POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close as follows : For Christchurch and North at io 20 a.m. 4 p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10.20 a.m daily. For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m and 4 p.m daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald Winslow, Minds, Coldstream, Kangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.20 a.m, daily. For Temuka. Timaru, and South at 10.20 a.m and 3 p.m daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach. at .15 p. m. daily. For Wakanui and Seafield, on Mondays and Thursdays, 7.30 p.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

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.

MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES.

To-Morrow. Edmiston Broß. and Gundry—Sections, Houses, &c., at 1.30 p.m.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1879.

Our Seafield correspondent—a practica farmer of extensive English and colonial experience—has more than once drawn our attention to farms on which stock feeding is combined with grain culture. He has pointed out with considerable en thusiasm, the wisdom of this combination, and we are so thoroughly convinced our selves of its expediency, that we take this opportunity of drawing the attention of our agricultural friends to the matter. In a district like ours, where the land is occu pied by small capitalists, to whom an immediate return is a paramount considera tion, the grave mistake of exhausting the soil’s fertility by successive grain crops to obtain this desideratum, is too frequently committed. Large crops may be har vested for a few years, and Jarge sums realised by these operations, but if no attention is bestowed on the recuperation of the productive forces, the land will be come so greatly impoverished and reduced in value, that this course of farming is actually unprofitable. Grain growing does not exhaust the soil, provided the ingredients absorbed by the plants are returned in some form, -but if the plants are removed —as is the case in grain crops— the land is, of course, impoverished to the extent of the elements of plant food con sumed by such plants from the earth. Some small return is made by the roots and stubble left to decay, but the straw and grain being carried away, the soil’s fertility rapidly deteriorates if nothing is done in a contrary direction. With this in view it becomes necessary for the pro vident farmer to find some means of re plenishing his supply of plant food, and science and experience have long indicated that this is best done by stock feeding on the land previously employed in grain cul ture. Grain draws on the soil for nitro gen, phosphates, and potash, while the other requisites in its composition are absorbed from the air. Growing animals, i.e v young stock, require from the soil for bone and muscle formation the same ele ments in smaller quantities as cereals, but matured stock return all these pro perties in the shape of manure to the soil, and retain only the carbonaceous matters for fatty tissues, respiration, etc., so that a full grown fattening animal, when sold carries away none of the ingredients most useful as manure. In practice this fact is illustrated by the exceptional fertility of dairy farms on which butter making is conducted. From such farms the car bonaceous matter only is removed in the way of produce, and the land instead of becoming sterile is constantly increasing in productiveness. With growing stock, the land will not recover its strength qnite as rapidly, but the same result is attained in the end, and all who hope to farm profitably must recognise the neces sity of combining stock feeding with grain culture.

The New House for the School master. —The house for the master of the district school is completed, and only awaits inspection by the proper official to be occupied. District Court. —Orders for discharge were granted to-day in several bank ruptcies, but the most of the Court’s time was taken up with the hearing of evidence re William Munro. Messrs Harry and Hugo Friedlander were examined with a view to eliciting answers to ques tions they had refused to reply to before the trustee. Answers were obtained in evidence given, and his Honor gave the costs of hearing against them, remarking that witnesses were bound to answer as fully before the trustee as before liim self. The Proposed Municipal Associa tion. — The “Globe” last night smiles kindly upon the proposed Munici pal Association, and hopes the circulars of the Ashburton Council regarding it will be favorably answered, but it ad vocates an extension of the Association to the whole colony, and not a limitation to the municipalities within Canterbury. The New Interpreter. —Mr Gannon, recently appointed Maori interpreter to the House of Representatives, is one of the best Maori scholars to be found in the colony, and the choice seems to have given general satisfaction.

The Best Government. —We -wonder whether the Hon. John Hall intended to perpetrate a pun last evening when he said, “ The people want the best Govern ment, and that’s all.”—“Post.”

The Stud. —The Rotomahana brought to New Zealand the famous English stud horse Coeruleus. This animal is a full brother to the renowned Blue Gown, the winner of the Derby in 1868. He is seven years old, and only retired from the turf last season. During his career he has won some good races. Trickett v. Hanlon. —Since his match with Laycock, Trickett has been suffering from indisposition. He has now recovered, aud it is said intends to take immediate steps to bring the friends of Hanlon to book in reference to the challenge which they so loudly threw out some weeks ago. Since its acceptance by Trickett nothing more has been heard of the challenge. Day of Universal Prayer. —The day of united prayer for Sunday schools throughout the world has been fixed for Monday, the 20th inst.

Sensible Natives. —The Clerk read a letter to the House of Representatives on Friday last, from Wi Parata, and other Maoris, protesting against the waste of time that was being caused by the fight that was going on between those members who were trying to get into office. The Land Tax. Last Friday, the Colonial Treasurer, in reply to Mr John ston, stated that the land tax might be paid into any Post Office, and that the money would be forwarded to the proper receiving office without any extra cost to the sender.

ASHBURTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

'JMie usual monthly meeting qf the Schoql Committee was held last night. Present : Messrs St. Hill (in the chair), Bradley, and Gollins.

On the reading of the minutes a ques tion was raised as to the legality of the payment of a sum of £1 4s, the balance due on a treat given to the children last year, and left as a legacy by the late Com mittee, and the expense was eliminated from the minutes, which were then passed. Correspondence was read from the Secretary to the Board of Education, advising the Committee of the payment of the sum of £3l 5s for incidental expenses, and £SB 9s 3d for salaries ; from the same body, stating that the appointment of pupil teachers rested with the Board, and no appointments ought to be made by the Committee ; from the same re application for an infant school, informing the Com mittee that the Inspector would visit the school in the early part of next month, and be expected to report specially on the question, and with respect to the scale of salaries it was intended that the whole organisation of the school would be re viewed when the Board had received the Inspector’s report, and had completed a general scheme for staff and salaries, which was now under consideration, for all schools throughout the district. Replying to an application for drainage of the school grounds, the Secretary to the Board said that the subject would be reported upon by the Board’s Architect. Several small accounts were submitted for payment, and payment of the same was authorised to the extent of the funds in hand.

The master’s report was read. It showed that the largest attendance on any day was 324 ; the strict average, 264 ; and the working average, 269. The report recommended certain necessary repairs, which were referred to the Works Com mittee, with instructions to repair the swings, etc., in the play grounds. The appointment of a care-taker was considered, the duties of the office includ ing the cleaning of the schools and out buildings, cutting hedges, and keeping the gardens in order, besides other duties of a minor nature. These works had cost something over £6O last year. It was resolved that Mrs Thompson be appointed care-taker, at a salary of 10s per week, and have permission to occupy the cottage rent free.

Messrs Gollins and Braflley were ap pointed a Visiting Committee for the en suing month, and the meeting terminated.

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuesday, October 14. Mr Whitaker was sworn, and explained that it was necessary to have an Auck land man in the Ministry, and to have a lawyer and representative on the Council. He gave a brief outline of the Minis terial policy and intentions. A committee was appointed to consider the question of auditing the accounts of public companies. The Council then adjourned to the next day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, October 14. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Shrimski gave notice Jto move that £500,000 be placed on the estimates for roads and bridges in Otago. Mr Murray gave notice to move that the House sit on Mondays for the dis posal of Government business. Mr Hislop gave notice to move that the petition against the return of Dr Wallis and Mr Hurst be referred to a committee to consider its validity to come before the House. Colonel Trimble gave notice to ask the Government if they hold, or ever held, any interest in the steamer Hannah Mokau. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Mr Hall, before proceeding to business, wished first to reply to the statements made by the late Native Minister that he offered to make one of the Maori mem bers Native Minister, with control over all lands not Crown-granted, and also that he had promised to stop all sales and leases of lands. He could only say that it was not so. Mr Sheehan said if the Hon. Premier told them he never said so he would be satisfied.

Mr. Hall said that was not altogether satisfactory, because there -were others to satisfy. In order that he might be pre pared to refute the statement he asked his colleagues who were present at the inter views with the Maoris, to write down their recollections of what transpired, in order that he might see what their opinion was. They entirely concurred with his own view of what took place between him and Te Wheoro and Tomoana, and com pletely exonerated him from the charges made against him by Mr Sheehan. Mr Hall continued —he would not have troubled the House with this statement of what really transpired if the version of the hon. member had not gone beyond the walls of the House. To any gentle man who had known him long enough this explanation was not necessaay. He could only say that if he held out such inducements as were attributed to him, he would be unworthy to hold office. Mr Sheehan said he accepted the denial, but it was admitted that some thing of the kind had been said or written. The statements were made in the House by the Maori, and no attempt was made to contradict them at the time, although the hon. gentleman was in his place and heard what was said. GOVERNMENT BILLS. Mr Hall taid the Bills of the Govern ment were prepared, and would be found to differ materially jfrom those introduced by the late Government. He asked per mission to bring down these Bills to-day, and the rest to-morrow. In regard to the Land Purchase Bill they would go on with that of the late Government, with some slight alteration. When order No. 12 came on for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Public Revenues Act, the Hon. the Treasurer would be prepared with a statement as to the finances of the colony, and would ask the House for permission to deliver it at half-past seven. The Native Minister had been busy looking into matters, but had not completed his investigations. He would not be pre pared with a full statement until Thurs

4ay m 3Mdts **»*:£, a<>d ii, wm Jh’4 HW* sible to make it before then. He would state briefly the principal features of this question. They believed in the estab lishment of a Maori Minister, with ex tended powers. With regard to the Native Lands Courts, the Government believed them cumbrous and unsatis-

factory, and would take steps to improve them. The alienation of Native lands was also in an unsatisfactory condition, and would be put on an improved basis as soon as they had had time to make themselves acquainted with these matters. It had been proposed that the Govern ment should sell the land on behalf of the Maoris. The Government looked

with favor upon the proposal, hut did not know whether they would be able to com plete the scheme for giving effect to it. They wished to give effect to tlic sugges tion for re-distribution of advertisements, without any reference to the political opinions of newspapers. They would give effect to this at once. In connection with the Hinemoa, the Government would, as soon as the West Coast difficulty was

over, take steps to adopt a more economi cal means of carrying on such work as she had been hitherto employed upon. Mr Hall then asked leave to intro duce a Bill to amend the law re lating to electors qualified to vote at elections of members of the House of Representatives, and pro provision for the regulation and conduct of such elections. The Government pre ferred to divide the matter into five Bills, in order to avoid complications arising

through objections to various portions of one large Bill. Provision would be made for lodgers’, miners’, and ratepayers’ fran chise. As large a percentage of electors were found on the rolls as on any rolls in the Australian colonies. They proposed to introduce a Bill defining the duties of the Native Member of the Cabinet. In connection with the West Coast a large expenditure was going on necessary to preserve the safety of that district, and

the settlers were suffering great loss through the paralysis of settlement. The Government’s duty to the colony was to put a stop to this, and he gave the settlers credit for their forbearance. It was said the state of affairs arose from unfulfilled promises, and the late Government pro posed that a Royal Commission should he appointed to enquire into the matter. The Government hoped that they would be able to put an end to this state of affairs at an early date. A Bill would be pro posed specially directed to tlie means of enrolling electors and improving the facli ties for doing so. They proposed to give persons resident in a district six months a vote, if they had been twelve months in

the country. They would appoint officers to see. that all who had a right to be put on were so enrolled, and to keep the roll corrected ; would give the public oppor tunity to see who were on the roll, and if any were improperly on, steps would be taken in the R. M. Courts to sweep them off. The boundaries of road districts were not co-terminus with electoral districts, and difficulty was experienced in arranging matters ; but a large sum of money was now spent in advertising, which would be

greatly reduced. The amount so saved would go far towards improving and ex tending the means of enrolling of electors, and keeping the roll pure. Mr Macandrew said, before putting the question, he had to ask the ruling of the Speaker as to whether he would he in order in giving notice to move on the question an amendment, the nature of which he ivould lay before the House. It was to the effect that this House, while determined to pass a measure for amend ing the law relating to electors, declines to allow leave to do so until Ministers possess the confidence of the House. The Speaker ruled that a similar ques tion being already before the House, it was not competent for him to receive such a resolution until the one already before them was disposed of.

Mr Macandrew said in that case he had no alternative but to negative every motion introduced until the question was disposed of. There was no intention to stonewall, but they would have this matter decided without losing more time. They would make an exception in the matter of the Public Revenues Act, be cause they thought it was important ; but they would make no other exception. The Speaker said the question now was whether leave should be given to intro duce a certain Bill.

Mr. Hall said the question w r as whether, if this Bill was negatived, it could be introduced again this session. The Speaker said he ruled that a resolu tion similar to the one on the Order Paper could not be entertained.

Sir G. Grey said they were competent to make forms of their own, and proceeded to argue in that direction when he was called to order

The Speaker quoted from May to show that matters of the kind were left to the Speaker to be dealt with according to order and precedent. Sir Geoi’ge Grey continued to refer to the matter, when he was again called to order.

Sir G. Grey then proposed to move the adjournment of the House in order to dis cuss the matter, but was told by the Speaker he could only speak to the ques tion before the House at the time of moving. Mr Sheehan proposed the adjournment of the debate until 7.30, on the understand ing that the financial statement should then come on, taking precedence of the matter now before the House.

Mr Hall said he was quite willing to adjourn if allowed to bring up the financial statement at 7.30. Mr Sheehan said he would only consent if this matter was taken after the state ment.

The debate on the Bill was then ad journed till 7.30.

EVENING SITTING.

The Financial Statement

Major Atkinson, in moving for leave to introduce the Public Revenues Act Amendment Act, said the circumstances were of an exceptional character. He had to disregard the usual rule, that the statement of the year should be a carefully prepared document and submitted to the Government. The finance had not been dealt with at all for fifteen months. Par liament was in the dark for time. He would give a broad outline of finance so as to enable members to turn over in their minds Avhat was best to be done. In 1873 the Treasurer estimated he would begin the year with a surplus of £120,468. The actual amount realised was £116,844.

►.piig ji , fi«t £iijif f.U,tfi#s, The ftdsmvi cxpenctiturb- i is placer! before the House last session'- by the then Treasurer (Sir G. Grey) was £3,652,048 ; the apparent saving of £558,000 was reducible by £348,219 of liabilities. The payments for and made within the year amounted to a little over £4,000,000. The revenue for 1878-9 was estimated at £4,045,537- The actual sum realised being £3,751,598, left a deficiency of

£293,939 at the end of this year. They began the year with. £116,900 to their credit, and ended, after taking credit for assets and providing for liabilities, with a deficit of £130,824. He called attention to the following items of expenditure to show that they were not exercising any economy iu tho public service. They had not retrenched in any one way, and it would bo seen that some very decided step would have to be taken to place the finance on its proper footing. In law and justice, customs, &c., for the year 1577- 78 the sum voted amounted to £806,000. That was an expenditure of £IO,OOO more than voted. In 1878-9 the same depart ments got a vote of £903,000, whereas the actual expenditure was £956,000. The Native Department was next referred to. In 1876-77 the cost was £34,000 ; in 1877- 78 £43,000, and in 1878-79 it amounted to £58,000. The salaries last year were £19,000 ; they were about the same for 1877- but in 187 S-79 only £15,331 was voted for salaries, but the contingent expenses rose from £4893 in 1876-76 to £5767 in the next year, while for 1878-79 they were £16,741. The expenditure for 1878- as estimated by the late Govern ment was £3,973,425, but that did not include £140,000 for contingent defence, which it was proposed to charge to loan ; nor did it include £122,000 of local revenue, which the Government merely collected and paid. The expenditure as stated included £1,325,373 for interest and sinking fund, £63,540 the 20 per cent, of land, and £259,527 the amount of sub sidies. The estimate of revenue by the late Government was £3,444,000 ; made up from taxation, £1,380,000 ; for services rendered£l,362,ooo; from land, £500,000. But deducting this revenue from the stated expenditure there was left a deficit of £532,034, and adding to this the deficit from 1878-79 of £131,814 there was left the deficit to be met this year of £663,858. But in fact he feared with the experience which the Government had had of the receipts for the first quarter that the estimates made by the late Government for the current year’s revenue would not be realised. Devising the estimates as carefully as he had been able, he feared , the receipts would not exceed £3,193,900,

made up of taxation £2,512,300, on account of services £1,301,600, and from land £350,000. This would increase the deficit already stated by £120,000, and would leave a total deficit to be provided for this year of £711,000. It was not his business at present to suggest a remedy, or to give reasons wliy he anticipated such results, as the House would only expect a broad statement of results. When he took possession of the Trea sury, the public accounts stood thus : The receipts during the quarter did not

come up to ttie payments matte Dy tne sum of £330,000. The late Government had issued £400,000 deficiency bills, and had used the whole of the proceeds. No pro vision had been made for paying sub sidies to local bodies now due, or to meet other payments which it was absolutely necessary for them to make. To make provision for these they proposed to take nmvfir to issue a further £280.000 of defi-

ciency bills, in order to enable them to carry on the necessary services of the colony up to the month of October or November, and by that time he hoped the House would have determined how the deficiency was to be made up. It would be improper for the Government to do more than submit a mere temporary remedy, so as to enable the House to take time to determine as to how the matter was to be finally disposed of. That was his reason for asking the House to pass the Bill.

Regarding the position of the Public Works account, they began the year with a credit to the department of £507,000 nominally, but of this £300,000 was due for outstanding debts, so that in reality it was no better than so much money paid away. So that they only actually began the year with £712,000, so that the late Government had actually spent to the 30th September last half a million of the new £5,000,000 loan. Then, again, he found, upon enquiry, that their engagements entered into up to the 30th December next, amounted to £733,000 more, and further engagements, upon which they would have to pay on the 30th June next to £921,818 more. In other words, up to the 37th June next the public works they were committed to, without any new ones being undertaken, would amount to £2,100,000 out of the £5,000,000. He was much startled when he found the amount so very large. He had taken pains to see that it was correct, but he found that it was not possible to reduce the amount below what he had stated. Included in this £2,160,000 was the sum of £200,000 for the purchase of native lands. Of that £36,000 had been spent already, and there were further engage ments up to the end of this year to spend £BI,OOO. They had a further liability upon these lands, which apparently they had engaged to fulfil, amounting to £957,000. In round figures, a million more had to be provided for to complete the purchase of these lands. They also had contracts on public works account upon the 30fch June amounting to £1,281,815 more. So that one milllion would be required by the end of next June. What he desired to point out to the House was this. They had actually spent up to the end of September one quarter of a million, which, together with their engagements, would amount to a total sum of £2,000,000, and that before they knew whether the loan could be x-aised, not the slightest intimation having yet been received on the subject. He deprecated in strong terms the propriety of pledging the credit of the colony in that way. He did not know how far the loan would go oil'. Fortunately the credit of the colony was good. Still, that was no excuse for the course pursued in the matter by the late Government. Such then was the financial position at the present time. He wished the tale he had to tell had been a little more cheerful. It was clearly, however, the bounden duty of hon. members to face the whole ques tion of colonial finance at once. The posi tion was, undoubtedly, a grave one, and would demand their immediate attention, and it seemed to him that it was abso-

It* ifffi fb ti~i should be a Government in powc\! not only capable, but likewise one suffi ciently strong to legislate for the interests of tlie_colony, and not merely for those of party. It was their bouiulen duty, be submitted, to dispense with party tactics and turn their undivided attention imme diately to these serious difficulties, and in some way devise a scheme to get the finances of the colony placed in a sounder and better position than they stood at pre sent.

Sir Geo. Grey said the statement that a Financial Statement had not been made for the last fifteen months was not quite correct. The accounts had been published quarterly, and any one could have made up a statement similar to the one given as well as the Treasurer. It was not the fault of the late Government that a Fin ancial Statement was not made last session. The unconstitutional provision by the Governor in granting the dis solution about no contested motion being brought forward, prevented them from going into the financial position of the colony. They had a Financial Statement ready this session, and but for what had taken place it would have been down before this time. Regarding the defi ciency, it was brought about by exceptional circumstances. There was a large failliug off in the land revenue, and to his mind that was no falling off in the revenue of the country. The Hon John Hall said no doubt the accounts had been gazetted, but very few men in the colony could arrive at any comprehension of the true bearing of those accounts. It was true that the proposed measure of taxation taken by the Government from its predecessors might produce £200,000 towards tho deficit of £900,000, but no provision was made for the balance. The purchase of the Native lands heretofore had always resulted in a dead loss to the colony. The worst feature of the present gloomy prospect was the utter inability of the Opposition to realise their position.

Mr Ballanee threw the blame on the Opposition last session, for keeping the Colony in the dark as to the financial condition. They used their majority at the very commencement of last session to intercept any consideration of financial matters, by bringing down a vote of want of confidence. tie contended that the real deficit last year was only £60,000, and that, considering all the facts, the results of the finance last year were by no means unsatisfactory, No doubt the House had to face a deficit, but it was not so serious a one as was stated. It would probably be about £500,000 to £600,000 chiefly through the falling off in the land revenue.

Mr M £ Lean thought that much of the present evil was due to Mr Ballanee. He also blamed that gentleman for leaving the late Government without meeting Parlia ment.

Messrs Moss and Reader Wood de fended the late Ministry. If they had done wrong they had only imitated tlieir predecessors. Mr. Wakefield, at considerable length, replied to Sir George Grey and Mr Bal lance. He condemned the reckless finance of the late Government.

After some remarks from Messrs Pyke and Turnbull, Major Atkinson replied, and the Public Revenue Bill was then introduced and passed through all its stages.

The Hon. Mr Hall then moved that the House adjourn.

Mr. Sheehan wished to revert to the de bate on introducing the Electoral Bill to complain that Mr Hall’s action was a breach of faith.

Mr Hall denied this, and said Govern ment would not be coerced.

The Speaker ruled that no new business could be entered on, as it was after 12.30. Mr Hislop intimated that if Government continued to defy the majority the House, he would, if only five stood by him, op pose all supplies.

Mr Whitaker defended the course Go vernment had taken.

Mr Macandrow said they were outflanked for the day, and had only to surnbit. The House adjourned at 1.40 a.m.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS

{Special to the Melbourne Age. ) London, Oct. 14.

News from Afghanistan states that the British had a triumphant entry into Cabul on Sunday. The faithful Afghan troops saluted the British flag. The Ghilzais are blocking the passage between Cabul and Jellalabad.

The Duchess of Edinburgh has been prematurely confined of a still-born infaixt.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

TO-DAY’3 TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, Oct. 15.

Forty passengers left by the Rotoina liana for the Sydney Exhibition and Melbourne races.

Government state in l'eply to the Rev. S. Edgar, that they are advised they have no power to detain the master and lxiate of the Minister of Marine pending an inquiry.

LAST NIGHT’S CABLEGRAMS.

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

(Age Special.')

London, Oct. 13,

The news from Afghanistan states that Cabul has been surrendered to General Roberts. The Ameer has encamped the main body of his troops on the ridge over looking the city. To guard against treachery, the British have postponed the formal occupation of the city until Oct. 18. One hundred and ten guns and an im mense amount of war materials are amongst the results of the capture. The British loss is inconsiderable. The British have occupied the Bala Hissar in Cabul, and the citadel.

The Right Hon. R. Cross, Home Secre tary, in replying to Sir Vernon Harcourt recently, deprecated the necessity of a petty war, and contended that the suc cessful fulfilment of the Berlin Treaty had regained England her prestige.

( Renter's 7'elegrains.)

Calcutta, Oct. 13. The enemy are dispersing from the neighborhood of Cabul. The total number of guns captured was 110.

GpiiOi’al with iVlhUq entered Oabul oq October 13. Tlip tribes are returning home. Vienna, Oct. 13. Owing to the severe weather in Hun gary, several rivers have been blocked by ice, and a number of bridges destroyed.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Reuter's Telegram. ) Melbourne, Oct. 14. Sailed—Albion, for New Zealand. {Special.) Melbourne, Oct. 14. Le Loup, Darriwell, and Credit, gal loped at Flemington to-day. Le Loup had the best of it, and is now much fancied for the Cup. Sydney, Oct. 14. Twenty of the men arrested for distur bances at the Waratah colliery were dis missed. Two were committed for trial on a charge cf intimidation.

LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS.

Dunedin, Oct. 14.

The charge of murder against William Waters was proceeded with in the Supreme Court to-day. A large number of wit nesses were examined. No new evidence was adduced except that Ritchie, alias Scottie, one of the chief witnesses for the prosecution, admitted in cross-examina tion, that he had been sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment for set ting fire to a stack at Dumbarton, Scot land. At the close of the case for the prosecution the foreman asked if the jury might be allowed to give a verdict at once, without hearing the defence or the Judge’s charge. The Judge replied in the negative. The Court then adjourned till seven o’clock, when the case for. the defence was opened. At half-past twelve the jury returned a verdict acquitting Waters on the charge of murder.

Solidification by Pressure. —A Ger man engineer,, M. Sprinz, has been engaged in conducting some interesting experiments on a small scale, on the extent to which various powders may be solidified by the action of powerful pressure. For this purpose he made use of a prism of steel, pierced w r ith a hole in the direction of its axis ; this hole was filled with the powdered substance ram med down tightly with a piston, and these were then subjected to a pressure of about 20,000 atmospheres by means of a powerful vice. Under this treatment saltpetre and nitre powders yield perfectly homogeneous transparent blocks, like porcelain, harder, and more resistant than if they had been obtained by fusion. Sawdust, under similar pressure, yielded a substance considerably harder than the wood it originally formed part of, but the texture of the new material was far from uniform. In the direction of the pressure the blocks exhibited great resisting power, but at right angles to that direction they broke very readily.- Lime-dust and the dust of a common grindstone gave no result at all when treated dry, but lime dust that had been slightly damped became so compact and hard that it was almost impossible to remove the blocks formed from the apparatus.

Wakeficld the Great. —Mr Wake field, M.H.R., has no reverence for the Member for Akoroa. In a telling speech which he made on Friday, he said he would not “ waste powder and shot on such small beer as the hon. member for Akai'oa.”

The Pastoral Interests. —A Gazette published on October Bth, contains the returns showing the number of sheep de pasturing on runs and farms in the colony. The information is very voluminous but not particularly readable. In the Otago list of sheepowners xve remark that there are no less than 83 Mac-Something-or-other’s, showing that the Scotch element is still dominant there. Mr R. P. Bayly, Chief Inspector, in alluding to the rabbit nuisance mentions that on one run no less than 30 men and 600 dogs were employed in the destruction of the bunnies, and also expresses an opinion that by the time the leases of the tracts expired, they would be valueless, unless some means are devised to check the evil. Our readers, however, are aware that the new means of destroy ing the rabbits has been so successful, it is quite possible that before Mr Bayly’s next report is on paper there will be scarcely a pair of bunnies left to connect between the congregation of the slain and the small number of rabbits that “ shots” would like to see existent in the colony for the sake of sport. Domestic Helps.— A few days ago, the mistress of a household in Wellington in response to an advertisement, received several visits from young ladies anxious to take the situation. One cf them, a great raw-boned girl of eighteen who seemed stupid as well as ungainly, was told that she would not suit. She promptly re joined : “ Thank yer, mum ; then I’d ask yer for sixpence to take me home as it’ll be a long to walk.” The girl was evi dently smarter than she looked. Another damsel who was employed as a nursfegirl at the house of a gentleman we know, point blank declined to make the chil dren’s beds, declaring that she wasn’t en gaged to do housemaid’s work. As may be imagined she did not stop long.

UNCLAIMED LETTERS.

The following letteis from places beyond he colony were received at the Ashburtcn Post Office during the month of August, and xematned unclaimed on Ist October, 1879: — Allinham, J. Charles, Richard Critchley, W. S. Deacon, William Devane, Patrick Frailer, John Criffin, Morgan Maclean (or Maclear) John Kennedy, William Kissane, Michael Larkin, Andrew Morrison, James Moriarty. Michael Quinlan. Mary Ryan, Thomas P>. Sharp, Sames Valpy, John N. Vincent, J. Walker, Archibald Woodman, W. D. Young, Lewis P. . McAllister, Mrs . black, Tohn Twiss, Michael W. St, G. Douglas, Postmaster.

WEDNESDAY

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Clothing Establishment. ASSIGNMENT OF THE ESTATE OF MESSRS. AITKEN, PASCOE & CO.. CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS, xo Mr. J. H. Morrison, Manager Mosgiel Woolen Factory, AND Mr. John Ross, Of Sargood, Sons & Ewings Trustees. THE above large Clothing Manufac turing Firm having had to succumb to these hard times, and assign their estate, we have been induced by the Trustees to purchase the whole of their large Manufactured Stock at a Very Heavy Reduction, and have resolved to sell the same again in our Branches direct to the public at prices at which we could not legitimately sell our own Goods. In fact (without exaggeration) during the next few weeks we are in a position to offer NEW GOODS IN MEN’S AND BOYS’ ATTIRE, Of Colonial Manufacture, at from ONE THIRD TO ONE HALF THEIR USUAL COST. HALLENSTEIN BROS., New Zealand Clothing Factory. The assigned Stock will be for Sale in our Ashburton Branch from and on SATURDAY NEXT, 28th JUNE. New Zealand Clothing Factory. 12a



Special Notice. LOST, THE Mouthpiece of an Instrument belonging to the Ashburton Brass Band. Any person finding the same will kindly return it to MB. SAYAGE, 564 a Bandmaster, East Street. TO PRINTERS. MACHINE FOR SALE. FOR SALE, about the end of October, One Second-hand Double Demy Tape Printing MACHINE, in thorough working order, with rollers, moulds, &c., complete. We are replacing this machine by a Double Royal Wharfedale, which necessitates removal of the Double Demy Machine now used for printing the “ Herald ” and “ Guardian,” for hand or steampower. Can be seen and all par ticulars obtained at our office. WEEKS & DIXON. Ashburton, October 14, 1879. 565 a NOTICE. ~ THE Public are respectfully reminded that the undersigned business houses agreed in June last to close at 6 p.m., sharp, for the benefit of employes, who would earnestly invite customers to do their purchasing in good time, in order to adhere to the rule. We, the undersigned, do hereby agree to close our respective places of business, on and after Monday, 23rd June, 1879, at the hour of 6 o’clock every evening, except Saturday, for the benefit of our employes. (Signed) ORR&Co. T. R. HODDER & Co. FRIEDLANDER BROS. HALLENSTEIN BROS. & Co. per W. Sparrow. 96 D. WILLIAMSON & Co. 567 a TO PRINTERS. 'T'TT'ANTED—A Smart Hand, to make YY- up the “Ashburton Herald” and “Ashburton Guardian.” Sobriety indis pensable, WEEKS & DIXON. WANTED KNOWN —That Money can be saved by pm-chasing your Sta tionery and Account Books, for cash, at the “Herald” and “Guardian” Whole sale Stationery Depdt, Saunders’ Build ings, near Station.