught exercised a depressing in fluence on her health. The journey to Italy is not a mere holiday trip. Sir W. .Tenner considered that a change of scene, and an almost entire absence from official duty of any kind, were necessary for the Queen, and that is the reason she has buried herself on the secluded shores of an Italian lake. It is no doubt in con sequence of the somewhat gloomy state ments regarding Her Majesty’s health which are passing in society, that the other reports connected with the succession to the throne are also current. It is said that, unless a considerable change in Her Majesty’s health takes place, she will no longer be able to discharge the functions belonging to the Sovereign of the old country, and rumour points to the possi bility of an abcliction. It is an undoubted fact, that since the departure of the Queen for Italy the Prime Minister lias several times seen the Prince of Wales. On Tuesday he had an interview with His Royal Highness of more than an hour’s duration, and. the Prince would seem to be since to some extent discharging the duties of the Queen with regard to public iffairs during her absence in Italy. In a .natter where there is necessarily a good deal of speculation, it would be idle to make definite statements, but there are those who think that a somewhat startling surprise is in store for Parliament before the present session closes.”

The Genesis of Mormonism.

Some novel particulars concerning the origin of Mormonism have been made pub lic in an influential Massachusetts news paper. The grist of the story is that the religion established by Joseph Smith was actually the continuation of a movement begun before his birth. At the opening of the present century several persons in the State of Vermont, the native State of Joseph Smith, the first Mormon Prophet, and Brigham Young, his successor, fancied that they were able to do miracles through the medium of “ St. John’s rods.” With one of these rods in their hands they alleged that they could find herbs and roots which would cure all diseases, could walk in thin garments through deep snow without suffering cold, could discover hidden treasures of gold and silver.' These persons also maintained that.the time was , at hand when the Latter-Day Saints be gathered in and the new Jerusalem should be built The topics on which these enthusiasts expatiated in 1801 are almost identical with those which formed the basis of the Church of the Latter- Day Saints at' its foundation in 1830. Joseph Smith is said to have experimented with a St. John’s rod in searching for the precious metals, one of his earliest em ployments being “ prospecting for a silver mine which the Spaniards were supposed to have worked in Pennsylvania. But he * did not profess to have discovered the re pository of the mysterious, if not mythical, gold plates on which the Mormon Gospel was engraved through any other agency than a dream. Indeed the popular belief in the efficacy of these rods had faded away before lie grew to man’s estate. The chief expounder of their virtues had been charged with being a coiner, and with belonging to a gang who carried on the trade of making false money in concert with persons who imagined that they were helping forward a religious work. Win gate, the chief of the evildoers, played his part in a way similar to Dousterswivel when ho employed his divining rod to im pose on and impoverish Sir Arthur Wardour. The story itself is a strange, but not an improbable one. Though some of the rames are misspelt and" though there are a few errors of fadt, yet the narator does not fail to give a character of versimilitude to the whole. He is wrong in saying that the mother of Joseph Smith lived in Rutland county when her son was born ; she really lived in Windsor county. It is possible that the strange doings which took place shortly before his birth and during his infancy may have been related to him, and that he merely supplied another form and another sanction to the movement of which Wingate, the convicted coiner, was the originator.— “Times.”

Japanese Trade with Australia.

The Japanese appear to be seriously turning their attention to the prospect of deriving wealth from trade with Australia. It is stated that the proposal to establish woollen mills in Japan was suggested by the idea of utilising Australian wool. It has also been pointed out that the cheap tweeds manufactured in Australia might meet with an extended market. A writer in a Japanese paper, the “ Choya Shim bun,” urges that little prephot can be ex pected by Japanese merchants from trad ing with Corea, with which commercial relations have already been opened, as that country is small and poor ; while as the China trade is already largely in the hands of Englishmen and Americans, the Japanese will have still further difficulty in making headway in that direction. These objections, he contends, will not apply in the case of Australia, which fia separated from Japan by only a com paratively narrow tract of water. The Government is encouraging the idea by sending samples of Japanese productions to the Sydney exhibition, and providing a free return passage for intending exhibi tors. The writer to the “ Choya Shimbun” considers the efforts to establish a trade in rice and other food stuffs in competition with Annan and other rice exporting countries, and in articles for daily use rather than in cosily and costly and luxuri ous objects, will be most likely to be suc cessful. Shipbuilding in its most ad vanced form, the construction of steamers is now being prosecuted by native enter prise at Nagasaki.

, NoVEMURH 5. 'IH79

SHU ASHBURTON HERALD



WANTED, a NDKSEGIRL, Abnip, 17 years old, to take charge of Two Children. Apply TIN WALD HOTEL, 620 a Tinwakl. A CARD. Mr. C ATT LIN, SURG EON DENTIST, Will remain in Ashburton to attend patients, at Mb. Quii.t/s Hotel, until Tuesday Afternoon, the Hth inst. 643 a *'^y r E, the undersigned Merchants and Ratepayers, respectfully request his Wor ship the Mayor of Ashburton to proclaim Monday, the 10th November, a close Holiday, being the Prince of Wales’ Birthday. Orr.and Co. W. Montgomery and Co., Limited Weeks and Dixon Fredk. Pavitt John G. Ant tee J. E. Buchanan G. M. Robinson Joseph ivess H. M. Jones Saunders Bros. C. P. Cox Branson and Purnell O’Reilly and Ireland John Fowler Friedlander Bros. Geo. Jameson Edmiston Bros, and Gundry San do and Co. Ernest A. Garnett G. Compton Thos. Dudson Alfred Harrison T. R. Hodder and Co. J. M. Cambridge J. Stanley Bruce D. Williamson and Co.



In. compliance with the above requisi tion, I hereby PROCLAIM MONDAY, the 10th November, a GENERAL HOLI DAY. THOS. BULLOCK, Mayor.



V. R. PUBLIC NOTICE. Licensing Act 1873, and Licensing Act, 1873, Amendment Act, 1874. ■'VTOTICE is hereby given that in pur suance of the above Acts the QUARTERLY MEETING of the LICENSING COMMISSIONERS for the districts of Ashburton and Mount Somers will bj held on TUESDAY, the second day of December next, at the hour of 12 o’clock, noon, in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Ashburton, for the purpose of considering applications under the said Acts. C. CAVENDISH HURRELL. Clerk to the Licensing Court. . Resident Magistrate’s Court, Ashburton, 31st October, 1879. fioOa



"\TTANTED Known, that TWENTY J W Words are inserted in this Column fov ONE SHILLING prepaid, and FORTY Words for TWO SHILLINGS j prepaid. ! DO you Want the News of the Day Read the Ashburton Herald. mHE Cheap Advertiser—the Ashburton | Herald with its 20-words tariff. HAVE you Lost Anything I—Tell the finder through the Herald for a Shilling. If he is honest he will bring it to you without a reward, but you can bait a finder of shaky morals by a tempting offer of remuneration for his trouble. All for a Shilling. . HAVE you Found Anything that don’t belong to you,, and wish to act on the square I—Bringl—Bring a Shilling to the Herald’s Advertising Clerk. He’ll put your qualms of conscience at rest, and find the owner through the Twenty-Words-for a-Shilling-Column. FULL of Reading Matter is the Herald Every Evening. THE PENNY made the postal system of England a success. So has it made the Herald. Everybody buys the Herald. TALE. —The Herald publishes a por tion of a readable story ever Satur day. Read it. WANTED KNOWN, that Envelopes and Notepaper can be obtained, wholesale or retail, at unusually low rates at the “ Herald ” Office, East-street North. 642 CONCERTINAS, German Accordians, Violins, etc Concertinas, 20 keys, from 10/6 H. M. JONES, Stationer. SEWING Machines and other Requi sites. H. M. JONES. Stationer, Etc., Baring Square. 476 v IT is only a Penny, is to be got every . where in Town, along the Railway line, and of the Country Agents. HOUSEMAIDS.— The Herald asks a Housemaid for you in 20 words for 1 /- •VT7ANTED.— The Herald tells your V\, Wants in 20 words, for 1/-.