POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close as follows : For Christchurch and North at 10 20 a. m. 4 p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. / For Chertsey at 10.20 a.in daily. ; > For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m and 4.p.m daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald Winslow, .Hinds; Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.20 a.m, daily.; For Teinuka. Timaru, and South at 10.20 a.m and 3 p.m daily. I For Greenstreet, Ashburton ; Forks,’ Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorg6; on Tuesdays; and Fridays at 10.30 a.m "UE V C: ; ' 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. t2.g-:r_-31¥.-LrC.-gLA-1 - - A travelling Post Office having been estab lished on the Southern line of railway, letters bearing a r; late. fee of 2d. may be posted at any station i lithe Thai! carriage attached to the expre=s train, and they will be included in the mails made up in transit for offices on the main line and branches.

Sydney J. Drcic, Chief Postmaster.

UNCLAIMED LETTERS.

The following letteis from places beyond he colony were received at the Ashbuitrn Post Office during the month of August, and lemained unclaimed on Ist October, 157 9 • Allinham, J. Charles, Richard CritcHley, W. S. Deacon, William Devane, Patrick Frailer, John Griffin, Morgan Maclean (or Maclear) John Kennedy,'"William' Kissihe, 'Michael Larkin, Andrew __ Morrison, James Moriarty. Michael. Quinlan.' 'Mary ‘ Ryan, Thomas B. Sharp, Saines Valpy, John-N. Vincent, J.. Walker, Archibald Woodman, W. D. ■ Young, Lewis.P. McAllister, Mrs Black, Tohn/>;•,/ Twiss, Michael ;-' W. .ST, G. Douglas, Postmaster.

On the first da] jf each month a list is ex hibited at- each Pc. t Office in the Colony of the addresses of all letters received from places be yond the Colony that have remaind unclaimed for one month at such Post Office; and such of these letters as remain unclaimed at the end of a further period of two months are then for warded to the Dead Letter Office, to be return ed unopened to the countries where they origi nated. Unclaimed letters originating in the Colony arc not. advertised, but at the end of two. months are forwarded to the Dead Letter Office, Wellington, there to be opened and re turned to : the .writers.

'N OTICE

NEW POSTAL-REGULATION.

Letters posted, within the colony having the names and addresses of the senders printed on the address side of the envelopes, accompanied by a request that the letters be returned if not claimed'within'a stated-period, will be return ed unopened. Provided, however, such letters shall have remained in the post office to which they may be addressed,.at least ten days.

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser With which is incorporated the "Evening Echo”). FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1879.

The present is a critical time for men in the Borough of Ashburton and surround ing districts, upon whom the dull state of trade is inflicting severe hardships through the inevitable want of employment that follows commercial depression. At this juncture —when all public works in the Borough have been suspended, when the Road Boards, with one or two exceptions, are not expending their funds at a rate proportionate to the state of the labor market, and the County Council, though holding a large amount of money do not seem prepared to put it in circulation by a channel that would enable it to benefit the laboring man, and when private employers of labor have not yet sufficiently recovered from the recent shock their financial confi dence received to allow their enterprise full sway and find employment for the hands now forced to be idle—the district is threatened with an efflux of the popula tion it was our pride to see congregate within our boundaries. The sufferings of the population are not just now com mencing, but we would fain hope that the pi-esent is the darkest hour of night that comes before the day dawn. All the winter through want has held a threaten ing finger over the doors of our cottage homes, and the entrance of real distress was only averted by the laudable efforts of the Road Boards and the Corporation, who, to their credit did their very utmost by putting works in hand to relieve the glut in the labor market. But the funds of the Borough were not sufficient to bear the strain put upon them, and now when the last available copper has been spent upon work that our unemployed could do, the labor gang has had to be reduced to the neucleus represented by the foreman. One Road Board in the immediate vicinity of the Borough have reached the point in the length of their tether beyond which it is unsafe to go with any assurance of avoiding disaster, so that unless the well found County Council can set free a por tion of its funds at once, or Government do more in the same direction than it is

doing, the future must remain as difficult of realisation for the toiler as ever. The County Council were willing enough to advance to the Borongh a sum of £2,000 to assist the latter body to tide over their financial difficulties, but as it ap peared that in consequence of the Borough not being within the boundaries of the County, the Act would not permit of any County funds being expended in the Borough, and we believe the Chairman and members were sincere when they ex pressed their regret at their inability to assist the municipality in its distress. The County, however, can, if so disposed, render assistance to another local body which requires funds to carry out a large number of necessary works, such as would give employment to manual labor. The Longbeach Road Board have spent all their moneys and their district is still in want of considerable expenditure on drains, and as this district is within the County’s boundaries, the latter body will not have any legal difficulty in the way of advancing funds to prosecute the neces sary works. “ Bis dat qui cito dat,” and any advance made now would be of greater value than one made at a future time. We hear much of the duty of the General Government in the matter of finding employment for idle men. We hear it asserted that it is no more the duty of the Legislature to provide work for the laboring population at a time when work is scarce than it is their duty to pull pri vate firms through in a time of financial difficulty. The principle is sound enough from one point of view, and would, per haps have been a fair one to act upon had the Legislature acted upon it throughout. But they have not done so. In response to the colony’s demands a public works and immigration policy was inaugurated, with the result that thousands of human beings—all workers —were poured upon the shores that now refuse to find them food. Those workers came here at the in vitation and at the expense of the Govern ment, induced to emigrate from their na tive land by representations made by paid agents of the Government, that the land land was a very Canaan flowing with milk and honey. Once on these shores, to leave is a matter almost impossible to the vast majority of those who have chosen them as their adopted home. We do not claim for the working men that they should be supported like so many paupers, but we do claim for them that having been brought here by the Government, Government should stand in the gap made by the present financial depression, and create, as far as lies in its power, new out lets for the toilers’ labor to supply the place of those that have closed through the difficulties or caution of private em ployers and the impecuniosity of public bodies. The district represented by Mr. E. G. Wright has been singularly unfor tunate in the share of public works that have fallen to it, and beyond the through railway, and the so-called Mount Somers line, nothing whatever has been done for it. For the through line we have to thank the desire of Dunedin and Christ church to be connected by railway, and not any goodwill towards us by the powers that be, and as for the Mount Somers line it is still incomplete, not only in con struction but in plan. It is impossible to say whether or not the Mount Somers line will be extended as we'all desire?; and we would certainly have wished, in the interests of the unemployed that the County Council had made very strong re presentations to Government on the sub ject. But we are glad to learn that strong private influence is now being brought to bear upon the authorities to make the ex tension required. We do not wish to raise any false trust as to the success of that influence, but we are not without a faint hope that the repsesentations made will not be without their weight in the matter.

Accident.— As the Rev. Mr Paige was riding home yesterday evening, his horse took fright at something opposite Mr Parkin’s yards, shied, and dismounted Iris rider. The Rev. gentleman, we are glad to say suffered no injury beyond a shak ing.

Dentistry.—On Monday next Mr Gat lin, the well-known surgeon dentist, will be in waiting at Quills’ Hotel, to attend patients. San Francisco Mail. —The time fox closing the outward mail via San Francisco has been extended to 10 -20 a. m. to-nxor ro w (Saturday). A supplementary mail (fox ordinary letters only) will be despatched per express train to-morrow, in time to connect with the Hawea at Lyttelton. R. M. Court.—Tne only case heard to day was one in which the distinction be tween the terms “ cutting” and “clearing” flax on land, was the bone of coxxtention. It appeared from the evidence that Stevens, the plaintiff, liad taken a contract to cut the flax from a marshy block of land in . the Toi swamp, belonging to Mr McQuilkixi. The plaintiff alleged that the work was done propei-ly, but that a large' mob of cattle followed them up during the pro gress of the work to eat the flax, there being nothing else for them, and as the land was swampy and soft, the flax was trodden into the soil, and could not in consequence be got rid of. Fox- the de fence it was stated that it was a part of the bargain to “clear” the land so that it could be ploughed, and Mr Hewson, a farmer of 12 years’ experience, explained the difference in the terms of “cutting” and “ clearing,” and the values of each description of work. The Magistrate held that tlie defendant should have kept his cattle away during tlie time the contract was in existence, so as to allow the plain tiffs to do their woi-k efficiently, and he gave judgment for the amount claimed with costs.

The Bridge near Digry’s. —We notice that a large quantity of heavy timber is now coming to hand for the erection of the bridge over the Ashburton river, near Digby’s. The piles, stringers, and other heavy pieces of the timber are of Austra lian jarrah and ironbark, and is of a very superior description. Mr Benliam, the contractor, will commence operations at once, and four months is expected to com plete the contract.

Cricket.—The committee of the County Cricket Club met at Quill’s Commei-cial Hotel last evening at 7.30. Present— Messrs Saunders (in the chair), Douglas, Westenra, Buchanan, Fooks, and Main waring. The Chairman read a letter which he had received from the Secretary of the Borough Club, intimating that at present the members of that club were dis inclined to join the pi-oposed Cricket As sociation, submitting as a l-eason that the Domain ground was at present unfit for

use. The Chairman explained that steps had been taken towards the formation of an association, and stated that the County had been confidently led to expect the cordial co-operation of the Borough Club, and members felt a little annoyed that a different course had been adopted without first meeting the deputation' appointed to consult on the matter. He was sure,that no discourtesy was intended, but the pro ceedings were slightly irregular, and as the matter was one of the utmost impor tance to cricketing interests, lie would suggest that the Borough Club be again communicated with, and if possible, some arrangement made for preserving the ground granted by the Domain Board. If the junior club still persevered in its re solution, the County would be compelled to take the whole burden on its own shoulders, and arrange with the Domain Board to protect any improvements effected. After • some further remarks from different members of the Committee, Mr Buchanan proposed and Mr Fooks ser conded, and it was carried unanimously— “ That the. Secretary write to the Borough Club acknowledging their letter of Bth inst., and,-pointing out that the object of the proposed association is the conserva tion of the ground granted by the Domain Board, and asking their immediate co operation. ” The Honorary Secretary re ported that he had received a challenge from the Borough Club to play a match on Saturday, the 18th October. It was re solved to accept the same, and the follow-; ing players were selected to represent the club—Messrs T. Buchanan, Douglas, Den shire, Fooks, Field, Grant, Hodder, Main waring, E. Saunders, S. Saunders, and Westenra ; emergencies, Messrs Bruce, Crisp, Guy, Harris, and Tarawhiti. Messrs Fooks and Mainwaring undertook to supervise the preparation of a wicket for the match, and it was resolved that the team should practice together on Tuesday and Thursday next at 4.30 p.m. The usual vote to the Chairman termi nated the proceedings.

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

Taking action on the resolutions passed at last meeting of the Borough Council, his Worship the Mayor has forwarded the undergiven letter to the Mayors of the various boroughs in Canterbury, enclosing copies of the resolutions of the Borough Council regarding the proposed Municipal Association :

Sir, —I have the honor, by request of this Council, to forward you copies of resolutions passed at the last ordinary meeting, held on Monday, the 6th inst., and trust that they will receive your favorable consideration. As questions with reference to endowments, subsidies, and fees which come to the boroughs are continually arising, united action in all these matters will tend to strengthen the claims of the various municipalities with the Government ; also in connection with the negotiation of loans, framing bye laws, drainage, and water supply. Several other matters of great importance will be discussed by the delegates. It is sug gested that this assocation should at pre sent be confined to the Canterbury provincial district, but at some future time may be extended so as to include the whole of the Middle Island.—l have, &c.,

(Signed) Thos. Bullock, Mayor.

TELEGRAPHIC.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

INTER PRO Vi NOIAL.

Auckland, Oct. 10.

Mr James McKay is now in Auckland awaiting instructions from Government respecting native affairs. Thomas R. Hedley, a recent ai-x-ival from Wellington, has been arrested on a charge of obtaining money under false pre tences from Nehemiah Guthridge, and re manded to Wellington. Henry Watts, . the boy of 15, who attempted rape on a child, got four months’hard labor. Five of the remainder of the crew of the Minister of Marine have determined not to go to sea in hex-.

LAST NIGHT’S CABLEGRAMS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

{Reuter's Telegrams. ) London, Oct. 6. Australian Wheat, 575. London, Oct. 7.

' At a Cabiixet Council held yesterday, it is believed that the question of the re assembling of Parliament was discussed. The “Times” deprecates the action as being xxncalled for. Arrived —Westland, Beatrice, and Sov ereign. The iron trade is excited and there has been a great advance in tin and copper.

Berlin, Oct. 8.

The elections to the Prussian Parlia ment have l-esixlted in the return of a majority of the Conservative candidates. Madrid, Oct. 9. Spanish reinforcements have landed at Cuba.

AUSTRALIAN.

( Special.) Sydney, Oct. 9.

The manager and accountant of the Commercial Bank j,at Lithgow have been arrested oil a charge of embezzlement. A clerk in the Colonial Bank has also been arrested on a similar charge. Melbourne, Oct. 9.

A Conference of Farmers’ Unions inter vied the Government, asking for the re moval of all duties on agricultural imple ments and produce. Sir B. O’Loughlin agi-eed to consult Mr Berry, who is still unwell. Some members of tlie Conference consider that, in the event of .a refusal, they should unanimously tlie Legislative Council to reject the tai-ift’,

INTERPROVINCIAL.

LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, Oct. 9.

At the criminal session, Herman Hill Meii-s, for wounding, was sentenced to two years.

It is rumoured that Captain Murphy, of the Minister of Marine, intends applying for the surrender of the seamen iu ; gaol and putting them on board. Mr M £ Donald, R. M., in reference thereto expressed his inability to do anything in the ’matter, hut referred the captain to the .Collector of Customs, who‘might possibly give effect, to the petition'that the seamen might not be surrendered, owing to serious' conse quences that might be; apprehended' to follow oh the high seas. The Collector, said he would grant, a discharge to ,any seaman who' would swear that his life was• in danger at th e hands of "the Captain. A Justice of the Peace has proceeded to see Judge Gillies, and the Government . will he appealed to to interpose. .Mean-wliile the ship is. making ready for sea.

Gisborne, Oct. 9,

Mr. W. L. Rees has served writs on Mr. George Lawrence and Mr. Robert Cooper for maliciously publishing that he had drawn a cheque for £SO on a Bank in which he had no account, with intent to deceive, and had obtained money under false pretences. Damages are iaid at £IOOO. He has also issued writs on Messrs J. S. M'Farlane, Lawrence, and E. F. Ward, jun., that they did wickedly, falsely and maliciously conspire, without reasonable cause, to prosecute him con cerning the cheque, and that through those proceedings he had. been injured in repu tation. Damages are laid at £3OOO. Mr. Rees has also served a writ for libel against the “Evening Herald” for publishing an article about a fortnight ago. Damages are laid at £2500. Napier, Oct. 9. The libel actions raised by Major Mair and Mr. Searancke, against the “ Hawke’s Bay Herald ” have been amicably ssttled, through Messrs. Bullei and Lewis, the plaintiff’s solicitors. The “ Herald ” publishes a full retraction and apology, and pays £SO into Court, and all costs in each case. The “ Herald ” also extends the apology to Major Jackson. The “Telegraph” has, in a similar manner stopped the libel action raised against it by Mr. Rees, by apologising and paying £IOO to the Hospital, and costs. Shearing is now progressing rapidly, the weather being favourable after a spell of cold and frost.

, Wellington, Oct. 9. This morning, W. Matheson, for lar ceny from Barrett’s Hotel, was sentenced to six months’ penal servitude. Abraham Walmsley, for burglary, pleaded guilty, and was remanded for sentence. John Joseph Walsh, for larceny, was acquitted ; three other charges will be preferred against him. The new Ministers took their places in the Government offices this morning. The Union Company’s new steamer Rotomahana made a trip round the har bour this afternoon with about 700 guests on hoard, including Lady Robinson and the members of the Legislature. The trip was very pleasant, and the steamer averaged fourteen knots. At a special meeting of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association to-day, a sub-com mittee was appointed to take the whole question of the trade’s position and the licensing system into consideration ; and it was resolved that delegates from all other Associations should be asked to at tend a conference here, beginning on Oct. 23, to frame resolutions and wait on the Government as a deputation with their suggestions. Much earnestness was shown by the meeting, and a hope was strongly expressed that the grievances of the trade would be redressed and its general status raised. , - ; r : Hokitika, Oct. 9. The Claud Hamilton took away nearly 7000ozs. of gold, the produce of this dis trict. : Dunedin, Oct. 9. At the criminal sessions to-day, James Smith, convicted of the manslaughter of his wife, was sentenced to two years’ hard labour.

ASHBURTON FORKS RAILWAY.

The formation of the Ashburton Rail way is now completed for a distance of about 18 miles, being within 5 miles of Methven, the terminus of the present contract. The sidings are all completed to this point, but the -station buildings have yet to be erected. The top ballast is laid on for a distance of about 10 miles, but there a few gaps still to fill up. Two engines and 12 trucks are employed on this work, and rapid progress is being made. About 13 miles of rails are laid, but a delay has been experienced in this portion of the work, consequent upon the difficulty in obtaining sleepers. A strike took place amongst the navvies on the Ist inst., they being of opinion that the pay — 7s fid per day for surface men, and 8s for ballast fillers—was not sufficient. Mi- Lake, the contractor, at once acceded to their demands, and the rate now paid is Bs. and Bs. fid. for men worth the money. It is expected that the formation will be completed in about two months. The per manent ivay will, however be somewhat longer in construction, owing to the delay in the delivery of sleepers. The line is of a very substantial character, indeed, more so than the Great South Railway, as the following comparison will show. On the Great South Railway the sleepers are 7 inches by 5, and the ballast 6 inches in depth under the sleepers, whilst the rails are 401bs per yard ; these, however, are being replaced by 521 b rails. On the Alford Forest line the sleepers, are 9 x Fl inches, all of Tasmanian blue gum. There are 9 inches of ballast under them, and the rails are steel and 521bs per yard. The extra width of the sleepers, the depth of the ballast, and the heavier and better quality of the rails will all tend to make the line a more reliable one, and less costly in maintenance. The two engines for future use on the line have arrived, as also have a number of a superior descrip tion of passenger carriages. The engines are of American manufacture, similar to the “ Lincoln ” class used for the passen ger traffic on the Canterbury Railways, but somewhat smaller. The carriages are models of comfort and elegance, in fact, so much so, that the Government could not see their way to allow a private branch line to have better conveyances than them selves, so they have purchased them from the Ralcaia and Alford Forest Railway Company, for use on the main line. The construction of this Railway will give a great impetus to farming operations in this district, and the production of grain will be increased to an enormous extent this year in the locality.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

SOUTH RAKAIA. Thursday, October 9. IJelore Mr. Frank Guinness, R.M. breach or the licensing act. —police v. WILLIAM MORTON. The defendant was charged with iun lawfully selling alcoholic liquors.. ’(. In spector Pender conducted the case on behalf of the prosecution, and Mr 0. W. Purnell appeared for the defendant.y Mr Purnell made a preliminary objection,- and asked for a dismissal, on the ground that one summons had been issued for three separate offences, viz., for selling two half-gills of brandy, two. of rum, and two of whisky, and he contended that three distinct charges should have been made. Moreover, the names of the in dividuals to whom the liquor had been supplied should have been specified. ITis Worship considered it necessary-for a name to be stated, and the names of George Wheeler and Edwin Russel were then inserted as persons to whom liquor had been sold.

Philip -Thqreau, sworn, deposed .that he was a constable stationed' at Rakaia. The alleged sale of liquor had taken place at Mitcham, in the Ashburton Licensing District, , When witness delivered the summons to defendant he asked him to read it to him. Defendant then said, “ I must admit that I supplied these drinks. It is Mr Passmore who is doing the mis chief. If lam fined more than £5 I will not be able to pay it.” Defendant has no licence to sell alcoholic drinks.

By Mr Purnell : I did not caution the defendant when I delivered the summons. I have received instructions not to caution, but to allow prisoners to say what they liked.

Edwin Russell stated he was a laborer, employed by Mr Passmore. He knew George Wheeler as a ploughman in the same employ. Recollected going to de defendant’s house on a Sunday afternoon, about three weeks ago. Went to see a friend named Lane, I met him at Mor ton’s, house. Morton was present at the time. I had. some tea and rum. I had rum three times, perhaps a wineglassful each time. I think Wheeler had some too. Morton shouted twice and Lane once. Witness did not pay for any. There were five present. Defendant first asked us to have a nip. A bottle of rum was placed on the table by defendant, and we helped ourselves. We had pudding next, with some tea. Lane asked us whether we would have another nip, and we had one of rum. Did not see Lane pay any money, or any money pass. About half au hour aftewards defendant asked us to have one more before we left, but I did not see it paid for. That was all we had, and we then went home. -1 was sober. Wo paid Is Gd for our pud ding and tea. I< believe Wheeler paid for his also, but don’t know how much. I had had my dinner about an hour and a half before I went to defendant’s. Have not spoken to Morton since I was there. Will swear I did not tell Mr Passmore or Mr Wright that I had paid for the drinks. George Wheeler, sworn, deposed that he was a ploughman, employed by .Mr Passmore. Recollected going to Morton’s in company with Russell on a Sunday to see Lane. Russell and myself had a glass of beer each. I shouted. [The witness was here cautioned that he would be-com mitted for contempt of Court for the manner in whichj he was giving liis evi dence.] I paid defendant one shilling for the first shout. I paid for about eight drinks. Three other men were present at the time. I spent 9s altogether. Did not see any other person pay for drinks. I became slightly inebriated. ' I must have paid for the drinks. I do. not know if Russell and Lane were present or not. I was not drunk when I changed a pound, I lent Lane 5s out of the change, and paid 4s to defendant, I had something to eat. I do not. think I paid the 4-s. for that. Was at defendant’s house about two hours and a half. There were six of us altogether. William Morton, sworn : I am a laborer keeping a hoarding-house at Mitcham. Remembered Sunday, the 21st September. Russell and Wheeler came to my house that afternoon. Have seen them passing with drays on several occasions. They had a meal at my house, and Wheeler owed me at the time about 3s for meals. The remains of the dinner were on the table when Russell and Wheeler came in, and they had some pudding and tea. They did not • pay me any money for liquor. I had some beer and rum in the house, and I said, “ Well, this-is the first time I have been squared up with, since I have been on the line, and I will shout.” I put a bottle of rum before them, and told them to help themselves. 18 men Avere hoarding in my house, and I hrvited all to drink. Another bottle Was pro duced by some one, but I don’t know Avho. Wheeler had the same as the others.

Cross-examined by Mr Pender : I do not know what was in the second bottle. I swear it was not mine. I bought two gallons of ruin and filled it into bottles. I bought the spirits from Mutter at Ban- Hill. I paid 21s a gallon for it. I also got two gallons from Montgomery and Co. about two months ago. I have not had 10 gallons of spirits within the past two months, nor have I got 20 gallons from any place during the past month. Wheeler paid me a pound after the first drink, and before he had the pudding. When Wheeler and Russell came in they asked for drink. I brought the bottle out and gave it to Lane, and told them to help themselves. Except Lane, all the other boarders were at the table. Cannot say how long it was after they came in that they had their meals. Russell asked for some pudding. He owed me pre viously for meals ; that was why I charged him Is fid.

By Mr Purnell : My boarders are generally laborers working on the rail way. I was busy when they came in. A man said, Bill, give us a couple of drinks.” I might have had a couple of nips myself at the same time. James Collins said he was inspector of work's on the Alford Forest railway. Had lodged with Morton three weeks up to about a mouth ago. Had seen defendant give men drinks, but not take payment for them. The Magistrate summed up the evi dence, and dismissed the case.- CIVIL CASES. Laurie v, Symons. —Honsuited. Lake v. Passmore—Claim £l7 9s. Mr Purnell for plaintiff; Mr Ireland for de defendant. Judgment .■or £l4 19s, and costs. Dowding v. Doherty—Claim £lB. Ad journed till next Court-day.

Breeding Farm Horses.

Healthy, vigorous,, well-shaped parents usually ’have . healthy,-Well-shaped off springs, and in; the saiiie ; manner the im perfections' andidiseasesjof the parents are prone to appear, iff tjie progeny. A cart stallion, himself symmetrical and sound, leaves,a laige proportion of shapely, sound, and serviceable stock,.-. A draught stallion Ayitli round, gummy legs and coarse hair (a type of top manxbf the ordinary horses travelling) as lie advances in years, is pretty certain to become affected Avith in flammation of the lymphatic glands and vessels of his hind limbs, or Aveed, and of congestion of the sebaceous glands, of, liis % - lieels, or grease, and Avith equal certainty ' his faulty conformation and- consequent tendency to disease re-appear in his pro geny.. -y -Equallydiereditary - are 1 * those Ting" and side *bones AAdiicli so materially lessened the. value for Avork of so many big, and otherwise good cart horses. Hoav con- * stantly the weak- •'narrow 1 hocks, which"* predispose, to., spavin, and , the straight)q small hocks that are subject to curb, con tinue unsatisfactorily to mar each, suc cessive generation. Some thoroughbred ' sires are . roarers ; in. other words they • have Avasting of the muscles of the larynx] ' and this serious shortcoming diminishes* r the value of a large proportion of tlieir ' progeny. Habits, longevity, temper, and vices, are all transmissible', and so in a marked degree are the imperfections anxß * weaknesses which constitute disease or predispose to it. The practical deduction - from this inexorable IaAV of like producing like is, to use for breeding, purposes only 5 ' seiwiceable sound materials, -to eselieAV starved, narrow, ill-favoured, Aveakly.sub jects, and to realise that it is about as - fruitless to endeavour to make a silk purse out of a soAv’s ear as to produce superior from inferior animals. . Some breeders: believe, or act as if they believed,, that the sire has the chief influence in deter mining the health and usefulness of the offspring, and that the darh might be re- - garded merely as a kind, .of passive in-kl strument, or a sort of hatching machine. £„ Tliis is .a mistake. Parents impress their' physical and- other qualities; tolerably :j equally on the offspring. ■ Virtually,-.the. progeny should be the mean, of the two parents; but they are not always so. Much uncertainty of result occurs Avhen dissimilar parents are mated. Other modi fying circumstances also . intervene to render the offspring more like the sire; than the dam, or vice versa. The best bred, parent, that is, the parent whose family has been longest.bred from*similar strains, perpetuates most strongly itscha-' ' racteristics. Thus a well-bred Shorthorn bull leaves very prominently his mark on ordinary dairy cows. His calves, even, from mongrels of endless variety, are often tolerably like himself in .shape; style, and = even in colour.; The parent which at the period of copulation happens to be in the highest state of health and vigor often 'makes the greatest mark upon the pro geny, and this forms a : strong argument • for maintaining all breeding stock in a sound and vigorous state; > Observation, extending over all descriptions of stock, demonstrates that the 'male parent‘contri butes more notably the size and external, farm, the bony skeleton, and the skin and its appendages ; Avhilst the internal organs, and hence the constitution, more espe cially folloAV the female parent. A horse Avith a tendency to splints, ring bones, and other diseases of the bones, transmits these defects with greater cer tainty than the female parent, who on her part is more likely to perpetuate a tuber culous or Aveakly constitution, or a slug gish or vicious temper, qualities which mainly result from the internal organisa tion. Reversion, ataAffsm, or calling back frequently intervenes to modify the pro- * geny and makes them resemble their grand-parents, or even their more remote ancestors, rather than their immediate forebears. From this law good and bad points alike crop up unexpectedly in all animals. A remote cross of a soft or non staying sort has sometimes, marred, the prospects of many of the progeny of a Derby Avinner, himself above the average in speed and endurance. Professor Wil liams, in his Avork on veterinary medi cine, records the case of a-cart stallion Avhicli, although sound and serviceable himself, left many rick or jinked-back colts, the explanation being that his dam had suffered-from this serious hereditary . 5 malady. Those accustomed to look care fully at animals Avill frequently trace the lineaments of a famous sire in his progeny three or four generations removed.

Curious Effect of Trade Depression.

A curious instance of the effect*, of the existing depression in trade was men tioned by Sir Edward Watkin at a half yearly meeting of the Charing-cross Hotel Company. He stated that during the past six months between 43,000 and 44,000 guests had stayed at the hotel, and on the average, they had expended lid per head less than the guest did iii the preceding half-year. Though the amount i§ smallj ■ the fact is significant. - It means that travellers, having diminished incomes, spend less on the luxuries which are to be found at a first-class hotel., They drink less wine, smoke fewer or less gogtly cigars, and dispense with trifling comforts which generally form a conspicuous feature in an hotel bill. The experience of the Charing-cross Coihpany in this respect.is, doubtless, that of hundreds of similar' establishments in different parts of the country. At the seaside, especially, the complaints of the hotel proprietors and lodging-house keepers are unusually loud. What with the wretched weather and the desire on the part of visitors to economise, they are having an unprecedentedly bad season. Many of the places are half empty, whilst the expenses are going on just the same. The competition also to attract the comparatively few persons who are bold enough to brave the incessant downpour, makes business at the seaside much less profitable than it ordinarily is at this period of the year. In one sense, however, these influences - operate advan tageously. Exacting lodging-house keepers are glad to abate their exorbitant chargee, and exhibit a degree of courtesy and attention to the wants of their customers quite foreign to their habitual demeanour. They are making the best they can of a bad time, trusting to the chances of a fine autumn to help them to recoup them selves for some of their present losses.

Friday, October io, 1879.]

THE ASHBURTON HERALD.



Butter, inferior to best $ lb s. I d. 1 to s. I d. 0 Eggs, $ dozen i 0 to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, $ lb o 8 to 0 10 Bacon, prime smoked, ti? lb o 9 to 0 10 Hams iu cloth, lb - l 0 to 0 0 Flour in bags, tf? loolb 14 6 to 0 0 OatmeaB-^^a^Ib—- - 6 0 to 0 4 Lard, lb ’ - 0 9 to 0 0



THE ASHBURTON HERALD And Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the Evening Echo.) ASHBURTON, WAKANUI, AND SEA FIELD “ HERALD DELIVERY. SUBSCRIBERS to The Ashburton Herald / residing at and between the above places will, in future, be supplied by the Boy,' at ;their residences, every Tues day and Friday. GREENSTREET, WESTERFIELD, UPPER ASHBURTON, AND --■'MOUIsT SOMERS. Subscribers: residing in the above iis tricts will be supplied by Coskson''' coach. Orders received by Messrs. Tisch and R. Morgan. Hew Subscribers will please orward their names to aiiy of the Agents, or our Office, as early as possible. Subscription : By post or Boy, Bs. 6d. per quarter; in advance, 7s. 6d. per quarter or'2Bs. per annum. The Ashburton Herald will contain all the latest telegraphic and other news, grain and produce market reports, and particu lar attention'will be paid to the wants of settlers: All notices referring to the Borough Council, County Council, and the Road Beards, will be found in the Hearld Agencies where The Herald can be obtained : Wakanui/-School Wakanui Creek.. Seafield... v - ••• Newlands Spread Eagle ... Mount Somers Mr. Ginney G. Leaaley Mr. Atkinson T. M. Jones Ed Watkins Mr. Tisch R. Morgan. The Agents will supply primed forms for new subscribers to sign. EINE Cream-Laid ENVELOPES, No 6 ; ‘"extra secure shape, ONLY 9s. 6d. per 1000; 500, 55.; 250, 35., ’/''N[E T T CASH. ALSO, — BANK NOTE AND LETTER PAPER "‘WEEKS & DIXON, IMPORTERS, WHOLESALE AND RETATL STATIONERS, ASHBURTON “HERALD” OFFICE.



Clothing Establishment. ASSIGNMENT OF THE ESTATE V. / OF MESSRS. AITKEN, PASCOE & CO., CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS, TO Me/J,' H. Morrison-; Manager Mosgiel Woolen Factory, AND Mr. John Ross, Of Sargood, Sons & Ewing * Trustees. rnHE above large Clothing Manufae j[ 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.



Public Notices. BRIDGE OVER SOUTH ASHBURTON RIVER—HOOD’S CROSSING, MOUNT SOMERS. TENDERS are invited for a BRIDGE, entirely of Timber, in 21 spans of 40 feet each; or alternativey for a BRIDGE of same dimensions, with tim ber superstructure on iron piles (the lat ter now lying at Winslow Station). Plans and specifications can be seen at the County Council’s Office, Moore street, Ashburton, and Tenders with marked cheque, equal to 5 per cent, of amount, addressed to the Chairman, to be sent in not later than 10 o’clock, a.m., sth November next. By Order — WILLIAM BAXTER, County Engineer. Ashburton, October 9, 1879. 545 a A CARD. Mr. C ATTLIN, SURGEON AND MECHANICAL DENTIST, Will attend Patients on Monday next, 13th inst., at Quill’s Hotel, Ashburton. 546 a