COMMERCIAL.

POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief- Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as under:—

Saturday, March 6. For Otago, per Wanaka. For Northern Ports, per Penguin. Tuesday, March 9. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per Rotorua.

The next mail for the United Kingdom via Brindisi, will be closed at Christ, church on March 11th, and will be due in London on April 29 th. % The next mail for the United Kingdom, via San Francisco, will be closed at Christ church on March 27th, and will be due in London on May 11th.

Notice. —A Post Office has been opened at Winchmore, on the Rakaia-Methven Railway line. SYDNEY J. DICK, Chief Postmaster.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows : For Christchurch and North at 10.20 a.m. 4.30 p.m., and 8 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10.20 a.m daily. For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m and 4.30 p.m daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.20 a.m, daily. For Temuka. Tirnaru, and South at 10.20 a.m and 3.30 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 J. 15 p.m. daily. For Wakanui and Seafield, on Mondays and Thursdays, 7.30 p.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

MEMORANDA.

* : AUCTION SALES. To-Morrow. By Messrs. J. E. Buchanan and Co., at their rooms, Havelock street—Pears, Apples, Furniture, &c.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1880.

Every now and then we hear, from some part or other of the colony, of a raid hav ing been made upon the hotels, for breaches of some description or other of the Licensing Act The latest is from Wellington, where the police have been successful in gaining convictions against licensed victuallers for allowing gambling in their houses after midnight. In one of the cases reported, that of the Te Aro Hotel, it was stated that mere lads from 18 to 20 had been permitted to stay ill the house till late hours indulging in the dangerous dissipation, and the R.M. in dealing with the case, took occasion to rap the landlord smartly over the knuckles for harboring the young men, at the same time adding that as Chairman of the Licensing Commission lie would use his influence to have the license cancelled. We cordially agree with the Resident Magistrate in his decision, and hope he will be successful in shutting up a house conducted as Landlord M‘Ardle’s is proved to have been. To a large portion of the community hotels are a home. There are many young men who prefer living in good hotels to making use of boarding houses, and thousands of people whose mode of living involves almost constant travelling, have to use hotels at every halting place on their journeys. In the interests of the public generally, as well as those persons to whom we have referred, it is imperative thatlicensed houses should be kept respectably, and the police ought to be supported in every fair and legitimate effort to put down disreputable houses. There is no more powerful agent for the demoralisation of the people than is a badly conducted hotel. This is a fact that does not require any proof ; it is self-evi dent, and none know it better than the police ; for-, where hotels exist in which any sort of blackguardism is allowed, where drink can be procured at all hours of the day and night-week day and Sun c\ay_the police get their hands full of cases that can be traced directly to these bouses as their saurce. So great a power for evil, then, it becomes the duty of those who regulate the granting of licenses to be prompt in their action in dealing with bells of the Te Aro description, and to show no leniency whatever. To allow their existence is to put a premium on the nursing of crime, and an insult to the men who hold licenses and conduct their houses with a due regard to the law and their own self-respect. A man who conducts his hotel in such a way that no respectable person need be afraid to enter it and spend a night in it while travelling, deserves in these times the moral coun tenance of the community in which he lives, and in his interest action should certainly be taken against any hotel keeper who is so careless of liis own character, the good name of his house, and the comfort of his patrons, as to permit a congregation of gamblers, young or old, to SAvarrn in his rooms till all hours of the night. It ought to be the duty of the Commissioners to rid the community of such houses, and to be very inquisitive as to the character and antecedents of ' the men who apply for licenses ; but in too many instances the Commissioners are content with not always completely satisfactory evi dence that there is nothing against an applicant’s character, when the “nothing” is there only because ‘ ‘ nothing ” has been hunted up. Any man able to raise the needful funds to start a hotel in a place where he is not known is considered quite suitable as a publican. No matter what his antecedents —they seldom come up, and care is taken by him that they will not, if they are not clean ; buta close scrutiny would cause the rejection of many in this colony who do obtain licenses. The Licensing Benches, too, we think, should be differently con stituted. With many of the Commis sioners no fauP whatever can be found, but the selection of gentlemen to occupy the Licensing Bench is not always happy under the nomination system, and we con tend that the Commissioners ought to be the representatives of the people in this matter as much as the members of County or Borough Councils are.

Electors’ Registrars. —The registrars under the new Registration of Electors’ Act have been gazetted. The Mount Somers Railway. —A party of Government surveyors have arrived in town for the purpose of completing the surveys for the extension of the Mount Somers railway line, and they commence operations to-morrow.

Oxide of Manganese has been dis covered in the hills near Ashburton, and a sample was brought into town and tested. The mineral is valued at LlO per ton in England, and a very large quantity could be obtained. The place where it is dis covered is easily accessible, we hear, but the discoverer does not care to reveal its locality yet awhile. A Runaway. —A two-horse team belong ing to Mr. Cochrane, bolted from Fried land er’a coal stack this afternoon, and after wheeling to the right into a stack of bricks, went round McKenzie’s corner, and were last seen going homewards at top speed towards Wakanui.

A Missing Harmonium. —ln a feud be tween two sections of the temperance advocates at Onehunga, who had privately purchased a harmonium, some person or persons unknown entered the Masonic Hall at night and removed the harmonium, and the charter of the Hope of Manukau Lodge. The charter has since been re covered, bat not the harmonium. The Lodge hopes to obtain a clue to its where abouts.

Special Rate. —ln another column a notification will be found declaring the County Council’s intention to levy a special rate in the Forks district, for pay ment of the protective woi'ks latety erected there. Promotion. —We hear that Mr. S. G. Maddison, master of the Old Men’s Home, Ashburton, is to be removed at the end of the present month to the Orphan Asylumn at Burnham. Short op Trucks Already. —Although the grain season can as yet hardly be said to have commenced there is already a scarcity of trucks. Yesterday evening there was not a single waggon at the Ashburton station, and a dozen loaded drays were in attendance to discharge their freight, which had to be taken into store. At Chertsey 28 loaded drays were at_ the station at an early hour in the morning, but not a truck was to be had, and the goods shed is piled to the rafters and the grain is being stacked outside. What the upshot will be in a month, when carting is in full swing, is more than we can undertake to say, probably a scarcity of tarpaulins. Flower Show. —The Horticultural Show take 3 place in the Town Hall to morrow. Although most of our floricul turists have not had time to get up any very extensive gardens here yet, we un derstand the show will not be a despicable one by any means. The Timaru Boxing Day Riots. —Six of the Timaru rioters were convicted be fore Judge Ward this week at Timaru, but sentence was deferred by the Judge in response to an application by Mr. Stout, counsel for the prisoners, who contended that the Judge had admitted evidence irrelevant to the case, and calculated to prejudice the case against the prisoner's, inasmuch as his Honor had asked whether at any previous time religious processions had marched through Timaru, and had been replied to by a witness that Father Hennebery’s procession had marched with green colors, and had been unmolested. There were other points on which Mr. Stout founded his application, which was for a new trial, and the Judge decided to submit them to the Supreme Court, mean while to admit the prisoners to bail in L2OO each, with two sureties for each pri soner of LIOO each.

TELEGRAPHIC .

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE ( Reuter's Telegrams.) The London Markets. London, March 3. The 5 per cent. New Zealand loan is quoted at 102 ex dividend ; the 4| per cent. New Zealand loan at 9CA ex dividend. Adelaide wheat is quiet at 595. per 4961b5. ex warehouse. The tallow market is steady at last quotations. Tho total stock in London on the Ist instant was 17,600 casks. At the wool sales to-day, 8,700 bales were offered, making a total of 134,300 offered since the opening. To-day’s auction was firm, and bidding animated. The Attack on the Russian Embassy. Constantinople, March 3. Commeroff, ane of the attaches to the Russian Embassy, recently wounded at Stamboul by the shot of an assassin, has died of the injuries he received.

The House of Commons Privilege Case London, March 3.

Grissell, who was committed for breach of privilege of the House of Commons last year, has been re-arrested on the same charge.

TO-DAY’ S TELEGRAMS.

INTERPROVi NCIAL.

Billiard Rooms Require a License. Kumara, March 5.

An important case was decided by the Bench ti-day. L. Seebeck was summoned for having a public billiard room open, contrary to the bye-laws of the Borough, without a license, according to the Municipal Corporations Act. Mr. Warner, as coun sel for defendant, contended that billiard room were never contemplated to come under the clause referred to, but the Bench held that although not specially de fined, billiard rooms were public places of amusement. The case "was, however, dis missed through the inefficiency of the evidence to prove the chaage. This case was tried as a test case. Death From Lockjaw. Nafier, March 3. Mary Strafford, a ...little girl six years of age, daughter of an employd, of the railway, died on Tuesday evening irom lockjaw, caused by a cut in the hand, the result of a fall. The wound was but slight and no serious consequences were anticipated at the time of the accident.

LAST NIGHT’S CABLEGRAMS.

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE (Reuter's.) The Nihilists. St. Petersburg, March 3. General Melikoff has been compelled to fire on the Nihilits, but the shots did not take effect. One Nihilist has been arrested.

AUSTRALIAN.

The New Victorian Ministry. Melbourne, March 4.

The new Ministry has been formed as follows :—Mr. Service, Premier and Trea surer ; Mr. Ramsay, Colonial Secretary and Minister for Education; Mr. Kerford, Attorney-General j Mr. Madden, Minister of Justice ; Mr, Gillies, Minister for Rail ways ; Mr. Duffy, Minister of Lands ; Mr. R. Clark, Minister for Mines ; Mr, Bent, Minister for Public Works •; Mr, Cuthbert, Postmaster-General and Com missioner of Customs : Mr. Francis and Mr. Anderson without office. The House will again meet on May 11. Sailed—Albion, for New Zealand. Not to be Bled. Sydney, March 4.

The Legislative Assembly last night refused to vote a salary for an assistant to the Private Secretary of the Governor, or an increase to the salary and forage allowance of his Aide-de-Camp. Strong exception was taken to a statement by Sir Henry Parkes, Premier, that the increases have been submitted in compliance with a minute from the Governor.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON— Friday, March 5,

(Before Mr. F. Guinness, R.M.) neglected children.

Three children named Dudley, aged 9, 6, and 4, were charged with being “neglected children.”

Constable Beaumont deponed that the father, R. Dudley, had been drinking heavily for some weeks, and the children were in the habit of spending their time running about the streets. He had visited the house, and it was in a filthy condition. Complaints had been made by the neighbors. The children were very dirty and ragged. 1 John Candish, boardinghouse keeper— Lived next door. He believed the child ren were well fed, but Dudley when drunk used very had language. Wlion he was sober he was a good father, but lately he had been drinking very heavily. Dudley denied using bad language when drunk.

F. Nelson, sworn—l know the children, and have heard tho father using bad lan guage to them. When he is drinking they run about the streets without anyone to look after them.

R. Dudley, sworn—l am a well-sinker. Have been out looking for work latety. I get in a woman to wash once a week. The magistrate said that he could order the children to be sent to the reformatory, and he asked Dudley what he could pay to support them. Dudley said he could pay nothing. He had brought the smallest up from eight months old.

The magistiate said he could not say they looked like starved children. He did not like to take them from the father, but he would dismiss the case, and request the police to report on it again in a fortnight.

A New and Curious Clergy List.

The process of extracting sunbeams from cucumbers was, we believe, says the “Rock,” attempted at Laputa, though with indifferent success ; but the at least equally difficult feat ,of making a “ comedy ” out of the “ Clergy List ” has been triumphantly performed at Shipston on-Stour by E.G.P., of Newbold Rectory. Here under the unassuming title of “The Clergy List Revised and Classified,” a young lady has produced the most enter taining brochure we have met with for many a day. To Shakespeare’s question, “ What’s in a name'?” she replies by showing us that a very great deal may be made out of the names of the clergy when subjected to her clever manipulations. Thus she analyses their “ Colours,” and finds there are 70 White to 4 Black, and 2 Blacker ; only 4 Blush (not a tithe of wliat we should have expected), though 3 are Pink and 2 Scarlet ; 64 are Green and 76 are Brown. There are 2 Ushers and 19 Birches to 11 miserable Boys; 2 Flints to 8 Steel. Under Anatomy we find 4 Bodies, though with only 3 Heads ; there is, however, 1 additional Pate ; 11 Temples have only 2 Hairs and 1 Love lock ; there is 1 Boni-face, but with only 4 Teeth (N.B. Mr. Tooth, of Hatcham, is one of these) ; 3 Bones to 4 Backs; 1 Heel to 5 Feet, 5 Hands and 3 Legs.

Only a solitary cleric has any Blood in his veins. All must admit that the ‘ 1 Parties in the Church ” are very un fairly represented by their names, for we find only 1 Broad, 2 Low, and 4 Dry. Of High there is not a trace ! But we get an inkling of what is going on when we learn that there are already no fewer than 14 Abbots, 7 Priors, 4 Monks, and 8 Nunns. Their dresses and decorations are also calculated to excite uneasiness, for Hoods and Capes abound, while there are also 9 Garlands, 2 Banners, 3 Images, 12 Crosses, 1 Crucifix, and 1 Crosier (among 12 Bishops). In the musical depart ment we have Singers and Fidlers in abundance. Although it is unlawful for the clergy to embark in “ Trade,” we find a prodigious

number of Bakers, Butchers, Taylors (no fewer than 107 of these, but not one too many considering the amount of tailoring now required), &c. In the column de voted to “Useful Clergy,” we find Pitchers, Potts, Canns, &c. The Kings, of whom there are 38, outnumber the Knights by nearly 2to 1. The “ Qualities of the Clergy ” open a very wide field. Here we find both Old and Young, some are Bright, others Moody, 5 are Blind and 2 Cross, C are in Bliss and 6 in Pain, 11 have not ceased to Hope, but there are 4 Crolters, of whom our fair authoress takes no account. There are also 8 Guys and 1 Bogie, 1 Wiklman and 1 Wiseman, The clerical aviary is well furnished, for there are 2 Crows, 9 Ravens, 1 Day, 5 Rooks, 1 Jay, 1 Nightingale, 1 Gull, 1 Bunting, 1 Robin (to 3 Wrens), 6 Sparrows, 6 Finches, 28 Martins, 1 Swallow, 2 Doves, 3 Eagles, 3 Falcons, 1 Hawk, 1 Stork, and 2 Parrots. There are many other birds in the clerical poultry-yard or game larder, but these find a more appropriate place with “ The Clergy at Table,” for whom a most liberal provision is made. Under this head (vvc begin, of coui’se, with the Fish) we have 5 Salmon, 3 Haddocks, 2 Her rings, 2 Smelts, 4 Cods,.s Whiting, 1 Gray ling, 1 Pike, 3 Roach, and 2 Crabbes. For pieces de resistance w r e have 16 Bul locks, 7 Kidds, 2 Yeales, (with 8 Bacon, 3 Tongues, and 2 Badhams) 8 Lambs 14 Harts, 1 Stagg, 3 Bucks, 1 Doe, 9 Roes, 7 Hinds, 2 Fawns, and 1 Eland. For Game and Poultry we have 7 Hares, 2 Rabbits, 1 Cock, 1 Henn, 1 Duck, 20 Drakes, 1 Gander, 3 Goslings, 6 Swans, 4 Peacocks, 4 Partridges, 7 Woodcocks, 1 Coote, 1 Teal, 2 Cranes, and 1 Heron. The supply of vegetables is very scanty, being limited to 2 Beans and 1 Onions. The clergy are not generally fond of made dishes, and accordingly we find only 2 Curries. The supply of sweets is more liberal, and includes 4 Pyes, 11 Rice (puddings, we presume), 2 Jellies, 3 Moulds, and 1 Cake-bread. For condi ments we have 2 Pickles, 7 Salt, 1 Mus tard, and 1 Pepper. For dessert there are provided 3 Peaches, 8 Pears, 1 Grange, 1 Sy/eetapple, and 8 Nutts. _ Nor is the cellar department to bp despised, for there are 3 Binns, in whicji are ajLqred a dojsen and a half of Perry, the same quantity of Hollands, 1 of Ginn, S of Port and 1 of Newport. On the whole, we trust the “ Abbots ” and “ Priors ” and “ Monks ” who have settled in our Church will have no cause to complain of the want of good cheer. The above may suffice to. give a sample—and it is only a sample—of the quality of the fare which Miss E.G.P. has so kindly provided for our entertain ment.

Irish Bulls.

Sir Boyle Roche belonged to the ancient family of Da la Russo of Fermoy ; he was created a baronet in 1782, and was married to the eldest daughter of Sir Jame 3 Cald well, but had no heir. He used to ac count for lack of progeny by "saying “ that it was hereditary in his family to have no children.” Another of his blunders was made when speaking of the fish hawkers. “They go down to Ringsend,” he ob served, “buy the herrings for half no thing, and sell them for twice as much.” A letter supposed to have been written by Sir Boyle Roche during the Irish re bellion of ’9B, gives an amusing collection of his various blunders. Perhaps he never put quite so many on paper at a time ; but his' peculiar turn for “bulls” is here shown at one view. The letter was fii’st printed in the “Kerry Magazine,” now out of print.

Dear Sir, —Having now a little peace and quiet, I sit down to inform you of the bustle and confusion we are in from the bloodthirsty rebels, many of whom are now, thank God, killed and dispersed. We are in a pretty me3s ; can get nothing to eat, and no wine to drink except whisky. When we sit down to dinner we are obliged to keep both hands armed. Whilst I write this letter I have my sword in one hand and my pistol in the other. I concluded from the beginning that this would be the end ; and I am right, for it is not half over yet. At present there are such goings-on that everything is at a standstill. I should have answered your letter a fortnight ago, but I only received it this morning—indeed, hardly a mail arrives safe without being robbed. No longer ago than yesterday the mail coach from Dublin was robbed near this town ; the bags had been very judiciously left behind, for fear of accidents, and by great good-luck there was nobody in the coach except two outside passengers, who had nothing for the thieves to take. Last Thursday an alarm was given that a gang of rebels in full retreat from Drogheda, were advancing under the French stan dard ; biit they had no cofors nor any drums except bagpipes. Immediately every man in the place, including women and children, ran out to meet them. We soon found our force a great deal too little, and were far too near to think of retreat ing. Death was in every face ; and to it we went. Byythe time half out party were killed we began to be all alive. Fortu nately, the rebels had no guns except pistols cutlasses, and pikes ; and we had plenty of muskets and ammunition. We put them all to the sword, and not a soul of them escaped, except some that were drowned in an adjoining bog. In fact, in a short time nothing was heard but silence. Their uniforms were all different—chiefly green. After the action was over, we went to rummage their camp. All we found was a few pikes without heads, a parcel of empty bottles filled with water, and a bundle of blank French commissions filled up with Irish names. Troops are now now stationed round, which exactly squares with my ideas of security.—Adieu; I have only time to add that I am yours in haste, B. R. P.S.—lf you do not receive this, of course it must have miscarried; therefore I beg you write and let me know. To the above we may add a bull Sir Boyle is ci edited with. He met a friend one day whom he upraided for not visit ing him. The friend replied that Sir Boyle had never invited him. Sir Boyle answered promptly “Why then, the next time you come within half-a-mile of the house, I beg you stay there.” It was Sir Boyle, who, speaking of the immo rality of his age, said children who could neither ' walk nor talk were to be seen I’unning about cursing and swearing.

Berryism.

The Victorian elections have decided the fate of the Berry Government, and like his prototype in New Zealand the great Dictator of Victoria has been forced to go into Opposition. His fall proves what has often been alleged by cautious politicians, and by men who take pains to study human nature —that working men, though possibly for a time carried away and misled by specious promises, and bid dings for their favor on the part of men who adopt a policy because it is attractive to the mob, never fail, as time tries the men they have trusted, to find out the hollow parts, and emphatically reject quackery, insincerity, and incapacity. Mr. Berry’s Government' has fallen in a colony where the franchise is held by the mass, and without doubt the working men must be said to have been paramount. Yet they have found out that Mr. Berry was an idol with feet of clay, and now that lie has outgrown his popularity, he has gone down before the re-action that was sure to follow upon the implicit trust reposed in him. To a certain extent there is a like ness between the fallen Liberal leader of Victoria, and the quondum Liberal leader of New Zealand—but only to a certain ex tent. Graham Berry, though a prominent man was never a brilliant one, while Sir George Grey, if he could have closed his political career without the contribution to his history of the last few years, would have had placed against his name a career that is seldom traced by public men. Sir George Grey’s weakest time was when he led the so called “ Liberal ” party of New Zealand, and even then his leadership was better than Graham Berry’s, who at his best was never to be named alongside Sir George at his worst. With all his faults, Fir George Grey never could have been guilty of a Black Wednesday.

Bless His Heart.— The Pope has in structed his representatives at the various courts to observe the strictest etiquette— a matter which has been neglected of late years.

A Windfall.— Sir Stafford JSTorthcote hag degidpdly had a strode of luck in the Sucqesgivo deaths gf several pipji men within a few months, events which will cause a windfall to the Exchequer of some L 500,000. * Sea Air and Drink.—A learned iEsculapius in the “Journal of Industry,” has discovered that sea air has a very strong influence in exciting the desire for alcoholic stimulants. Sea air, in the doctor’s estimation, is in danger of making a man “ fresh.” But what will those en gaged in establishing sea-side homes say to this new sanitary dogma I

THE MAORI AND THE MOA.

By Mr. C. TV. Parnell, Askburton, in the “ Victorian Rev Liu. ” The Mofioris, we have seen, possess a clear recollection of the Chatham Island aborigines, and are themselves a mixed race. So are the Maoris. Ethnologists agree on this point; but the most unob servant settler is struck with the appear ance of two racial types amongst them— the one marked by shorter stature, frizzly hair, and a somewhat negro cast of coun tenance ; the other by regular features and straight hair—the typical forms being linked together by innumerable grada tions.

Further evidence, however is available, but just sufficient to whet the appetite of curiosity, without satisfying it. This is supplied by the “ rock paintings ” which have been discovered in several places in the Middle Island. The most noticable are those in the the Talciroa caves, or rock shelters in the Waitaki Valley, and in a rock shelter at the Weka Pass, which lies between Canterbury and Nelson. The existence of the former was first made public by Mr. Walter Mantell; of the latter by Dr. Von Haast, although he was not their discoverer. The Weka Pass paintings are decidedly the most impor tant, inasmuch as the others, although unlike Maori designs of the modern type, might without difficulty be assumed to be the work of a kindred people ; whereas the Weka Pass paintings wear a distinctive character, and who ever may have been their authors they can scarcely be the productions of Maori artists. Still less can a European origin be imputed to them. Dr. Von Haast suggests that they are of Indian origin, but that is a mere surmise, although he seeks to give it weight by adding to his own conjecture the opinions of two Tamil scholars. In point of fact, no human being can say who did these paintings, or what they are intended to represent. Men, birds, beasts and fishes, snakes, altars and weapons, may be discovered with the eye of faith, and so may anything else. But whatever their object and meaning, there they are, indelibly painted in red and black on the rock, composed of calcareous sandstone and overlying still older paintings, the rock face having been converted into a kind of palimpsest—a puzzle to everybody, mocking the savants, laughed at by the sceptical, but still bearing silent witness to the feeble aspir ations towards art of a bygone people. Maori traditions give little help to the enquirer. Some ascribe these and other rock paintings found in the South Island to the Ngatianamoe, a Maori tribe which lived in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; others give them a much greater antiquity ; but in either case the distinctive features of the designs are left unexplained. It should perhaps be mentioned that the present race of Maoris do not paint on rock surfaces. A curious circumstance happened many years ago. Mr. Colenso, already cited, found in the interior of the North Island a bell, bearing a Tamil inscription, which has been interpreted to mean “ ship’s bell.” The inscription is in antique characters. How did that ancient Tamil bell get into the interior of the North Island of New Zealand ? Possibly it is a memento of Tasman’s visit.

Proofs of the “antiquity of man,” similar to those which have been obtained in the northern hemisphere, are not entirely lacking in New Zealand. In 1876 the Improvement Commissioners were making excavations in the city of Auckland, when the workmen lighted upon the stump of a tree, with its roots fixed to the subjacent soil, and bearing evi dent marks of having been cut by some tool. The top of the stump was embedded in volcanic mud, and above it lay twenty five feet of volcanic ddbris. The significance of this discovery, the genuineness of which has never been disputed, rests on the fact that no volcanic eruption which could have embedded the stump has oc curred within the memory of man. Again, in 1868, a polished stone chisel and a sharpening-stone were extracted from an auriferous deposit near the beach at Bruce Bay, on the west coast of the South Island. They were lying fifteen feet below the surface, and above them grew trees four feet in diameter, rooted in a layer of vegetable mould. These relics were found by three gold diggers, who do not appear to have mentioned the circumstance until it was elicited from them in casual conversation, or to have had any motive for deception. It would be rash to generalise on slight evidence of this kind ; on the other' hand, we ought not to thrust such facts aside because they are inexplicable. We have assumed that the Maoris came to New Zealand from Hawaihi, and have further sought to identify Hawaihi with Savaii, the principal island of the Samoan group. At all events, we claim the Maoris as a branch of the Polynesian race. Their language, traditions, manners, and cus toms, combine to prove them so ; but the root of the difficulty here begins. Is the Polynesian race indigenous to the soil— the surviving remnant of the inhabitants of a lost continent; or did it come from the east or from the west 1 A small but energetic school of inquirers, prominent amongst those resident in the colony being Mr. j. T. Thomson, F.R.G.S., directing their efforts chiefly to the elucidation of the Maori problem, contend that the Maori stock can ultimately be traced to Southern India. The argument in sup port of this view is based almost solely on linguistic affinities : and with this mate rial, a foundation of a certain strength has doubtless been laid for the hypothesis. There are, however, serious physical obstacles to its acceptance. Strong easterly winds blow for ten months of the year across the Pacific ; over the very track, along which the Indian adventurers would require to travel in order to reach Hawaihi, or any spot whence they could run down to New Zealand ; and the wes terly wind is uncertain during the other two months. Voyagers in those seas abound. with tales of the difficulty, sometimesV impossibility, of making head against these easterly breezes, even with well : eq uippecl and ill-provided craft of tbe islanders : and of stories of panoes being blown out to sea and their crews ..compelled to settle per manently in strange islands from sheer despair of being able to reach their homes again in the teeth of the prevailing wind. Nor is the quality of philological evidence which has been accumulated in support of the Indian theory (although it is fair to explain that some of the inquirers do not profess to trace the Maori stock farther han the Indian archipelagoothers, as

Friday, March 5, 1880.]

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ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST. s. d. s. d. Butter, inferior to best lb o 9 to 0 10 Eggs, If?.dozen - - x 0 ■ to I 2 Cheese, prime quality, lb O 8 to I 0 Bacon, prime smoked, lb o 10 to X 0 Hams in cloth, lb - I 4 to I 4 Flour in bags, $ ioolb 14 6 to 0 0 Oatmeal, If’' 251b - 6 0 to 0 0 Lard, 1? lb - - 0 9 to 0 0



New Advertisements. ONE POUND REWARD. STRAYED or STOLEN, from Long beach, a bright bay 2 year old heavy draught COLT, exhibited by me at the last Tinwald Show. The above reward will be paid to any person who will give such information as will lead to the recovery of the colb, or the conviction of the offenders if he is stolen. 136 c JOHN GRIGG. £1 REWARD. LOST, between Dr. Ste-wart’s residence and Montgomery’s store, a DIA MOND HOOP FINGER RING. Any person bringing the same to the Herald Office, will be rewarded. 134 c ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL. INTENTION TO STRIKE A SPECIAL RATE. “VTOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that I\| it is the intention of the County Council to levy a SPECIAL RATE of Is. in the £ on that part of the Upper Ash burton Riding, lying between the two branches of the Ashburton river, at a Special Meeting of the Council to be held on the 18th instant ; such Rate to be paid on or before the 29th INSTANT. By ord*r F. MAINWARING, Clerk. Ashburton, March 5,1880. 133* A LMANAC for 1880, printed on a J\ neat card, with Ashburton Direc tory, Postal and Railway Guide, can be obtained gratuitously at the “ Guardian ” Office. LABOR MARKET. REGISTRY OFFICE FOR MASTERS AND SERVANTS, AX THE 4 EVENING HERALD” OFFICE. Farmers requiring hands can engage men through the “Evening Herald” Registry for 1/- each, prepaid. LABORERS REQUIRING SITUA TIONS can engage through the 44 Herald ” Registry Office by paying 1/-. SERVANTS REQUIRING SITUA TIONS can get them by applying at the “Herald” Registry Office, and paying 1 h ENGAGEMENTS will be POSTED UP every day at 12 noon and 4 p.m., by numbers given to the applicants, who will learn the address on enquiring. SPECIAL or URGENT WANTS will be inserted in the 44 Evening Herald ” in the registry column on payment of Six pence additional in advance, for each issue. Further Particulars on application at the 41 ‘EVENING HERALD” REGISTRY OFFICE. SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, EAST ST., ASHBURTON. HAVE you Found Anything that don’t belong to you, and wish to act on the square I —Bring a Shilling to the Herald’s Advertising Clerk. He’ll put your qualms of conscience at rest, and find the owner through the Twenty-Words fo* a-Shilling-Column, cash. WANTED KNOWN, that Envelopes and Notepaper can be obtained wholesale or retail, at unusually low rates at the “Herald” Office, East-street North. TO FRUITERERS, CONFECTIONERS, AND OTHERS. *T7IANCY Show Cards, neatly printed— Jj “Finest Lemonade and Cordials” —on Sale at the Herald Office.



New Advertisements. IRISH RELIEF FUND. rfIHOSE Gentlemen who received sub scription lists from the Committee of the above, are requested to return them to His Worship the Mayor, Trea surer of the Committee, as soon as pos sible, together with the amounts collected. By order, ' CHARLES BRADDELL, 3.38 c Secretary. CAUTION. ANY PERSON BATHING in our Mill Race without our written per mission, will be PROSEC UTED. 132 c SAUNDERS BROTHERS. WANTED —A Sober Man as BAR MAN, must be well recommended. Apply— Mr. T. Quill, Commercial Hotel, Ashburton. 137 c WANTED, a good General SERVANT for Hotel. Highest wages given. Apply at once to the Herald Registry. 123 c WANTED, a < the shop. Guardian office. ood SMART BOY for Apply Herald and WANTED, a RUNBOY, for the Herald and Guardian.' Apply at the office. WANTED— A BOY to carry Parcels, &c. Apply, Everett Bros, and Co., Havelock street. 127 c WANTED WASHING, House or Office Cleaning, or any kind of General House Work. Apply “ Herald ” Registry. 128 c BOROUGH OF ASHBURTON GENERAL BOROUGH RATE. IN pursuance of the Rating Act, 1876, public notice is hereby given that it is the intention of the Ashburton Borough Council at its next ordinary meeting, to be held on Monday, the Bth day of March next, or at an adjournment thereof, to strike a RATE of ONE SHILLING IN THE POUND on all rateable property within the said Borough, for the period commencing on the Ist day of January, 1880, and ending on the 31st day of December, 1880, to be payable in ONE SUM on the 15th day of March, 1880, and that the rate book is now open for inspection at the Borougi Council offices, Burnett street, Ashburton. HUGO FRIEDLANDER, Mayor. Borough Council Offices, Ashburton, 24th Feb., 1880. 29—91 c V. R. J^j'OTICE —The “ Ashburton Herald’, is a Gazette for all notices under the Debtors and Creditors Adp



NEW TAILORING ESTABLISH MENT. CRAIGHEAD & Co., MERCHANT TAILORS, HAVE opened those premises situated in Tancred street adjoining Messrs Orr and Co’s General Store. A SPLENDID ASSORTMENT OF TWEEDS, FANCY GOODS, &c., &c., JUST ARRIVED. Mr. Craighead’s experience as Head Cutter in connection with First Class Tailoring Establishments in Edinburgh and San Francisco has extended over a period of ten years, and from the immense success which has always attended his efforts to please, he is prepared to' guarantee a perfect fit in every case. TANCRED STREET, (Next Orr and Cs.’s. CRAIGHEAD & CO. 982 a



NEWS AND MAGAZINE AGENCY, STATIONERY AND FANCY GOODS DEPOT. RE-OPENING. HM. JONES begs to inform bis , customers and the public generally that he has re-opened the premises lately occupied by A. Weston and K. Sando and Co. for the sale of Newspapers, Magazinse, Stationery, Fancy goods, Toys, &c. English and Colonial papers, Periodicals, &c. , by each mail. Licensed to sell Stamps. Lowest prices—Terms cash. Agent for “ Ashburton Guardian,” ‘‘Ashburton Herald,’, “Ashburton Mail,” “Lyttelton Times,” “Canterbury Times,” Daily “Press,” “Weekly Press,” “Otago Witness,” “Australasian,” “Town and County Journal.” Subscribers to “ Canterbury. Times” and “ Weekly Press” can obtain their copies at the above Establishment. *l2lc 1 FOR SALE. TOWN SECTION No. 306, Burnett street, on easy terms. Apply to G. M. ROBINSON, 90c* Care of P. Cunningham and Co. REMOVED TO WAKANUI ROAD, Next to Post Office. JOSEPH WARD, FAMILY BUTCHER, BEGS to inform the Public of Ash burton that he will Open as above on Saturday next, and intends selling for cash at a REDUCTION in PRICES. First-class Beef, 3d. to sd. per lb. First-class Mutton, 2d. to 3d. per lb. Degs, 3kl per lb. JOSEPH WARD, 140c* Butcher.



NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. All ordei’s for insertion of advertise ments must be written legibly on the face of the advertisement. When no order is given the advertisement will be inserted until countermanded, and charged accord ingly. Orders to withdraw or replace advertisements must be sent in in writing not later than 9 a. m. each day. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.



A dangerous and infectious disease among bees is reported from Italy,