COMMERCIAL.

[by telegraph.]

Dunedin, July 23.

Prime beef, 25a. per 100 lbs.; mut ton, 3d. per lb. ; good - sample milling wheat, 3a. 9d. to 4s. Id. ; fowls wheat 2a. 6d. to 35.; feed oats, Is. 4d. tola: 5d.; milling, Is. 6d.; malting barley, 2s. 9d. to 3s. 3d.; feed, Is. 9d. to 2s. 6d.; potatoes, L2 ss. to L2 7s. 6d,; old hay, L 4 ; new oaten hay, L 3 ; chaff, L 3; straw, L2 ; bran, L 3 5s ; pollard L 4 ; flour, L 9 10s to LlO ; oatmeal, L 9 10s.; pearl barley, L 18; onions, |d.; cheese, 5d.; bacon, rolled, 9sd.; hams, 10d.; sides bacon, 9-M.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails-close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows *— For Christchurch and North at 6 a.m. 9. a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Ghertsey Rakaia. &c., at 9 a. m. -and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hmds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, - and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily. For Temuka, Timaru, and South at 6 a. m. and 10.15 a. m. daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, jon. Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, and Seafield, on Tues days and Fridays, at 6 a.m.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office —

From Christchurch at 10.35 a.m., 4.55 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Chertsey, Raltaia, &c. at 10.35 a.m. daily.. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.25 p.m. daily. From Temuka and Timaru at 9.25 a. m. and 5.25 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a.m. daily. From Wakanui and Seafield on Tues days and Fridays at 2.30 p.m.

W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With Which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1880.

The Brindisi Mail. —The outward mails for Great Britain, etc., via Brindisi, will close at the Ashburton post-office on Tuesday next, at 5 p.m. Correspondence intended to go by this route must be specially addressed, and must bear the Brindisi rate of postage, viz,, Bd. per |oz.

Shipping. —The s.s. Taiaroa arrived a Lyttelton this afternoon from Manakau and way ports. Obituary. Last night’s Globe an nounces the death of Mr. Neck, the well known solicitor. Mr. Neck leaves a wife and family.

The Unemployed. —There are now on the Government books at Christchurch 215 names of unemployed men, ninety nine having been received during the week. Thefts op Trees prom the Domain. —We are pleased to know that the desire for planting is growing amongst the resi dents of the town, but it is a pity that anyone amongst us should think of culti vating the planting taste at the expense of his honesty. Someone is doing this, how ever, for sixteen young trees were stolen from the Domain last night, and seventeen last week, besides innumerable single trees at occasional intervals. This sort of thing is particularly distressing to the caretaker and greatly hinders the work of beautify ing the Domain. Should the thief be caught we can assure him that justice will be both swift and sudden. The Courthouse. —The contractors for the erection of the Ashburton Courthouse have got well on with their work, which steadily approaches completion. In a short time the carpenters will have finished and already the painters have commenced. Not long- ago we gave a description of the plans which we need not now repeat, but we may state that the hall in the centre of the building in which the Courts will hold their sittings is a good deal larger than the room at present used for the R.M. Court, and in it proper accommodation will be provided for all who have attend. The needful offices adjoining this hall—and these are numerous—though not large rooms, will be very comfortable for the officers and those who will have to use them, while the whole building will be a set-off to the part of the town in which it stands.

Local Industry. —The ladies, who “go shopping,” and business men, whose en gagements cause them to frequent East street, combined with the general public, who take their walks abroad, will doubtless hail with gratitude any attempts which may be made to render pedestrianism in our principal streets easier than has hitherto been the case. That such a de sirable improvement is likely to even tuate, is borne out by the fact that Mr. Bradley has been laying down asphalte in front of one or two places of business and private houses in the township. Mr. Bradley announces in another column his readiness to accept further orders, and he intends, should sufficient inducement offer, to erect an extensive building for the better carrying out of his enterprise. We hope the business people of Ashbur ton, as well as private residents, will give him the encouragement which he deserves for thus introducing another branch of local industry into our midst.

South Rakaia Domain Board. —The adjourned meeting of the South Rakaia Domain Board was held in the Road Board office on Thursday. Present— Messrs. C. N. Mackie, chairman, G. Robinson, W. Hartnall, A. Makeig. (Secretary), J. N. Sharp, J. Bruce, and C. Hardy. The chairman stated that he had applied to the Ashburton County Council for the Ll5O granted to the Board by the Council. There were twenty tenders re ceived for fencing the Domain, ranging from 43. lOd. to Ss. per chain, when after much consideration, the tender of Hector Maclean, at ss. per chain was accepted, seven tenders were received for ploughing, ranging from 6s. to 10s. per acre. The Board accepted the tender of John George Cox. On the motion of Mr. Robinson it was resolved that the Chairman apply to the Christchurch Domain Board for trees for planting. It was resolved that Messrs. Makeig, Sharp, Robinson, and Hardy be a planting Committee and that Messrs. Robinson and Makeig be appointed to look after the fencing. The Board then adjourned to Thursday, sth August.

A New Sewing Machine. —Our readers will probably remember that a short time ago we called attention to a new sewing machine (the Davis vertical feed) which is now being introduced into the colonial market. An agency has for some time past been established in Christchurch, and Messrs. H. C. Fiske and Co., the general agents for New Zealand, have appointed Messrs. Orr and Co., the sole agents for Ashburton. To-night the public will have an opportunity of seeing the machine at work in Messrs. Orr’s window, in East street, Mrs. Fiskebeing the operator. From what we have seen of the work performed by the “ Davis Vertical Feed,” we are sure that the amount of information to be gained as to what can be done by means of very simple machinery, will well repay the trouble of a visit. At the Sydney Exhibition this machine took first prize above all others, and in making the award the Commissioners made the following comment : —“ The new Davis sewing machine, being a com plete departure from the ordinary style of sewing machines, possessing all the advantages of such ordinary'sewing machines, and in addition an increased range or work, with the greatest simplicity of construction, and reduction in mumber of working parts, we consider it entitled to first place in awards.”

Mount Somers Road District. —A meeting of ratepayers in the Mount Somers Road district will be held [in the Road Board office, Mount Somers, on the the Bth of August, to consider the pro posed change of a road on Messrs. Gould and Cameron’s property near Methven. Rakaia. —Last Sunday a little surprise was in store for the Rev. Mr. Westbrooke, Presbyterian minister at Rakaia when lie entered the Town Hall, which is used by the Presbyterians there as a Church. A fine harmonium had been provided, for which subscriptions had been collected amongst the residents in the township by Messrs. Black and Gaarder, and the intro duction of the instrument service was a decided improvement. Mr. Gaarder has kindly consented to act as organist until permanent arrangements have been made.

A Californian Advertisement.-— This specimen is from the San Francisco News Letter A San Francisco woman is so cleanly that she uses two rolling pins— one for the pastry and the other for her husband’s head ; yet she probably drinks impure water, with all her cleanliness, No one need do this if he will only buy a patent Silicated Carbon Filter, from Bush and Milne, under the Grand Hotel. It purifies water instantaneously.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE

(Per Reuter's Agency.) Consols and Iron. London, July 22. Three per cent. Consols 98]-; galvanised iron, LlB. The Bank of England. The total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is L 16,750,000. The Australians. The .match between the Australians and the Yorkshire County team was com menced to-day at Huddersfield. The Home team went in first, and were all out for 78 runs. In the first innings of the Australians thoy lost three wickets for 145 runs. Groube was not out for 50 runs. The bowling of the Australians was dead on the wicket. The weather ivas very fine throughout the day. Shipping. Arrived—British Empire, from Lyttel ton.

More Shaking Up. London, July 23,

Another very severe earthquake was ex perienced at Manilla on Wednesday last, by which further heavy damage was done to the city. A Soothing Intimation. Berlin, July 23. The German Government has intimated to the Ambassador of the Great Powers in the this city that the employment of Germans by the Porte is entirely without any political importance. An Apology. Melbourne, J uly 24. The Age to-day withdraws its statement (in consequence of which a libel action had been instituted) to the effect that Messrs. Swallow and Ariel had influenced their workmen at the elections, and apolo gises to that firm for having made such a statement. Demolition, Calcutta, July 22. The work of demolition of the British forts at Cabul having commenced, the British troops have formed a camp near the city, where they will remain for the present. More Trouble. Important intelligence has been re ceived from Candahar relating to the movements of Ayoub Khan, who was recently reported to have left Herat with a large force, with the intention of at tacking Candahar, and wresting it from Shere Ali, the newly appointed ruler. It is now known that Ayoub is continuing his advance, and it is expected that he will shortly attack the British camp at Grishk, on the road to Candahar, whither the British troops were despatched to sup port Shere Ali. There, is great excite ment amongst the Candahar tribes owing to the continued advance of Ayoub Khan.

AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Rcutet's Agency.) Turned Out.

Melbourne, J uly 23.

In the Lewer House the Ministry maintained that the notification of the vote of want of confidence was out of order before the Governor’s speech. The Speaker ruled to .the contrary, and the Ministry quitted the House. The motion was ultimately carried. The Markets, &c. Sydney, J uly 23.

Hennessy’s brandy, in bulk, 10s. 6d.; Dovoe’s kerosene, Is. 2d. per gallon; maize, per 601b5., Is. lOd. to 2s. 3d. Adelaide, June 23.

Adelaide wheat, 4s. per bushel, market steady ; flour, L 9 155., market inactive. Freights to the United Kingdom, 375. Gd.; steamers, 555.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Disobedient Teachers.

Auckland, July 23.

At the Board of Education’s meeting, an explanation from teachers was read re specting some alleged evasions of instruc tions respecting holidays. They denied any intention of disobeying instructions. The Board passed a resolution to the effect that there had been some neglect, but the Board held that no irregularities should occur in future.

The Industrial Horne Management. The Industrial Home inquiry continued and the evidence of Mr. Barstow, R.M., W. Hornes, solicitor, and Mrs, Gavin, seam stress, was taken. The two former spoke strongly in favor of the management. Just So ! Wellington, July 24. The following reply has been received in answer to a cablegram sent by the Liberals of New Zealand :—“ J. E. Brown, Esq., M.P., Wellington. July 23rd. Many thanks for your welcome telegram. I believe Liberal party here are strong enough to settle constitutional reform. I trust before long to have occasion to return your congratulations with respect to events in New Zealand. Party authorised to sign on their behalf. —Graham Berry, Melbourne.” Fatal. Accident. Dunedin, July 24. Alexander Williamson, a youth em ployed at Pritchard’s reclamation con tract, while attending to the poinls, was killed by the trucks passing over him.

The Oldest Actor. —M. Granetot, a Frenchman, now playing at Toulouse, is said to be the oldest actor on the stage. He is a hundred years old, and made his first appearance at the age of fifteen, during the Revolution. DEA-p, Wagering. —There are gay youths down in Melton. On,e of them made a bet that he would ride his horse upstairs into the drawingroom of the house and down again. The first part of the task was accomplished in safety, but once in the drawing-room the horse refused to come down, and nothing earthly would move him. So after leav ing him there for three days and nights, the side wall had to be taken down, and the animal rescued in a horse-box, which was elevated to his assistance by a steam crane. This clever and humorous joke cost somewhere about L2OO. ‘—The World.

Native Affairs

New Plymouth, July 23,

Four more natives were arrested at the camp to-day. The Hinemea has arrived for the purpose of taking the prisoners away.

Napier, July 23. Nopi Te Apetu, leader of the Waipawa natives, has stopped a man ploughing within half a mile of the land in dispute. They unyoked the horses and threatened to take the plough over the boundary.

CHISPA’S LETTER

“I am not yet so bald that you can see my brains. ” —Longfellow.

Like the man I am, loyal to my con science and my pledged word, I rolled up at the Council Chambers on election day and voted. Being a free and independent elector, having no rent to pay, and no bill of sale hanging over my property, I do not require the machinery of the ballot to protect me in the wise exercise of the franchise ; and as I wear no paper collars I can speak my mind as forcibly or as mildly as I chose without danger to the back button-hole if I should become excited. In these circumstances I care not if I tell you how I voted—that I gave Tom one and the auctioneer another. Neither of them can now come and tell me I didn’t vote for him. But as I was going down to the polling booth I passed a knot of bui’gesses. There were six of them, and together they totted sixteen votes. They seemed to be perfectly indifferent as to which candidate won, having apparently an equal opinion of both. After they had discussed the question very languidly of which they should support, they de cided to go “ a shilling in and the winner shout ” —the winner also to decide which candidate should get all the votes. The game went round, and jolly little Fred (you know who) won. I would give his name in full, but I am afraid to, for reasons best known to myself, and Fred’s stick. Fred’s conscience would not allow him to dispose, according to his own wis dom, of sixteen votes for a Borough Councillor. He tossed up a penny. “ Tails for Tom, heads the other.” Heads came trumps, and Mr. Alfred Harrison won the “ hazard of the die.”

When I saw that yarn about J ohn Car ter’s very vase horse in your paper, I felt that you had been taken in. I made inquiries as to the truth of the story, and Councillor Robinson only stuck his tongue in his cheek, grinned in that dry Scotch way of his, and said, “ Wo, man, wo, you don’t fetch me, you know. ” I could get no verification out of him, and its a diffi cult job to “steer ” a Scotchman when he has mads up his mind to anchor, so I gave him best. But a fellow-Councillor of Mr. Robinson’s told me he had seen a flash bay horse come down a hill with a full head of steam on, and clear a four-rail fence at the bottom, taking a one-ton spring dray after him, and landing on the other side—horse, dr;.v, and man—as sound as a bell, and with- no abatement of speed on the career he kept up. Another friend came up from Kyle this morning, full of the Carter yarn. It had been canvassed round pretty extensively in the Seafield district; some held it to be apocryphal, others to be gospel. My friend believed it, and his reason for so doing is that only a fortnight ago his brother had a similar experience, only the horse was isot minus a driver —his brother being the Jehu. Dobbin went off as if for a wager, cleared a sod bank with a surmounting fence of of four wires, landed “ right ” on the other side, and held on. But this story varies a little from the other two, as the driver, when the buggy got “ elevated,” rose an involuntary five feet, and came down plump in his seat again without losing hold of the reins. John Carter, you have much to be accountable for, if these hair-breadth yarns keep increasing.

In these hard times it is not an un common thing to find a man doing a bit of “ cadge.” I do it myself when the last copper has evaporated, but when a man cadges he ought to do it fairly, arid say “ old man, I am stumped, kindly, give me a fill ” —for it is mostly in the ’baeca line the cadging is done. A persistent cadger was “had” a few days ago. He had reached the last thread of cut-up in his pouch, and of course got on the scent for somebody elsc’s. He bailed up a Town Councillor and sued for a “ fill.” It was given at once, with a remark that it was the great Dunedin firm’3 tobacco—always got it direct and smoked nothing else. Cadger filled away with a pleasant smile on his jovial face. Lighting up he drew two or three deep gusts of smoke, and then launched forth in praise of the great Dunedin firm, and in terrible condemna tion of the vile trash sold in local shops. Hp had never got a good sample of tobacco sine® he came to the township, but this Dunedin thing was divine—“and, you know, old man, I can tell good stuff whenever I get it in my mouth. Cadger has not yet been told that I saw that Town Councillor purchase from Mrs. Thompson that identical sixpennorth that drew forth Cadgers praises of the German firm in Dunedin.

Mr. John Sheehan says the basis of a true Liberal policy is the payment of members. Does Mr. Sheehan mean that the more a man can get out of the coun try in the shape of parliamentary wages the more Liberal he will be, and that the higher the screw the more advanced will be the statesman’s political creed 1 Bravo, John Sheehan. If your doctrine is a sound one, the glorious cause of Liberalism ought to flourish, and the party of which you are a distinguished member has only got to increase the honorarium to say LI,OOO a-year, and the best minds of the colony will rally to the standard. Pay a good screw, and all the intellect of the colony will be at your feet, even the humble talents will be at your command of yours truly.

Chispa,

Was not Greedy. —Here is a true story. The Duke of Edinburgh was being shown over the principal iron works of a large Northern town, and when he came to the electro plate department, one of the partners offered H. R. H., as a souvenir of bis visit, a very handsome flask, which, in honor of the recipient, was presented in an equally handsome silver! salver. The Duke thinking that both were ■ in tended for him took the lot, and York shire came off second best.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the" opinions expressed by our correspondents.

EUROPEAN FLAX.

To the Editor. Sir —Few subjects can engage the at tention of a country more than that or agriculture, and the importance of thus industry increases the more any of its branches can be brought to be the source of giving skilled labor to any people, and more especially to that of our own colony at the present time. I allude to the growth of European flax. Having read with pleasure Mr. Murphy’s lecture on that subject, I can fully endorse his state ments, as I am thoroughly acquainted with every branch of that subject, from the seed till we reach the snow-white linen ready for use. I have often wondered why farmers don’t try the growth of this flax, when it can be made the source of such an income. "We have everything in its favor—climate not too hot nor too cold, land and water suitable, all ready but energy and organisation to bring it to a success. ,It is astonishing the amount of money sent out of England, Ireland, and Scotland for fla,x and flax seed annually to France, Belgium, Holland, and Russia ; and Hew Zealand is content to stick to the shilling-a-bushel oats. My purpose is to suggest the idea of a society such as the Agricultural and Pastoral taking the matter up, to provide suitable seed, Instruct the farmer here to grow it, purchase the produce, and the result is certain to he a paying one to the grower and the company, and a profit could he had in all its stages. A society such as this was star 4 ed a few years ago, in the North of Ireland with great success, and is still being carried on. Mr. Murphy’s comparison between North and South of Ireland is not overdrawn, and it is just the extension of this branch of industry that makes the difference.

Could not the people of New Zealand have a finger in c ‘ the pie V’ If so, I be lieve the colony’s “ borrowing days” would be over. Nor should we be content with mere growing of flax and crushing of seed for oil, but should, go in for manufactur ing of linen from the raw matertal. Had we once a beginning made, I firmly be lieve the day would not be far distant when the hum of the spinning mill, the dim of the weaving factory mingled with the happy voices of the now unemployed would be" heard like music on the plains of Canterbury. —I am, &c. , W. Alderdice. Ashburton, July 23, 1880.

THE PLAINS FARMER ON MR. GRIGG’S PAPER.

To the Editor. Sir, —Having read Mr. Grigg’s paper on the question whether farming can be made to pay at present prices, I have thought the subject over, and compared his imagin ary scheme with my own experience of nearly twenty years in New Zealand, and about as many years in England. I cannot reconcile the two together in that com-, parison. Mr. Grigg says the only abso lute proof can he obtained by trying the experiment, and it is very evident Mr. Grigg has not done so yet—only in imagination. But he wants the large number of nearly ruined farmers to try it as a forlorn hope. I think it would he much better if Mr. Grigg or some other large farmer were to lay out 200 acres and. go on cropping it for seven years in the manner proposed by him, and then bring the result before the public. This result of actual practical experiment would be something reliable ; * but Mr. Grigg’s figures are to my seeming Utopian, and not to be found worked out in actual experience anywhere in New Zealand. I will venture to assert that there is no such system carried out — not even by his pet farmer, Mr. Cochrane, who, I have no doubt, would condemn it as being likely to impoverish his land instead of keeping it in good heart. To prove that it would not be beneficial, I will refer to my own experience partly, having farmed just such land as Mr. Grigg refers to —good heavy wheat soil—which produced from 40 to 50 bushels of wheat to the acre, and‘from 60 to 70 bushels of oats, and was then, laid down in grass two years, and stocked only with milch cows and their young cattle. When I broke it up again the crops were fair, but the. land became overrun with sorrel. I then sold off the cows, and stocked with sheep, when the sorrel gradually disappeared. Now, 1 conclude that a farm cropped as proposed in Mr. Grigg’s paper, and stocked only with milking cow 3 would share the same fate. It is well known that one milch cow will take as much from the land as two grazing cattle. The milk and butter drawn from the land every day by ten cows are far more exhausting than most farmers are aware. This, with the sorrel which cattle propagate so largely, vyill soon exhaust the land if kept in a Succession of crops. lam quite aware it is dono in England ; but there is some thing else done there—manure is applied freely, so much so that many farmers calculate the manure hill to be equal to the rent. Mine was for years. Every acre of green crops would cost from L2 to L 3 in artificial manure, and the wheat crop L 3 per acre. Although turnips can be grown here, and good crops, without manure, you cannot continue to do so on the land for many years without manure —nor with grass or clover either. I fancy the next generation will have to farm differently from the present one, and if Mr. Grigg’s proposed system were carried out, it would soon require a large outlay in manure for which he has made no pro\ ision. Then he has omitted the coat of the second twenty-five sheep re quired for the year, and allowed nothing for the interest on capital or the work of the farmer and his wife, He says nothing about children, or the expense of provicN ing for them, and 1 cannot see how so much work can be done as 100 acres of crop (Mr. Grigg told “ Country Subscri ber” it was 75 acres, but 50 wheat, 25 peas, and 25 barley are 100) and 55 acres of green crop, potatoes, etc., would re quire, together with 10 cows to he milked, pigs and calves to he fed, and I fail to see how so much stock can be kept on 15 acres grass and 25 of clover, with only one man and L 5 extra labor at harvest. If it is supposed there are some children grown up to help, then these have to be provided for ; and. then there are inci dental expenses which will always occur, for which nothing is allowed.. Now, the conclusion I come to is, when all these things I have referred to are valiied and added to the expenses, the balance will be on the other side.

My own opinion is that the most profit able way to farm such land as Mr. Grigg supposes, is the five course system —two grain crops and three years to grass and clover or turnips between, and two years to grass, then keep a good flock of sheep, which, with the aid of as much manure as can be got, properly applied to the land, will keep it in as* good heart or better than when it was first taken in hand.— Yours, &e., ' . -

A Plains Farmer,

The Bunkruptcy Law.

The Bankruptcy Law Committee have at length reported to the House, and in another column we give the teleg raphed summary of their recommenda tions. The Committee have been at some pains to collect a variety of views on the important subject they have had to deal with, and although they have not embodied in their report all the valuable suggestions made at their invitation by the judges, Chambers of Commerce, and other competent authorities, several of the amendments they propose will, if effected, much improve the existing Debtors and Creditors Act. The open ing recommendation in their report, viz, that meetings of creditors should be held in the town in which the bankrupt carried on business, or the town nearest his place of residence", if the place of resi dence is not in the town, is one of which we cordially approve, and meets one o the most vexatious features of the present measure. The 23rd clause of the Act of 1876 provides that the debtor shall file his declaration of insolvency in a Court for the district in which he has carried on business or resided for the longest period during the preceding six months. Doubtless the intention of the Legislature in framing this section was to locate the proceedings, in the manner recommended by the Committee, but it is defeated by the 7th clause of the same Act, which endows the Supreme Court with jurisdiction throughout New Zealand. The common misuse of this Is that debtors who for some discreditable reason wish to avoid contact with their creditors, file in the Supreme Court rather than . the Dis trict Court, although the higher tribunal may sit at an inconvenient distance from their place of business and the residences of their creditors. It may appear that those interested could readily attend meetings at any reasonable distance, or appoint proxies, but it frequently .occurs that cir cumstances make it highly inconvenient for a business man to devote a whole day to these meetings, and although he may delegate his powers to a proxy, he cannot completely delegate his conception of the particular case, and, as a matter of fact, the affairs of debtors who have adopted the course we have indicated, have more than once escaped the scrutiny they would have been subjected to if the proceedings had been conducted in the manner now recommended by the Committee. The second recommendation treats of a more important subject—the appoint ment of trustee : and here we are not entirely in accord with the Committee. The paragraph, as telegraphed, is difficult to follow, but we gather that it is proposed to appoint an official assignee, who shall act with one or more trustees appointed by. the body of creditors, and this is a course of which the evils were made clearly apparent by the Act which preceded the one now in operation. An official trustee appointed by the Government may or may not be a capable man, but in any case he has not the stimulus of a direct monetary interest in the realisation of the assets, nor has he the technical acquaintance with the class of trade carried on by the debtor, which would probably particularly qualify some one at least of the creditors to con duct the liquidation. The salary and expenses of the official assignee would have to be provided out of the assets, in addition to the other trustee’s commis sion ; and in estates —which are all too numerous —where the assets are nil, the assignee’s charges would be an additional loss to the suffering creditors. The conditions proposed as to order of discharge are more stringent than those set out in the existing Act, in that a majo rity in numbers equal to three-fourths in value is suggested, in substitution for a mere majority in number. Wo do not wholly favor the proposed amendment, even provided some addition is made to guard against dead-locks, which might occur where one creditor, representing three-fourths of the value, was opposed to the remaining creditors. We are of opinion that, so far as practical, power should be proportionate to value in treat ing with the assets, but on questions affecting the debtor personally it would be dangerous to adopt this system, and we think it difficult to make any favorable alteration here, bearing in mind that a decision of the creditors, either for or. against the discharge, is ' subject to revision by the Court. If a majority of creditors vindictively opposed the dis charge of any debtor, he should have the right of appeal to the Court, and, on the other hand, a creditor in the minority should enjoy the same same safeguard against a fraudulent or too friendly majo rity.

The abolition of arrangement by deed under the present system we think de sirable, and as it is proposed to allow this mode of procedure when determined on by the creditors, we see that no benefits will be lost by the amendment. - Of the suggestions made to the Com mittee, and which are not noticed in the report now before us, those emanating from Judge Ward and the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce are among tha most valuable. In reference to prefer ential claims for rent, the Judge of our District Court suggests that where rent is payable quarterly, monthly, or weekly, the landlord should not be allowed th§ right of distress for more than three pay : ments of rent due. The adoption of this suggestion would have a beneficial effect both on landlord and tenant, and would secure estates from the overwhelming claims so frequently advanced by the former.

The 106fch clause of. the present Act entitles a clerk to six months’ salary as a preferential claim, and a workman to only one month. The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce suggested that this should be amended to make each three months, but we would go even further, and advocate six months in each case. This extention would create a feeling of greater security amongst em: ployees, which is most desirablp, apd which does not now exist when the stability of an employer .is shaken by critical rimes. Mr. Wright has already brought this matter under the attention of the House,

THE ASHBURTON HERALD, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1880.



Amusements. Town hall assembly room (Upstairs.) PRESENTS TO EVERY VISITOR. The Greatest Success in New Zealand for the last twelve months. THE ORIENTAL EXHIBITION Now OPEN, will CLOSE on SATURDAY. Admission —One Shilling, and a Present to Every Visitor. r Children 6d. on Saturday. KAURT AND ALI, 669 c Proprietors. fJIOW N HALL. BY SPECIAL DESIRE. THE AMATEUR. DRAMATIC CLUB Win on TUESDAY, JULY 27, r' Give a LAST PERFORMANCE Of that grand Spectacular Drama, The Lost Ship. Admisssion—Dross Circle, 35.; Front Seats, 25.; Body of Hall, Is. Fresh alterations on the Stage will enable the Performance to conclude by 10.15 p.m. Doors open at 7.30; commence at 8 Bharp. 691 c Miscellaneous \ GOOD PIANO on hire, by the XX- evening. Jones, H. M. Stationery and Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and Baring Square. Advertisements, inserted under the Shilling rate, must be prepaid. Booked, Is. 6d. will be charged. 625 c ■’IYTANTED —Three or Four Respect- VV able Young Men as BOARDERS in a Private Family ; all the comforis of a Horn®. Apply, Herald Office. 694 c TINWALD. T\7 r ANTED KNOWN—C. HAWKINS * » and CO., have opened a Large and -Varied Stock of Boots and Shoes, and having engaged a PROPER BOOT and SHOE MAKER, can guarantee Good Fit and Workmanship. Men’s Strong Water tights 14s. 6d. per pair. No connection with any other shop. 693 c TTTANTED KNOWN—That C. Haw- YV kins, The Tinwald Bootmaker, has . REMOVED to ‘premises Opposite the Tinwald Post Office, where he is still open to Sell first-class Boots and Shoes at his usual Cheap Rates. All kinds of Boots Made and Repaired. 805g —417c /COMPOSITION Dolls, China Dolls, VO Wooden Dolls, Rag Dolls, Toys, China Mugs, Balls, &e. H. M. Jones, Stationery and Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and Baring Square. TtTANTED KNOWN—That Money can YY he saved by purchasing your St.a monery and Account Books, for cash, at the “Herald” and “Guardian” Whole tale Stationery Depot, Saunders’ Build ings, near Station. NOTEPAPER, EN VELOPES, NOTEPAPER.—The cheapest ever offered in Ashburton, at the Herald Office, Wholesale Stationery Depot, Saunders’ Buildings. LABOURERS requiring work can secure first opening by applying early at Herald Registry Office, on pay T meat of Is.



Miscellaneous. PIANOFORTE FOR SALE. A GOOD Strong Cottage Pianoforte for Sale, second hand, price L 35, cash. Apply office of this paper. 641 c mEACHERS can obtain the MULTI- X PLICATION TABLES, printed on gummed papei in any quantity at the Herald Office, East street, near the Railway Station. T>ALL PROGRAMME CARDS in very neat styles, with Pencils and Ribbons printed at the Herald Office East street, near Railway Station, rriHE PEIS NY made the postal system X of England a success. So has it made the Herald. Everybody buys the Herald TAOOLSCAP Ledgers and Cash Books, S' Pocket Ledgers, Where is it ? Letter Books, Note, Letter, and Foolscap Papers, Envelopes, Court, Business, and Official Drawing and Tissue Paper. H. M. Jones, Stationery and Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and Baring Square. IT is only a Penny, is to be got every where in Town, along the Railway line, and of th e Country Agents. TTT ANTED, those in search of employ- VY ment, to call and enter their names at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is. WANTED Known, the “Ashburton Herald ” circulates throughout the Provincial District of Canterbury. TTIORMS PRINTED —“To Let” and JJ “ For Sale ” —can be obtained at the Herald Office. PROMISSORY Note Forms, in Books of 25, unstamped, for sale at the Herald Office. Price 2s. 6d. e?nh. NEW INDUSTRY. ASPHALTING. JAMES BRADLEY is prepared to take orders for ASPHALTING at very moderate rates. All orders to be left at the Works, Park srreet. All work guaranteed for twelve months. 695 c



ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH. THE institution of the Rev. A. W. Hands will take place on SUNDAY MORNING next, by the Bishop’s Com missioner. The Sermon in the EVENING will be Preached by the Rev. W. C. Harris. By order, 690 c J. WARD, Secretary. JUST ARRIVED BY SHIP HUDSON. ENO’S FRUIT SALT NEAVE’S EOOD. THESE Articles which for the last six months have been unobtainable, are now in full supply. J. M. CAMBRIDGE, 696 c Medical Hall. To-Night ! THE GREATEST WONDER OF THE WORLD IS THE New Davis Vertical Feed Machine, ON EVERY POINT AND OVER ALL OTHER MACHINES. FIRST PRIZE SEWING MACHINES. TO-NIGHT. COME AND SEE THIS WONDERFUL MACHINE AT WORK, IN THE WINDOW OF ORR AND CO.’S DRAPER Y ESTABLISHMENT. READ THE AWARD. “ The New Davis Sewing Machine, being a complete departure from the or dinary style of Sewing Machines, posess ing all the advantages of such ordinary Sewing Machines, and in addition an in creased range of work, with the greatest simplicity of construction, and reduction in number of working parts, we consider it entitled to first place in awards.” — Sydney Exhibition. . 692 c