The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1880.

On the 26th inst. the householders will be called upon to elect seven members to serve on the School Committee for the year just opened. The work of the com mittee is not arduous, and their meetings are not frequent, but their work is neces sary to the proper working of the school and the welfare of both teachers and scholars. It behoves the ratepayers, therefore, who take any interest in the cause of education, to see that gentlemen are placed upon the committee who care for the children’s education, and are pre pared to attend the monthly meetings. At the election in last January there was only a very meagre attendance of the householders, and the committee was formed, almost without any election, out of those present who were willing to serve upon it. It does not say much for those parents who have children to educate that they cannot spend one hour in the whole year at an annual meeting for the purpose of helping in the election of asuitable com mittee, and preventing the position of committeemen from going a begging, thus possibly falling into the hands of men who have little interest in the matter, and who only allow their names to go on the list so that the town need not altogether go with out a Committee. The office is an im portant one and ought not to go abogging, nor should it be entrusted to anyone willing to take it, and we hope that on the fourth Monday in the month there will be a large attendance of householders, and a long list of good candidates to choose from. '

North. British- and Mercantile In surance Company.— We observe that this well-known Insurance Company has opened an agency, in Ashburton, under the charge of Messrs Poyhtz and Co., whose known energy will doubtless soon give the company a wide range of business in this district.

The Weather.— To-day and yesterday heavy rain has fallen in almost every part of the colony. In the early north, where harvesting had commenced and was pretty well advanced, work has had to cease entirely, while operations that would have been commenced forthwith have been de layed. In some parts of our own district we learn that the grain has been laid to some extent.

The Irish Relief Fund. —The Vic torians are working hard for the relief of the distress in Ireland, and already, a cablegram informs us, the Mayor of Mel bourne has collected LSOOO, which he will forward to Dublin on Friday next. A list has also been started at Auckland, and no doubt many more will be opened over the colony in a few days.

School Committee.— Two members of the School Committee-—Messrs St. Hill and Bradley—attended at the school room with the Secretary last night, and waited for an hour or more, but as a quorum of members did not . attend, the meeting had to lapse. School Treat. the limited amount of subscriptions re ceived, the School Committee were unable to deal as handsomely by the scholars at last examination in the matter of prizes as they could have wished. Several boys

and girls, whose merit deserved recog nition. by the presentation of prizes, had thus to be overlooked. It is to be re gretted that any discouragement should be caused to the children, but the fault did not lie with the Committee. We hope that next year the public will con tribute more largely than they did this year to the prize fund, and so allow every boy and girl who have duly earned prizes to be presented with them. It has been customary to give the children a treat annually, either at the close of the ses sion, and just before the vacation, or im mediately before the opening of the school, when the holidays are drawing to a close. The School Committee intend that this year there shall be no departure from the annual custom, if by any means they can manage it. But the only diffi culty in the way is the want of funds. Festivities of any kind are always attended with expense, and some one must bear that expense. As far as the individual members of the Committee are concerned they are willing to 'do their share/' and doubtless they will do it, but it is too much to expect that they should find everything. They have therefore de cided to appeal once more for aid to parents and the public, and every resi dent will be visited for a contribution to the treat fund. The Committee’s efforts to raise the needful funds will, we hope, meet with fair encouragement, and we would point out that the smallest dona tions will be accepted. There are many people who object to prizes for school work, as likely to cause ill-feeling, and to discourage naturally dull boys. We have nothing to say here either for or against this objection, but we think there can be no objection whatever raised against giving the little ones an opportunity for a day’s outing in their own playground, and regaling them with cake and sand wiches, throwing in a few trifles in the way of nipk-nacks to be raced for as prizes. Boys value those meetings even more highly than they do prize day.

TELEGRAPHIC.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE

[Age Special. ). London, Jan. 13, Rout of the Afghans.

News from Afghanistan states that General Roberts routed the Afghans at Ghuznee with heavy loss. German Consuls for the Colonies.

German consuls are to be appointed in the capital cities of Australia and New Zealand, with a Consul-General at Syd ney. France and the Exhibition.

The French Chambers of Commerce urge Government to secure 1 the efficient representation of France at the Mel bourne Exhibition.

( Reuter’s Telegrams.) The Brindisi Mails. London, Jan. 12. The Australian and New Zealand November mails, via Brindisi, were de livered to-day. The Grain Market. The total quantity of . wheat afloat for Great Britain is 2,020,000 quarters. Enormous quantities of grain are lying at Chicago, where the railways are blocked. The stock is estimated at 18,000,000 bushels. London, Jan. 13. A fortnight has been granted to arrange for the trial of questions which have been raised in connection with the Tichborne case. Berlin,, Jan. 13. Russia’s Movement Explained. The .Russian Government, replying to the representations of Germany, admits the concentration of Russian troops on the German frontier, but says no hostility is intended. The step is attributable to the withdrawal of Russian troops from Bulgaria and the pacification of Turkey. Sydney, Jan 14. A Successful Meat Experiment. News has been received that the steamer Strathleven has arrived at Suez. Her cargo of meat is in good condition.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

INTERPROViNCIAL.

Auckland, Jan. 14. The New Zealand Insurance Company. The 38th half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company was held at 2 o’clock yesterday. The depres sion in trade, and the keen competition which exists, have had their effect upon the Company’s business, rendering addi tional caution necessary in the selection and amount of risks. Fire losses have been unprecedentedly heavy, but after making allowance for ascertained losses, at closing the books, there remains to credit of profit and loss the sum of L 7323 17s. Gd., by which the 1 directors are enabled to declare dividends at 5 per cent, per annum.

Grahamstown, Jan. 14, Another Municipal Contractor Threatened.

An attempt is being made to ou3t Mr Wilkinson, editor of the “Advertiser,” returned at last election by one vote for the South Ward of the Borough, on the ground of being a contractor for stationery to the Cpuncil in December. . Land on Deferred Payments.

A telegram has been received by the Thames Land Association from Mr. Rol leston, stating that 13,000 acres more land will be offered on the deferred payments system, in areas of 10 acres to 320. The telegram states the terms will be as good as Government can offer under the settle ment clauses of the Land Act. The. Thames Railway.

The meeting of the Railway Committee this morning appointed, a deputation to proceed to Auckland to interview Mr. Whitaker re the, construction of the rail way from the Thames end. The Thames Peaches. Ripe peaches are in the market here, grown on the Thames. Wellington, Jan. 14. Distress at Jerusalem. At a public meeting held in the Jewish schoolroom last night, a Committee was appointed to collect subscriptions to alle viate prevalent distress in Jerusalem. A Late Sitting. At two o’clock this morning the jury in the case of Bath v. Williams, an action to

recover LSOO for alleged false imprison ment, brought in a verdict for defendant. Rain. Continuous rain since Saturday night is doing serious injury to the crops. A Collapse. At the Police Court the charge of per jury against P. K. Watty, commission agent, for false declaration before the Deputy-Commissioner of Stamps, was dis missed. It is believed Watty intends to prosecute those who laid the information. Dunedin, Jan. 14. Heavy Rain. It is raining heavily and floods are feared. Incendiarism. The coroners jury returned a verdict of incendiarism against some . persons un known in respect of the fire which de stroyed Arthur Oreill’s dwelling at Tua peka east last week. r , Invercargill, Jan. 14. The Irish Relief. A requisition has been presented to the Mayor to call a meeting to inaugurate an Irish relief fund. The Volunteers. The volunteers are unanimously in favor , of Captain Thomson for the Ma jority of ' the district, vacant by the death of Major M‘Robie. He at first refused, but now consents to accept the appointment if offered. Female Printers. It is reported here that the new pro prietors of the Wellington morning paper intend to introduce female labor .into the office as Mr. Bain introduced it into the “ Southland Times.”

LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, Jan. 13,

Superintendent Thomson and Captain Bretton went to Kaipara for the purpose of investigating a charge, instituted by the Government against Captain Lowry, late pilot of Kaipara. Major Peacock has started a fund for the relief of Irish distress, and headed the list with LlO.

In an action, Lyons v. Wells, of Papa kura, for seduction of plaintiff’s daughter, damages were laid at Ll5O. The jury awarded LIOO.

Mr. Moss addressed the electors at Par nell last night. There was a, large atten dance. Moss defended the Grey adminis tration, and denounced the Hall Ministry. There were more jobs perpetrated by the latter in two months than by any other administration in two years. Unless more extended and powerful local self-govern ment were given the colony would break down under the weight of centralism. The Grey Government had at least the merit of being pati'otic, but the Hall Go vernment could prefer no claim to public respect or esteem. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Janies Wrigley, the fol lowing resolution was carried by acclama tion :—“ That the taxation recently im posed by the present Government is im politic,, inquistorial, aiid oppressive.” The following is the allotment of the white fish ova. The shipments for the South have been packed in ice chests : Auckland, 90,000 ; Taupo and Tarawera, < 45,000 ; Napier, 50,000 ; Christchurch, 500,000 ; Opawa, 100,000; Dunedin, 250,000 ; Invercargill, 300,000 ; Waka tipu, 250,000 ; Nelson, 250,000. New Plymouth, Jan. 13.

Great preparations are being made for the tangi over old Tamihana, who was killed on Saturday by a horse at the Bell Block. Over 309 natives have assembled to take part. The Waitava bridge has nearly been burned. Some men passing early in the morning found the floor burning and suc ceeded in extinguishing it, but a large hole was burned. Wellington, Jan. 13. Colonel Scratchley inspects Wellington harbor before proceeding South. He made a trip round the harbor to-day in the Stella, but the weather was unfavor able. She makes another to-morrow. Alex. Martin, a seaman on the Bebing ton, was sentenced to two months for stab bing another seaman of the same vessel. Napier,, Jan. 13. Superintendent Spence and Foreman Gilbert have been appointed to represent Napier at the forthcoming conference of fire brigades at Dunedin. Heavy rain is now falling, and has put a stop to operations. The examinations for the Sir Donald M‘Lean Maori Scholarships have been brought tc a close. Fourteen boys com peted for the three scholarships. The papers generally were exceedingly good, the geography in particular being remark ably well done, while the map drawing and the arithmetic were better than many European lads could do. Hokitika, Jan. 13. The largest Church of England picnic that, has taken place for years was held to-day in honor of the visit of the Primate and Archdeacon Harper, over 1500 people of all denominations attend ing. Before dispersing three cheers were given for Bishop Harper, the Archdeacon and the Rev. Mr. Hamilton, winding up with “ God Save the Queen.” Oamaru, Jan. 13.

The North Otago Coursing Club had its meeting to-day. The balance-sheet showed a surplus of £96 Bs., after paying all outstanding accounts. It was resolved that the secretary take such action as he might deem desirable for opening the coursing season in April. It was also re solved to write to the other clubs agreeing to co-operate with them in the appoint ment of one j udge for all clubs. Messrs. Ronayne and Thomson were appointed delegates to act at the conference to be held shortly in Oamaru. The stakes for the Hurdle Race have been awarded to Te Whetu, the jockey having to write a letter of apology to the judge. It is probable that a race meeting will take place some time in April. Dunedin, Jan 13. The arranged match, -England v. the Colonies, sides being chosen principally from the players in the International Match, was played on the Caledonian ground to-day, but little interest was taken in it. England went first to the wickets, and scored 75, Spring and Ashby being the only ones who succeeded in making any stand against the bowling of McLennan and Frith. At a quarter to four a drifting rain commenced, and play was consequenty knocked off. The

Colonies had started their innings, and lost three wickets for the total of 45.

Twenty-three delegates from other places will attend the annual meeting of the United Fire Brigade Association, on the 20th instant.

The “Star” learns on good authority that a gentleman who is about to proceed to the Home country hs.s left the sum of LSOOO to be divided amongst the local charities.

The Panama Canal.

A paper in the Vienna Monthly Maga zine for the East, published by the Austrian Oriental Museum, gives an account of proposals which have been made from time to time for cutting a canal through the Isthmus of Panama. As far back as 1551 Francisco Lopez de Honiara, in his history of the two Indies, mentions three lines by which he believed the Atlantic might be connected with the Pacific. The three routes in dicated by this old writer are those which lately, after a lapse of three cen turies, have been again examined—namely the one across the Isthmus of Teheaute pec, to which Ferdinand Cortez had de voted especial attention; the Lake of Nicaragua route, which had attracted the notice of Gil Gonzales Davila ; and the shorter line across the Isthmus of Panama, of which mention has been made by Francisco Pizzaro. Unfortunately the prosecution of the enterprise, at a time when Spain' still possessed the means, power, and energy to successfully accomp lish it, was prevented by ignorance and superstition. Father Jose de Acosta, a member of the Society of Jesus, in a work published by him in 1588, denounced the then apparently much talked of idea of cutting a canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific as an impious conception, asserting that the “ punishment of heaven would most assuredly fall upon those who presumed to endeavor to alter the wise arrangements of Providence.” Opposed by the Church, any project which may have been formed for uniting the two oceans was abandoned; and after the accession of Phillip 11., Spain rapidly lost the last traces of the energy necessary for accomplishing any great enterprise. Through the succeeding centuries, how ever, the idea of cutting the canal con stantly occupied the attention of dis tinguished men of different nations, and in 1829 a mission was sent by the King of the Netherlands to Guatemala to enter into negotiations on the subject. Mat ters were progressing favorably when the revolution of 1830 proved fatal to the scheme. In 1844, again, the Government of Nicaragua made overtures on the subject to the King of the Belgians., but the proposed plan was shipwrecked on political obstacles, and, negotiations sub sequently 'entered into, with France also proved fruitless.

THE CHRISTCHURCH RIOTERS.

SENTENCE OP THE PRISONERS. After a three days’ trial, in the course of which a large amount of evi dence, was led and the cases against each of themen implicatedintheßoxingday riot at Christchurch gone into very fully, the jury before whom the cases were heard in the Christchurch Supreme Court on Tuesday, returned a verdict of guilty against the following prisoners :—Michael M‘Avey, Thomas Hanley, Patrick Cud dihy, Thomas Magner, Patrick Shana ghan, Thomas Keiley, Michael Bock, Stephen Barrett, John Flaherty, Thomas Wood, and Michael Leary. Edward Murphy was found not guilty, and discharged. His Honor passed sentence as follows : —Prisoners at the bar, had you, after you had time to consider what you have been doing, and how you imperilled the peace of this community—had you pleaded guilty after having time for re flection, I should have thought it my duty to consider that plea of guilty as an indication of submission to the law of the land ; and it would have a good effect way of public example, and that it would have justified me in passing upon you a sentence much less severe than that which your guilt really deserves. I do not know whether you have, any of you, yet reflected upon the character of the offence you have committed, apart from any prejudice you may have of a national or religious character. But let me tell you that according to the law of this land, and of every other well governed country, you have brought yourselves into this kind of predicament, that if it had not pleased Providence to prevent any of the blows which were struck ending in the death of any one of the persons assailed, you would have been in point of law guilty of murder. If the death of any man had resulted from the promiscuous use of those weapons, every man of you would, in the eye of the law, have been guilty of murder. This is a thing for you to reflect upon, as well as. those persons outside who may sympathise with you, and who may be of your way of thinking in religion and politics. and thus share your ideas or temptations to disturb the peace of the community. The evidence given in this case, although no death occurred, would have been amply suffi cient to justify a prosecution for malicious wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and then again you and each of you would have been liable to a long period of penal servitude. Had there been reasons for believing that a light sentence might be as likely to prevent a recurrence of this kind of thing as a sub stantial one, I should have been only too happy to accept them. But I have thrown upon the representatives of the Crown the responsibility of intimating to me their opinions as to the necessity for a substan tial punishment. God forbid that I should assist the Government in any way to pass anything like a vindictive punish ment upon wrongdoers, but I must take the facts as I find them before me, dis closing a riot of considerable seriousness and an assault of a most dangerous charac ter. I must therefore make your sentence substantial, as you have not submitted yourselves to the law by pleading guilty, and the arm of the law must be stretched forth to put a stop' to this kind of thing. I cannot help it if one portion of the public, who may have pre judices in favor of one class of persons as against another, blame me for too great leniency in this case. I shall impose a substantial sentence, but one which, under the circumstances, I do not think by any means severe. I think it right to make a distinction among the prisoners, because it is perfectly certain that in all matters men follow leaders. I think it is exceed ingly propable we have not here the most

guilty persons ; there are, perhaps, people behind who are more guilty than the prisoners at the bar. But there were two or three persons who rendered themselves very prominent in the affair. There were about thirty men concerned in the attack, and Stephen Barrett was marked out as being very active. Cuddiliy, too, seemed to be one of the leaders of the party, and he it was who first took the flag and gave directions in the matter. Hanley and McAvey also appeared to have been active participators in the disturbance, and Bar rett was shown to have used expressions indicating that he was actually fool enough to contemplate that that body of men were going to take possession of this town. It is scarcely possible to understand in a population like ours, how men could be such positive idiots, even if ten times the number of this body of men, to sup pose that they could for any period of time set at defiance all constituted au thority. At tlie same time men who go about like that are very dangerous to a community, As I said before, I shall make a distinction in the cases of some of the prisoners. The sentence of the Court is that McAvey, Hanley, Cuddihy, and Barrett, be sentenced to eighteen months and the remainder of the prisoners to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labor. ' '•

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON— Tuesday; Jan. 13. (Before Mr. F. Guinness, R.M.) CHARGE OP OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES. Blair v. Kelly.—Mr. Purnell for in formant, Mr. Harris for defendant. This was an information to the effect that defendant obtained the sum of 10s. on false pretences, with the intention of defrauding the informant. Defendant pleaded “ Not guilty.” Mr. Purnell explained the bearings of the case. The parties had entered into a partnership on equal terms in a cropping lease on a section at South Rakaia. It afterwards transpired that accused had negotiated a lien with M £ Kerrow‘ and Mann for L 247, equal to the whole value of the crop. . Thos. Blair, sworn, said I am a laborer, living at South Rakaia. Have known prisoner about six months. In October last he made proposals to me to go iuto a cropping partnership on some land of Cannon’s, pie said nothing at the time about having given a lien on it. We entered into partnership on October 13th. I paid certain sums on account of ploughing and seed. I did not then know that accused had given a lien over the crop. On Oct. 13 we entered into partner ship. I produce the agreement. As soon as it was signed I paid Kelly the sums of money mentioned in the information, viz., 10s. for tucker for a roan, 15s. for half cost of preparing the lease of the land. I have never seen the lease, and do not know if one exists. I also paid him LI -18 s. 6d. for wages. Kelly remarked that if it was found necessary to raise money on the crop, it would be soon enough to do so when it was wanted at harvest time. He said lie would not raise money on a lien without informing me. In Novem ber I learnt that Kelly had given a lien over the crop. I heard so from Mr. Hardy, at Rakaia, and accused did not give me any information. Had I known of the lien I would not have advanced any money. When I spoke to Kelly about the lien, he offered me the horses as security for the money I had advanced. Cross-examined by Mr. Harris—l first met Kelly at Kyle. He was ploughing there. On Sept. 22nd we went together to Cannon’s land to put in the crop. At that time no partnership was contem plated. It was not arranged till Oct. loth. When I first went on to Cannon’s land I was, working for Rickards on wages. The land was all ploughed and sowed on Oct. 13th. I knew at the time we were working that the crop was for myself and Kelly. I asked him several times for an agreement, but he put me off till Oct. 13th. I paid Rickards L2O for the use of his teams on Oct. 22nd. Kelly paid no portion of it. The ploughing, &c., cost L7O. I also paid Ll 7 for seed barley. Kelly supplied the oat seed. I have not paid any rent for the land. It is 7s. per acre. Kelly told me when we signed the agreement there was no encumbrance on the crop. The sums mentioned in the information were paid by me on account of the partnership, after Kelly told me there was no encumbrance on the crop. Mr. Mann sent word to me to come and see him, as he intended to sell the crop under the lien. I swear I did not know that Kelly had gone to Mr. Mann to raise money on the crop on Oct. Ist, nor did he tell me that Mann wanted a bill of sale over the horses! Kelly had five horses. When I spoke to him about the lien in November,, he said he would let me have his horses to secure my share of the crop. I did not go to see Kelly till about a week after I knew about the lien. I have not paid any money since in connection with the partnership.

Mr. M £ Kerrow and Mr. Lampard proved the signatures to the lien and the advances made. Mr. Harris then addressed the Bench for the defence, pointing out that the in formant was a consenting party through out to obtaining the advances on the crop, and that these advances were made for the purpose of paying for farming imple ments and wages during harvest. The present action was brought because Blair, the informant, fancied the crop was not going to be a paying one, and he wanted the accused to give him two horses to clear out iof the bargain, which was refused. He would call the accused.

Mr. Parnell objected to accused giving evidence as no pecuniary penalty could be inflicted in the case. Accused was charged with a felony and could not be examined.

His Worship said that although the case was being heard summarily, the evi dence _ was being taken down with a view to adjudicating on the case if it should he found necessary to send the accused for trial.

Mr. Harris argued that the Oourt had discretionary power to take the evidence of the prisoner, there being really only the evidence of the informant against him.

His Worship said he could not take the evidence of the accused where there was no power to /alter the punishment from compulsory committal to a fine.

Mr. Purnell said it would be quite illegal to put accused in the box, as the charge was an information for felony and not an ordinary complaint, such as a common assault.

His Worship t%n decided he could not take the evidence. Mr. Harris asked the case to be ad journed to allow him to call evidence for the defence.

Mr. Purnell demanded that the defence" should disclose the names of witnesses proposed to be called, and the nature of their evidence should be given. Mr. Harris. said he intended to call George Rickards to prove that the infor mant was aware of the existence of the lien. , i The case was then adjourned till Mon day, January 19 th. ASSAULT. Little v. Parr—Mr. Branson for plain tiff. Defendant was charged with having, on the 13th December, assaulted the in formant. He pleaded guilty. He was also charged with breaking a pane of glass and smashing up a door lock. He ad mitted the pane but denied the lock. Robert Little, sworn, said—l am pro prietor qf the Hindhope Hotel. Accused broke the window because I locked him out, and he then kicked the door in, and jumped over,the counter. The value of the lock was 10s. 6d.

By prisoner—Did not give you any pro-. I vocation. Your coat and cheque book were laying under your horse’s feet when you were leaving. Charles Hawkins, saddler, said he was present at the Hindhope Hotel on the oc casion referred to. Parr was on his horse, and Little made some remark about his coat, when Parr came back and took off both his coats, and wanted to fight Little, who locked the door. Parr smashed the window in, and afterwards broke tho. 4 door. ' ' -

For the defence accused called John Armstrong, who said he was with Parr that day, and, after having a glass or two, and on leaving peaceably, Little - made some mocking observations iii re ference to Parr’s, coat, which aggravated him, and he being in drink went back in a temper. Had he been left alone he would have gone away quietly. By the Court—l heard Little ask Parr if his coat was paid for, and other observa tions as to his going through the Court. Parr was drunk. Didn’t, know whether he and his mate were fighting that day. His Worship said prisoner had admitted two charges and the third was proved. He would be fined for the assault, 20s. and costs; for the window,. 20s. and 40s. costs ; for the lock, 20s. and 7s. 6d. costs and professional fee 21s.—total for. his little row, L 7 6s. 6d. ■. . ; CIVIL CASES. Journeaux v. Fairy.—Claim L 9 17s. 4d. Judgment confessed. Williams v. Power.—No appearance for plaintiff. Case dismissed. McFarlane v. Lake.—Mr. O’Reilly for plaintiff, Mr. Purnell for defendant. Claim Ll6—being, value of a horse left in defendant’s stable, which had been lost by neglect on defendant’s part. Mr. O’Reilly opened the case, which’ appeared to be a very mixed one. Mr. Purnell claimed a nonsuit.

Mr. McFarlane deponed that he left a . * horse at Lake’s stables at Rakaia. H§£\; exchanged horses with Victor Soland foiPU 1 that day. Saw Lake that morning, who told him lie had just fed the horse. Went to Christchurch,'and was away three 1§ clays, when he returned Lake t6ld him the horse had gone away towards Chert- ,! sey. Lake said he would give him ! another horse in place of the. one lost, and promised to advertise the horse, but had not done so. -Witness went on—l live 32 miles from Rakaia. Have seen Lake ; shice, and he has told me he had sent the boys to look for the horse. ‘ Told Soland | to go to Lake, and he got a horse from s him in exchange ; but it turned out the | horse did not belong to Lake, and to settle matters I offered him L 5 out of my own pocket so as to have no row. This horse '; wa3 returned to Lake, who sent ifor him. v | Soland then claimed the value of the jj horse from me, and I paid him ;Ll6 as the value of it.

By Mr. Purnell—l put the horse in Lake’s yard about 11 p.m. The horse was in the yard next morning feeding. Told Lake to put him in the stable and keep him till my return. I was informed that the horse was at Compton’s stables in Ash burton. Soland went to Lake to make arrangements about taking another horse in exchange. I spoke to Mcßae about the lost horse, but he said he had never seen him. I have refrained from taking proceedings because Lake has always pro-, mised to either pay or give another horse in exchange. Vici or Soland deponed that Lake had given a mare in exchange for the one lost by him, which he afterwards sent for, and another was sent in exchange not worth 10s. Lake threatened to sue me unless I returned the mare, and I then got Ll 6 for the lost horse from Mr.

M‘Farlane. , ■ For the defence Charles Lake the de fendant “said—l recollect M £ Farlane coming to my place one day. I never saw his horse at all. My yard has a double gate on it, which is often open. * Had plaintiff wished he could have stabled Ills horse at any time of the nightryo Plaintiff did not tell me to put the horsed in the stable. Ido not put Hiorses in the yard to keep them there.. When M £ Farla.he came back from Christchurch he asked where his horse was, and I said I did not know. I heard no more about the horse for a long time. McFariane offered me L sto settle the case about a month ago. I refused to take anything. I saw Soland afterwards, and lent him a mare, and he offered L 4, and M £ Farlane L 5, and to let the question of the lost horse lapse. M'Farlane afterwards re fused to yay the L 5, and Soland left the

mare at my place again. I never sent Soland up an ££ old screw.’V M £ Farlane never met me in the yard as he swore, with a tin or a bucket in . his hand. I

keep a diary in which every horse brought to my stable is entered. ;I offered com pensation by sending the mare to Soland as I considered it better not to go to law. I valued the mare at Ll 6 10s. |£

James M £ Rae—l know the horse lost by M’Farlane, and saw it in Compton’s yard. I sent word to Soland, and when

he came down we could not find him. He was worth about Ll 6. ■

Mr Purnell, for the defence, argued that plaintiff had been guilty of contri butory negligence. Mr. O‘Reilly contested that Lake, as bailee of the horse for the time being, wsa responsible for his safe keeping, and did not use every care to keep the horse safely. His Worship would take time to con sider the authorities, and give his de cision on Friday.

Wednesbay, January 14, iSSo.’I

THE ASHBURTON HERALD.



* New Advertisements. LABOR MARKET. REGISTRY OFFICE FOR MASTERS : . ' AND. SERVANTS, • AT THE “EVENING HERALD” OFFICE. TAARMERS REQUIRING. HANDS jj can engage men through the “Evening Herald ” Registry for 1/- each, prepaid. LABORERS REQUIRING SITUA TIONS can engage through the “Herald ” Registry Office by paying 1/-. SERVANTS REQUIRING SITUA TIONS can get them by applying at the “Herald” Registry - Office, and paying 1/- ‘ . '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 “ Evening Herald ” in the registry column on payment of Six pence additional in advance, for each • issue. < ■ ■ Further Particulars on application at ■ the “EVENING HERALD” REGISTRY OFFICE. SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, EAST ST., ASHBURTON. THE TENDER of Collins and Son for PAINTING and PAPERING House on W. Belt has been accepted. 939 a POYNTZ & CO. TO BUILDERS. mENDERS are invited for the.EREC -i- TION of a BILLIARD ROOM. Plans and specifications can be seen at Mrs. Butler’s Family Hotel. Tenders will be received up to 7 p. m. on MONDAY, the 19th Jan. 940 a ASHBURTON RACING CLUB. GENERAL MEETING. A GENERAL MEETING of the Ash burton Racing Club will be held at QuilFs.Hotel on SATURDAY EVENING, at 8 p.m. sharp. Business :. Ist. To consider the Treasurer’s balance-sheet. 2nd. To take into consideration the leasing of the course. JAMES WILKIE, 929a-3S5g ' Hon. Sec.



THE REV. J. G. TURNER, Special Agent of THE AUSTRALIAN MUTUAL PRO VIDENT SOCIETY, WILL DELIVER ECT U R E In the GOOD TEMPLAR HALL, ON THURSDAY EVENING Next, at Eight O’Cloek. Doors open at 7-30. The lecture will be “A Brief Explanation of the Working and Benefits of Life Assurance.” Admission free. 384g—941a MR. C. W. IRELAND having DIS SOLVED PARTNERSHIP with Mr. O’Reilly, will CARRY ON the busi ness by himself for the present. No receipts for money now owing to the late firm of “O’Reilly and Ireland ” will be recognised, unless signed by both partners. 911 a TO THE LADIES. A WANTED KNOWN That MRS. CARSTENS has always on hand trimmings and lining, and dresses made on the shortest notice. MRS. CARSTENS, Tancred street, 933 a Ashburton. TINWALD BOOT AND SHOE SHOP. C. HAWKINS.' GH. begs to inform the inhabitants of . Tinwald and surrounding districts that he has taken the Boot and Shoe Shop adjoining Mr. S. Stephens’, saddler, and hopes by strict attention to business to obtain a share of public patronage. 742 g 937 a ONES’, GRAND DISTRIBUTION of PRIZES will take place on ERIDAY AND SATURDAY, Jan. 16 and 17, in the Building adjoining Messrs. J. E. Buchanan and.Co.’s Auction Mart, Have lock street. TICKETS ONE SHILLING EACH, to be obtained at the Shop, Baring Square, and other agents. - . EACH TICKET OBTAINS A PRIZE. Prizes vary in value from £3 3s. to 6d, and include a Great Variety o% articles, Useful, Ornamental, and Comical. Handsome Dressed Doll ... £3 3s. Ladies.’ Japanese Cabinet 1 5 ■ ■ Yfaiting Desk . ... 115 Croquet Set ... 119 }} . Album ... ... 210 &c., Ac., &c., &c., &c. Doors open to 5,



New Advertisements. MR. DAVIDSON’S BOYS’ PRIVATE SCHOOL. mHE SCHOOL will REOPEN on TUESDAY, the 20th January, at 9 o’clock. 927 a MONEY TO LEND. ~X%T ANTED to Lend .Five or Six Yy Hundred Pounds on Good Free hold Security. Apply Box 81, P. 0., Ashb.urton. 923 a VY7ANTED—A First-class Cook. Apply * * at once, to Butler’s Family Hotel, Ashburton. 905 a WANTED— COOK and NURSE MAID. Apply to Mrs. Bran son, Aitken street, Ashburton. 890 a ■TXTANTED, a good strong BOY, to V v Milk, and make himself useful at Westerfield. Apply Herald office. 898 a WANTED— A good strong general SERVANT, accustomed to milk. Apply, Mrs. Macbean Stewart. 928 a ANTED, those in search of employ- VY - ment, to call and either enter their names at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is. TT ABOURERS requiring work can 1 j. secure first, opening by applying early at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is. requiring situations, call and get your names entered in the Herald Registry, Is. EMPLOYERS requiring any kind of laborers can engage through Herald Registry Office, on payment of Is. in ad vance. NE W ZEALAND WESLE YAN Published Monthly. JUST ARRIVED, the “ New Zealand t‘j? Wesleyan” for January Price 6d Sold at the Herald Office, East Street. WEEKS AND DIXON, Agents. zepoies ±sso_ rpl H E PRESS ALMANAC JL , And Diary Can be obtained from the undersigned. Price—One Shilling. WEEKS AND DIXON, Herald,,; Office, Near Railway Station. I ASHBURTON CALEDONIAN I SOCIETY. i A MEETING of DIRECTORS will l xtk. h e held at Quill’s Hotel, on SATUR DAY EVENING, 17th inst., at 8 o’clock. J. E. HYDE HARRIS, 942a* Hon. Secretary.