POST OFFICE NOTICES.

The Outward Mails for , Europe, America, Ac., via San. ? Francisco, will close at the Ashburton'Pbst Office at 10.20 a. in. on Saturday nekLy , * ?>;> The next mail forfShe United Kingdom. Continents of Europe ajld America, &c., via San Francisco, will be.closed^t;Christ church on the sth December. i.. This'mail is due in London cih Ithe^^Oth'JJarii&rj?, 1880. JwVM Jfl The next mail for.^United; ; Kingdom, Continent of Europe, via Brindisi':|;and Southampton (for correspondence ad dressed per either of these routes only), will be closed at Christchurch on Decem ber 17th. Tlio mail via Brindisi will be due. in London 911 February 9fch and the '"S 1 via Soiitluuupton ‘on February 16th, 1880. . .. t : I.:

-Notice— Oh'and after Ist December, ithesPost Office, Duvachelle, at the head of the Akaroa Harbor, will be open for the transaction of money-order and savings Bhhk business. SYDNEY J. DICK, «bi is. A O \f •• . Chief Postmaster.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1879.

Mount Somers Hoad Board. —A ballot was taken at the meeting of the Mount Somers Road Board on Monday last, to decide upon the,retiring members, and Messrs. Walker and Cameron dr*>w the tickets, which will entail the necessity of fresh nominations on their account. Mr. Macfarlane also resigned. Nominations for the vacant seats must be sent in to the office on January 2, and a poll, if necessary, will be taken on January 6, 1880. We regi’et to hear that the district is likely to lose the services of Mr. James Frazer, who has acted as Clerk and Surveyor for a year and a half past. Longbeach Road Board. —A meeting of this Board will be held at their new office on the Longbeach road on Saturday next. This Board being at present in a state of impecuniosity, is not likely to draw such a crowd of contractors about its doors as it did a year or so ago when plenty of work was to be let.

The Caledonian Sports. —The direc tors of the Caledonian Sports having decided to refuse the otter made to them by the Race Committee have elec ted to take a portion of Mr. Hay T. Smith’s land on which to carry out their programme.

Wakanui Road Board. —The usual monthly meeting of the Wakanui Road Board will be held at their offices, Moore street, to-day, at 11 a.m., and tenders will be considered for the shingling of the road extending northwards from the east Town Belt, also for the collection of rates.

Service op Song. —The “ World’s Re deemer ” service of song is to begin to night in the Tinwald School, in aid of TVnwald Sunday School funds. Mr. Savage conducts, and fully 20 voices will sini' the choruses. TkIE Old Men’s Home. —At a meeting of the Charitable Aid Association yester day. in Christchurch, the addition of two rooms to the Ashburton Home was warmly advocated by Mr. Brown, and the Board resolved to recommend Government to make the addition. Cricket.—Married v. Single.— For the match on Saturday we have been sup plied with the following as composing the two teams : —Married—Messrs. Andrews (Geo.), Broadbelt, Crisp, Curtis, Douglas, Denshire, Harris, Hill, Poyntz, Wilkie, O’Reilly ; emergencies, Messrs. Mainwar iug, Wheatly, and Jacobson. Single- Messrs. Ashwood, Andrews (A J.), Saun ders (S. and E.), Hoskings, Fooks, Bu chanan (T.), Bruce, Grant, Westenra, and Field; emergencies, Whitley, Shury, Hodder, Fowler, Mayo, and Guy. Play commences at 1.30. Holloway’s Pili.s.—The blood being the very essence of health and life it is most essen tial that it should he ffoomughly purified before the depressing influenoesof winter display them selves. These Pills will accomplish this puri fication in a safe and satisfactory manner, and put the circulation in that desirable condition, which alone can rightly form flesh, bone, mus cle nerve, and skin. Capricious appetites, wtrfc digestions, torpid livers, and irregular bowels are corrected by this potent medicine, which may be truly said to induce “ a sane mind in a sound body.” Holloways Pills possess the remarkable property of cleansing without weakening. While purifying they are strengthening and adding to those enjoyments of life which health and vigor can alone bestow. — Advt .

TELEGRAPHIC.

AUSTRALIAN.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS

( Special .) ; Melbourne, Dec. 4. Godeffroy and Son, of Hamburg and Samoa, contractors for the conveyance of immigrants to. Adelaide, have failed Lia bilities £500,000. Berry hopes to obtain 47 votes on the Reform Bill.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, Dec. 4,

Earnest efforts are being made from Auckland to get the New South Wales authorities to make enquiry into the sanity of Andrew George Scott, alias Moonlight. He was once in an asylum. Rev. J. Baker, Wesleyan minister, “ White King ” of Tonga, arrived by the brigantine Myrtle, en route for the Syd ney Conference, accompanied by David Nga, an influential Tonga chief. Private letters from Fiji state that a movement was on foot there to present the Rev. G. Brown with an address, but he discouraged and stopped the pro ceedings. He sailed in the Wesley, on the 14th ult., for the Duke of York Is land.

Grahamstown, Dec. 4.

A meeting of persons desirous of settling on land in the upper Thames district, was held last night. It was resolved to form an Association, which will probably even tually affiliate with the Wellington Associa tion. Mr. MUullough, agent of the lat ter Association, waspresent, and explained the intended course of operations. The Liberal Association passed a resolu tion condemning the Property Assessment Bill. A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to the Thames representatives. Wellington, Dec. 4.

A meeting of the accountants in Bank ruptcy was held yesterday, for the pur pose of considering the conduct of Mr. Berry, an accountant, in connection with various estates. After considerable dis cussion it was decided to address the com mittee of the Chamber of Commerce, with a view to having Mr. Berry struck off the roll. •

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

LAST NIGHT’S CABLEGRAMS

( Reuter's 7 elegrams.) London, Dec. 1

It is reported that the alleged indisposi tion of the Queen is based on a paragraph in the “ Globe,” not yet confirmed. Three per cent, consols, 94,1, ex divi dend.

Total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain, 2,000,000 quarters. Total stock of tallow in London on Ist inst., 13,025 casks.

At the wool sales to-day, 8,800 bales were catalogued. The tone of the market is firm, with an active demand for low scoured. Prices are rather weaker. Washington, Dec. 1.

President Hayes has recommended to Congress the withdrawal of the Legal Tender Bill.

Calcutta, Dec. 1. Yakoob Khan has been conducted to Peshawur by order of the Viceroy.

(Ace Special.) London, Dec. 2. The Queen’s indisposition is severe although not serious. The "Viceroy of India has determined to appoint a Special Commission to sit at Lahore, and try the Ameer, Yakoob Khan, for complicity in the Embassy mas sacre at Cabul.

AUSTRALIAN.

( Special. ) Melbourne, Dec. 3.

Victoria declines to participate officially in the Belgium National Exhibition to be held in September next. The Melbourne Commissioner declines to grant France an extension of time in applying for space. The Australian Alliance Assurance Com pany’s reserve, funds having reached £IOO,OOO, it was resolved to declare a bonus to marine policy holders. Oatmeal is reduced £3 per ton ; fine feed oats is quoted at 2s. 9d. Melbourne, Dec. 2.

Sir Charles Sladen has withdrawn his resignation of the leadership of the As sembly. Last night on the sixth clause _of the Reform Bill, Government obtained a majority of one in a full House. Albany, Dec. 3. Arrived —P. and 0. steamer Tanjore.

( Renter's Telegrams.) Sydney, Dec. 3,

Government have rewarded the eon stables who captured the bushrangers. The trial of the gang is adjourned until Monday. An application for postpone ment of the trial till next session, on the ground that public opinion was against the prisoners, has been refused.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS.

Wellington, Dec. 3.

Robert Port, merchant, has assigned his estate. The liabilities are stated to be £45,000 and the assets £06,000. Tho recent collision on the Wellington- Featherstone railway appears to be due to the failure of the engine break at a critical time.

A serious accident occurred last night. A horse, while being taken out of an ex press, bolted, and knocked down two young girls named Hoskins. One escaped without injury, the other lies in a very critical condition. At the Supreme Court, in Banco, to-day a new trial was granted in tho case of Richardson v. Bank of New South Wales, and a similar order was granted in the case of Farrell v. O’Mally. The ship Opawa, from London via Nelson, arrived off the Heads last night. Messrs. Leary and Campbell, at their market sales to-day, sold—oranges, 14s ; lemons, 9s : cherries, 8d ; new potatoes, l£d ; eggs, Is 6d ; fresh butter, 9d to 91 d ; fowls, 5s to 5s 3d per pair ; geese, 5s Od ; turkeys, 5s ; cheese, Od; Tennant’s ale, quarts, 10s.

A jneeting .was field' last night fqr thp purpose of prqjestin’g against the proposed : grant of 500 acres of Iq.nd to the Ne w: Zealand Titanic Steel and iron Company (limited). A resolution was passed, urging upon Government and the As sembly the duty of ascertaining whetlipy the essential provisions of the; Taranaßr Iron Smelting Works Land Act had been honestly complied with, before deciding to make over land to this company: r: ' The Taranaki Agricultural Show took place to-day. The exhibits are not so numerous, except in the cattle class, which is nearly double that of last year. The exhibition of pure bred animals'is excel lent, and the show of implements very large. The horses are not much. There is a great falling off in the show of sheep. News from Mokau, .dated 24tli Nov., states that all attempts to launch the Hannah Mokau have proved ineffectual,., owing to the shifting nature of the sand. The steamer has been lifted and placed on the launching ways several, times, but at the flowing of the tide she sinks again into the sand, taking everything with her. Mr. Holmes sent to Waitara yesterday for some more gear, which was promptly dis patched. Haw era, Dee. 3.

Mr. W. 0. Moore, chemist, died very suddenly last night at ton o'clock. ; Not feeling well about live o’clock, lie took a soothing draught, probably chloral, after which ho sank into a coma. . He was in excellent spirits during the day, and had been preparing to open a debate that even ing at the dramatic club, of which lie was an enthusiastic member. He was highly respected, and a universal favorite pro fessionally and privately. He leaves a wife hut no children. Christchurch, Dec. 3. .

Captain Petevsei), of the s.s. Taiaroa, that arrived from Dunedin at 8 p.m., yes terday, was taken ill shortly after clearing Otago Heads, on Monday. Captain Clark, of the tug Lyttelton, took the Taiaroa on to Wellington, and Captain Petersen re tured to Dunedin by the Wakatipu to-day. Timaru, Dec. 3. Harvest prospects continue to improve every day. O amaru, Dec. 3.

The weather for the past day or tivo has been gloriously flue, and in every way favo'-able to the young crops, which give promise of a most abundant harvest. The sly-grog selling cases have all been adjourned for a week, owing to the press of business at the court.

THE WAKANUI ROAD BOARD.

: The usual monthly meeting was held at the Office to-day. Present—Messrs. H. T. Winter (Chairman), E. Saunders, Hugo Friedlander, and D. Wilson. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read from residents in Trevorton, asking that both footpaths be formed on the Beach road through Trevorton. Refresh survey of a road near Ken nedy’s. The Chief Surveyor wrote that his department could not undertake to re-survey sections where the pegs had been removed through carelessness by owners of sections, and the Secretary was instructed to inform Mrs. Gibson that the pegs required to be put in by an authorised surveyor. From the Bank of New Zealand, stating that the amount of £764 15s 4d had been paid into the credit of the Ashburton Road Board, and had been divided as follows : —Wakanui Road Board, £361 13s Id ; Long Beach Board, £399 2s 3d. A petition was read from Mr. John Lambie and 14 others, asking for a road to be formed from Mr. Murdock Bruce’s gate to the Rakaia boundary road. To be reported on. STORM-WATER.

From the County Council requesting the Board to assist them m preventing obstructions being placed across natural water courses. COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICE. A notice was sent by the County 7 Coun cil that they would not require the Board’s offices after the present month. THE SUBSIDIES. Messrs. Bullock and R. Friedlander waited upon the Board as a deputation from the Borough re their share of the subsidy lately paid by Government, and pointed out that the sum. of £Bl 19s. was due to the Borough from the subsidy. Mr. Hugo Friedlander pointed out that the (lovermnent had only paid half the subsidy and suggested paying the share due by the Board. This was agreed to, and the balance was referred to the Longbeach Board. leadley’s drain.

From John Corbett and others, point ing out that unless the drains on Leadley’s road were let and completed before harvest, should wet weather come on their crops would be irretrievably damaged. It was resolved that John Black’s ten der for No. 1 drain at £365 10s be ac cepted, and for No. 2 section, P. Stewart at £92 Bs. MISSCELLANEOUS. Mr. P. Innes applied for the road leading to his place to be formed. It was pointed out that this road gave access to no one but Mr Innes, and the Board re solved that the surveyor report on the matter. It was resolved that no work be let or business transacted except at ordinary or special meetings of the Board. The Surveyor’s report was read and adopted. TENDERS. The Board resolved to call for tenders for formation of the Seaside road, and a drain on the boundary of Wilson and Fitzgerald’s sections on the Beacli road, and the Overseer was instructed to give notice to land holders re cutting gorse off roads on their frontages. ■ The applica tion for formation of Denihay’s road was refused. Tenders were accepted for—Smith’s road, Arthur O’Neil, formation, ss, per chain ; shingling, Is Id per yard. Collecting rates, James Wi'kie, 5 per cent, also to act as collector of Dog Tax at 10 per cent. NEW SITE FOR OFFICES. The Chairman pointed out that accord ing to la’y they could not hold their annual meeting in tiip township, and proposed that the election take place at the Wakanui school on Wednesday, 7th, 1880, and three new members will have to be elected in place of Messrs. E. Saunders and Joseph Hunt, who retire by rotation, and Mr. David Wilson, who resigns. A number of accounts were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.

The fallowing" letter gggoars in the ; ‘ f Otago Daily Thjaes's * ■ \ v*; 4 -Sir, —I am fiof, surprised at the Colonial treasurer’s proposals for a property tax. Tile New Zealand Conservatives did not like the land tax. They had no desire to ?ee. t’ie h eap any- benefit,-from the unearned incre:.se" ia-the vaitie of’and Lii 107-8 they strove hard to get’ what, they termed the A merican all-round system of taxation introduced. This, the Liberals -resisted, but; the Tory-party- having ob tained the ascendancy, 1 of course'the Land Tax Act must be repealed. This is ostensibly'done in the interests of the “ hard-working.- pioneer settler” and the struggling city*?tradesman!” Now, I wish to point out what this pro perty tax means, and I shall mrst show how it affects the class named by the Treasurer as the

“ HARD-WORDING EIONEER SETTLERS.” At present the settler pays one half penny in the pound on the value to sell of his land, minus £SOO, and minus all im provements. In order to encourage him the present Tory Ministry propose to charge him one penny in the pound on the total value to sell of his land, and also one penny on the total value of all his property, minus £3OO worth. Let me take a case. A settler has 300 acres of land worth £5 peracre, excluding improve ments —£1,500 in all. Under the Land Tax Act he pays M on £I,OOO, or £2 Is. Bd. Under the proposed property tax, he has to pay at least double that amount for his land ; but that is not all. He has to pay a tax on all his realised personal property as well. Suppose his improvements, including house, barn, stable, and farm buildings (£500), im provements on farm, ploughed a-id sown land, fencing, ditching, &c. (£1,000), are together £1,500 —that would make his land, with improvements, £lO per acre, £3oooin all. But he has other personal pro perty—viz., sheep, cattle, pigs, and farm implements, furniture and machinery, on a low estimate another £SOO worth of property ; and he believes in the 1 auline maxim, “ Owe no man anything,” and has no debts ; then he would have to pay on £3500 minus £3O0 —that is, on £3200, -and this at a penny amounts to £l3 (is. Bd. The net gain (!) to him is an extra tax of £ll ss. ! ! This is the aid the Conserva tive Government grants to the “ hard working pioneer settler. ’ ’

Now let me see how it affects the “ STRUGGLING CITY TRADESMEN.”

I first suppose he is the freeholder of his city frontage, and I assume that he has his building in Dunedin in one of the best posi tions. The result will be that he will have say, 33ft.- frontage,at value of £7O or £IOO per foot. This is, I believe, the highest. Suppose it is £7O, then he pays a halfpenny on £2,310 minus £SOO = £lBlO, which means a tax under the present Land Tax Act of £3 15s. sd. But then the Conser vatives are anxious to help the struggling city tradesmen, and therefore lie must pay a tax on all his property. This consists of his lands, his buildings, his furniture, and stock. Suppose his buildings cost him £1,500, his furniture and stock another £1,500. lam taking a struggling city tradesman, hut also one who has obeyed the apostolic maxim of not getting into debt. He will be helped by being asked to pay, insead of £3 15s. 5d., the sum of £2O 17s. Gd. How fervently must he thank the Conservative Government for such help ? And now I leave the two classes who were so grievously burdened under the Land Tax Act —‘ ‘ The hard-working pioneer settler ” and the struggling city tradesman ” —to their cogitations on .the help that is about to be vouchsafed to them ; and I wish to deal with the MANUFACTURER. How stands it with him? Whether we are Protectionists o.i Freetraders we all alike recognize the benefits of diversified interests. The question may well be asked, how can we best obtain them. If they are paying industries, all admit we ought to strive for thefii. How is local industry, then, affected ? I shall take the example of a soapwork. And I again as sume the soap manufacturer owns the land on which he has his “ works,” and that he too is employing his own capital, and is not in debt —or if in debt, that the debts due to him equal the debts he owes. I also suppose his land is worth £3500 —a fair, if not high value. On this he pays a tax of a halfpenny on £3OOO, in all £G ss. Now ■what, will he have to pay under the proposed Property Tax? He lias build ings valued at £3OOO. He has also gone to considerable expense to import machinery, on which, perhaps, he lias paid a Customs’ duty, and this he has valed at £2OOO. Then he has other personal property, namely tallow and manufactured soap, worth at least £IOOO more— (in all these estimates lam taking the estimates of a small soap manufacturing concern) — and he has other personal effects, furni ture, jewellery, &c., worth £3OO ; in all, property worth £9BOO, and on this he has to pay £39 11s. Bd., so he is aided (?) by a Conservative Government to the extent of £33 6s. Bd. His thanks will be exceed ingly expressive. And how fares THE MERCHANT ?

He is a necessity in our present social life. He is the distributing machine. Is lie to be exempt 1 or does the Conservative Government look with a favoring eye on him ? First, lie has to pay for his land. Let me assume he has a store in a good position—the value of the land on which it is built is £3OOO. At present he pays £5 4s. 2d. Under the fostering care of a Conservative Govern ment he is, however, called upon to pay a tax on his buildings, and on all his personal property. This means, on his stock. Again 1 suppose he is free from debts or rather that the debts due him equal what he owes. His stock is valued stock is valued at £IO,OOO, and his build at. £3500. His contribution to the revenue will therefoae be £63 6s. Bd. He also must be pleased that in the late election he aided to return three gentlemen pledged to turn out Sir George Grey and have fair and equitable taxation !

I have now dealt with the ALL HOUND PROPERTY TAX

as affecting the settlers, the tradesmen, manufacturer, and merchant. How it affects other classes, and what effect de ducting the “just debts” due from the value of the property will have, I propose to show in another letter. Meantime, in the cup of bitterness that the classes, I have mentioned have to drink, no doubt the fact that the Auckland district is to have another half a million expended, and that the secrecy of the Telegraph Office has been violated, will be drops of sweetness.—l am, &c., Robert Stoltt.-

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wednesday,' Dec. 3. ii;.- In the Council to-day a large number of small bills were read a first time, and'a lot more a third *i>ue. -Vv'vbH Mr. ii: Lexer's indecent v r j a >a£i‘ieal? Bill was read a first time, j ij : j JQ

SECOND READINGS.'/ j. Auckland Loans Consolidation; Bill, Otago Road Boards Ordinance '(1870) Amendment Bill, Kumara '' Education Reserve Bill, and Oneliunga Water Re serve Bill. MINES. Captain Fraser’s motion for a return of all mines in the Colony now worked, also the number of those worked with a single' ingress, and which may be considered dangerous, was carried. TIIE AGENT- GENERAL. Sir F. Bell had tabled a motion that Sir Julius Vogel was right in assuming he had the approval, of the late Ministry to join the Larnach Land Company ; but after a short discussion, in which Colonel Whit more denied'the allegation of the motion, and asserted that Government prompted their frieuds to raise questions damaging to the late Government, the motion, was shelved by the previous question being carried by 20 to 9. THE AMERICAN RAILWAY BRAKE. Captain Fraser’s motion, that Govern ment ought to introduce the American atmospheric brake on railways, was with drawn on the advice of Mr. Whitmore, who said that the Council were not com petent to decide on the merits of different ruuw.y brakes, which the Government eughicitovS would deal with. i'im Council adjourned till next day at 5. J >. ■

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING.

Wednesday, Dec. 3. The House met at 2.30 p.m. A MASONIC 4 QUESTION.

Mr. Johnson asked the Minister of Justice why Government arranged that the foun dation stone of the new Supreme Court house should be laid by a secret society, and what is the meaning of the inscription on the scroll deposited with the stone— that it was laid in the Year of Light, 5883.

Mr. Rolleston replied that the Govern ment made no such arrangement. The way in which the thing . was done was ordinarily the case under similar circum stances. The contractors for the build ing are in possession of the ground, and are still entitled to do what they-please in side that ground. Government, as a Go vernment, had nothing whatever to do with the arrangements. With regard to the second part of the question, he had already stated that as a, Government they had nothing whatever to do with the cere mony, and as Minister of Justice he had no information to give on the point. Mr. Johnston said it was a great pity contractors in the colony had power to do what had. been done on this occaison. . NATIVE LANDS. ■ ' ..•) ; Mr. Sutton asked the Minister of Native Affairs—(l) "Whether Government have purchased a block of land known as Pakari, in Kaipara district: if so, what was the date of purchase. (2) Whether the whole purchase money had been paid by Government ; if so, to whom. (3) Whether Government had a complete title to the land in question. Mr. Bryce replied in the affirmative. An agreement was entered into in the year 1875, for the purchase of 20,000 acres ; the sum to be paid was £1500.. Of that, £1450 had been paid to Natives. Government had not yet a complete title to the land. DEFERRED PAYMENT RENTS. Mr. Shanks asked Government if they will, arrange that rents of deferred pay ment settlers, due within the next 12 months, shall remain unpaid during that period, so that the said year’s rent shall become payable one year later than the end of the present lease : in other words, extend to 11 years instead of 10, as at present, without any additional rent. Mr. Rolleston replied that Government were anxious to make this system a suc cess, and to do so engagements entered into on both sides would have to be carried out. SMALL HARBORS. Mr. Bowen asked the Commissioner of Customs whether Government will, during the recess, take into consideration the condition of the smaller harbors of the Colony, with a view to the encouragement of coastal trade. Major Atkinson promised the matter would be enquired into. At the same time he was afraid Government could not undertake to make adequate provision as asked for. AT. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—To incorporate the township of Kawakawa (Mr. Lundon); Otago Harbor Board Endowment (Mr. Dick). HANSARD. Mr. De Latour moved—“ The House do concur in the report from the Reporting Debates Committee sitting in conference with a similar Committee of the Legisla tive Council, that the debates in Parlia ment to be published in “ Hansard ” shall be condensed next session. ”

Mr. Hall disagreed with the proposal. They had not then at their disposal the particular class of talent required for pro ducing condensed reports. It was a class of talent that was highly paid for at Home', and it required men intimately acquainted with political matters ; and looking at the report produced, they would agree with him in saying the proposal was not likely to be satisfactory.

Mr. Tole suggested that members them selves should say less than they did, stick to subjects better, and deliver themselves with less verbosity. Mr Bowen said condensed reports were accepted in other places. In England Hansard ” was .compiled from news paper reports. Members might be allowed to correct newspaper reports before getting into “ Hansard. ” The proposal made in the motion was quite worthy of an experiment.

Mr. Reid spoke in support of the motion, and repelled the imputation by the Premier that experienced persons for condensation purposes could not be had in the colony.

Mr. Saunders was of opinion that if “ Hansard ” were abolished altogether, better reports would be given by news papers. Hedidnotthink that anycondeiisa

limit; insmheini «q fv . ; the subjects upon : allowed to speak. ■ ? ...M/ip GisfoorileT. supported the motion. Thffir , speechekiwbre to some extent con densed aS;Biings\sj;ood, and he thought a ; further condensation might very properly jjbo aOsmpiefl./ MajbrJ,Atkinson opposed the motion, mnd ; Suggested Hfchat a saving mi ht be effeCced’by: .sending the manuscript copy :of reported . speeches to the speakers for correction, jaiid k not printed slips. Mr. Hutchison contended that they might with perfect safety resort to a con densation process. They had in the place reporters quite capable of making such condensations. Were “Hansard” abolished he quite.believed -ithaLsQpge other in the place wouldj make arrahge menfs for a more 'complete! system/of re- - . The House divided—ayes, ; 29 F'iio'ekfStP The motion was dost. . 0 im.c trie GOLDFIELDS. Mr. J. 8.. Fisher moved-—“,-That the • House concur in the report of - the Gold field’s Committee upon , the ; of ' George Moore and others, of that the proclamation exempting land frame occupation for mining purposes 'at“Wai| mangaroa, Nelson South-West '.Goldfiel&s|- pubiished in the “ NeV Zealand Gazette!”* of 20th June and 27th December, .1878, . should never have been made ; and Gohi-;; mittee does recommend that they be can-'.' celled forthwith.” I >' - ' ' ia *- f

Mr Oliver explained that;’the -lands; in question had only been temporarily re served, and a report on the subject would be made by Mr. Thos. McKee. T The motion was’putand-'carried. £ COAL DUTY.

"Mr. Reeves moved—“ In the opinion of this House, it is desirable .to impose., a duty on all coal imported into the colony.” The import of coal into the colony atpre sent represented 200,000 -tops, per year,, and if anything could be. done to keep that trade in the place a vast amount of good would be done towards the' protection of a local industry. If. they-; could , in crease the output, of coal iii New { Zealand they would be able to reduce the cost 25 per cent. A protective duty 4 of. this' kind was more important than the -duty on hops and grain., .J ■’ n 1 Mr M'Lean opposed the motion, ex pressing his opinion that it would be un fair to tax coal which, . in many cases, could hot be s'ubstituted:foy cbabproduced in New Zealand.' ■ £ ' ! ~ i ‘ '■ ...

Mr. Hall alsq opposed, the motion. The consumption of •New“Zealand c cbaßwaa increasing rapidly, and the proposal to tax imported coal was quite unnecessary from that point of view. The New Zealand product had been’fostered in a variety, of ways, and any other means than that .pro posed, with a view to the development t of the New Zealand coal mines, would foe readily conceded. He hoped the'motion would be withdrawn.

The debate was interrupted by-the 5.30 adjournment. i ;);to

EVENING SITTING. Wednesday, Dec. 3. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m ' a question. '” ‘

Mr. Shrimski asked a question in con nection with a paragraph which appeared in that evening’s paper, to ’the effect that a block of land in Auckland, thrown open for sale, had been claimed at the last moment by Mr. Thomas Russell. Mr. Rolleston replied he knew nothing whatever about the matter. THE AUCKLAND NIBBLE. The adjourned debate on the £200,000 grant to Provincial District of Auckland for the formation of of roads and bridges was resumed. The motion on being put was lost on the voices. THE OTAGO NIBBLE. A motion was made, to go into .Com mittee to consider an address to his Excel lency praying that the sum of £500,000 be placed on the Estimates as grant for the Provincial District of Otago for roads and bridges. j ' T I -V Mr. Rolleston advised the motion should be withdrawn. The motion was put and lost on the voices/ .\7 ' YU; ; ,a f TAT 7WA MARRIED' WOMEN’S PROPERTY' BILL. The House went into Committee on the Married Women’s Property Bill, which was read a second time on the under standing that it would not be pressed through this session. LICENSING. Mr. Acton Adams withdrew the Licen sing Act Amendment Bill. THE CONSTITUTION ACT AMENDMENT. Sir G. Grey ,moved the. second reading of the New Zealand Constitution Act> Amendment Bill. After reviewing the* abuses to which the colony . was sub jected at the hands of "'Government and its friends, by the acquisition of large estates in Canterbury and elsewhere, he (Sir G. Grey) went on to say that the Bill’s objects were to remedy these evils and prevent their recurrence. He felt that in this House there was no fair representation of the people. It pained him to think that the Government had done its best to burke his endeavor to carry a measure having a fairer and better basis for representation. He invited..the House to join with him in his endevor that the Bill now before House be carried into law this session.

Mr. Hall regretted that the motion had not been made in a'spirit worthy of the mover, the House, and the occasion. They had simply had a repetition of those well known tirades against everyone who had been in .opposition to Sir George. He had deplored the irre gularities of representation in New Zealand. The fact was, .that.if one. man was more responsible than another for that state of things it was Sir- G. Grey. Sir George had said when his Government was defeated last session, a measure for readjustment “would have been sure to pass, and in that readjustment a dissolu tion and re-election would ,of necessity have taken place. He (Sir George) liqwt ever, preferred his chance of remaining in office to that opportunity of removing the inequalities he ,now professed to deplore. He claimed for his Government the credit of having resemed the c dony from the gravest possible financial embarrassment created by the late Government. Thai was a far more important work than the measure, the absence of which Sir George Grey so loudly professed to deplore. The present was a most inopportune peribd of the session to grapple with the measure now put forward. He concluded by moving that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. Shrimski supported the -Bill.;- - . Mr. Speight complained that instead of dealing -with the motion* Mr. Hal

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TM':;/:» New Advertisements. q;TJ , ; , } r L'o BUILDERS. nnENDERS are invited for- the BREC- I - ‘ TION of a HOTEL at Tinwald, for Mr. Robert Hill. Plans and specifications may be seen at Qnili’s Hotel on and after the Ist of De cember, and at Mr. J. L. Fleming’s Christchurch, on and after December 15th. !uTenders " will close at Ashburton on January 31st, 1880. 237 —741 a



NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. REFRESHMEMT ROOMS. TENDERS; will be received up to noon ? - of the 10th December prox., at this Office, for the Tenancy for two years (from Ist January, 1880, to 31st Decem ber, 1881,) of the Refreshment Rooms at Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Wai mate Junction, and Dmiedin Stations, Tenders may be for one or more of the Stations named, but a separate rent must be quoted for each. Specifications, with terms and condi tions may be inspected at the offices of the Station Masters, Ashburton and Timaru, and at the Manager’s offices. . 7 ■ WM. CONYERS, Commissioner of Railways. Office of the Commissioner of Railways, Christchurch, ‘A /. . : Dec. 27th, 1879. 749 a Y. R. NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. TENDERS FOR BOOK STALLS. SEPARATE Written Tenders will be received at this office, addressed to the undersigned, up to noon of WEDNES DAY, 10th December, for the LEASE of BOOKSTALLS at the Lyttelton, Christ church, Ashburton, and Rangiora Railway Stations for One Year. Tenders to be accompanied by a marked cheque for £5. Specifications and conditions can be seen at this office, and at the Lyttelton, Christ church, Ashburton, and Rangiora Railway Stations. ' ■ S 'J- V '-’W The highest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted. FREDK. BACK General Manager. General Manager’s Office, Christchurch, Dec. 2, 1879. 770 a



A«» v* rv. A THISTLE LODGE, No. 627, S.C. Ashburton. ANNUAL INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND BANQUET, ON jrjmiDAY.EVENING, DEC. sth, 1879. !* Installation in Lodge Room at 7 p.m. -Banquet in Bro. Quill’s at 9 p.m. --d'A : JAMES MUTCH, Hon. Sec. Town hall. MONDAY, DEC. Bth. Will be presented the Two-Act .Oi OPERA, THE DOCTOR OF ALCANTARA. FULL COMPANY AND CHORUS TWENTY-FOUR IN NUMBER. v-.-iV-.i- . 234—758 a LOST, on Saturday, a Scythe Sharpen ing STONE. The owner would be glad if the Finder would leave same at the Herald Office.. 765 a WESLEYAN CHURCH. CiERVICES in connection with the Second Anniversary of the above Church, will be conducted by the Rev. W. BAUMBER, of Christchurch, On SUNDAY, DEC. 14. Collections in aid of the Building Fund O.'. TUESDAY following, a TEA will be held in the Church, after which a Public Meeting will take place, addressed by Ministers and other friends. Music by the Choir. 755 a A CARD. M- ' • R >. c A T T L I N , SURGEON DENTIST, Is now at Quill’s Hotel, and will attend patients until further notice. 671 a a " SERVICE OF SONG will be given f\ in the Tinwald Schoolroom, on THURSDAY, 4th inst, at 7.30 p.m., in aid of the. Sunday School. Mr. Savage Conductor. The Rev. Mr. Beattie in the R. GALLOWAY. i. Respectable Young dve a Baker’s Cart. E. TAYLOR, , 769 a Saunders’ Buildings. Chair. 768a/'. CD. , to ply,



- ffew ftdvsgtisgjpnp, TENDERS roR CUTTING ano TYING m ANTED, Tenders for Cutting and Tying 120 .acres of Grass on the Laghmor Estate. Tenders will be received up till noon on TUESDAY next. ■* The lowest 1 or any tender! not necessarily ac-. cepted. For particulars apply to . . % DONALD McLEAN, 7741*. v Laghmor. IMPOUNDED, from Messrs. Gould and Cameron’s, Springfield, November 28: 1 Chestnut Colt, no brand visible 1 Bay Mare, 6 on near shoulder 1 Bay Filly, J (in circle) on near shoulder. 1 Bay Filly (small star on forehead) If the above stock be not released on or before December 16th, they will be sold to defray expenses. WILLIAM PRICE, 775 a Poundkeeper. THE Tender of Henry Anderson, for Carting Wool from Shepherd’s JBush to Ealing, is accepted. 776 a



TO WELL-SINKERS. TENDERS are Invited for Sinking a WELL in East Street, opposite Saunders’ Buildings, for the Ashburton Fire Brigade; Labor only. Specifications may be seen at Office of this Paper. Tenders to be sent in by WEDNESDAY next, at 5 p.m., addressed to the Fire Brigade. 773 a JAMES WILKIE. are invited immediately for CUTTING, MAKING, STACKING, and THATCHING about 100 acres CLOVER HAY and 60 acres GRASS for seed at Westerfield. 777a —246 CHARLES REED. IE 1 O B 18 8 O . The press almanac And Diary Can be obtained from the undersigned. Price—One Shilling. WEEKS AND DIXON, Herald Office, Near Railway Station. WANTED KNOWN, the season for transplanting is at hand, and we can supply, after the Ist December, 20,000 Cabbage Plants, 20,000 Broccoli Plants, &c. —Apply at the Seed Depot, East Street. 745 a SEALY BROS.