MAIL NOTICES.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office — . Kr From Christchurch at 10.30 a.m., 4.50 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. , inQK From Chertsey, Rakaia, &c. at IU.dD a From* Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.25 p.m. daily. ' .n o- Fr*m Temuka and Txmaru at 9.20 a.m. and 5.25 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton horks, 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.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, *3 follows : y For Christchurch and North at 6 a. m. 9. a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 9 a. m. and 6 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, 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, on 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 d lys and Fridays, at 6 a. m.

W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

Mails close at the Chief Post Offices for the following places (subject to the necessary alterations) as under : Tuesday, June 15. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per Tararua. Thursday. June 17. For Australian Colonies, per express train (to connect with the s.s. Tararua at Port Chalmers), at 7.30 a.m. For Northern Port? of New Zealand and Australian Colonies, via Sydney, per Rotorua.

SYDNEY J. DICK, Chief Postmaster,

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser With which is incorporated the “ vening Echo”). MONDAY, JUNE 14, 1880. Steam to New Zealand.

The arrival at Lyttelton on Saturday of Messrs. Money Wigram’s magnificent steamer Norfolk, from the Old country, with self-paying passengers, in the short space of 49 actual steaming days, shows what wonderful strides have been made in ocean navigation within the past few years. It moreover indicates the spirit and enterprise displayed by the New Zea land Shipping. Company in undertaking such a venture, especially after they had suffered a serious loss by the only previous similar venture they had speculated in—• viz., the Stad Haarlem, some 18 months ago. The Norfolk is admitted on all hands to be the finest steam merchantman which has ever visted the colony, and she is not only a very fast, but also a very sea worthy ship—being built more in thefrigate style than in that of the fashionable steam liner of the present day. Her designers and builders have evidently succeeded in combining in her stability, carrying capa city, and speed. The Norfolk seems to have had a tolerably rough time of it during the last two or three weeks of her passage ; and the passengers growled pro portionately ; but if they compare, their trifling discomforts with those of immi grants of thirty years ago—when five months was the ordinary clipper trip, and the first duty to be performed by the new chum was to clear a section and build a sod hut or a calico tent —the importations of the present day will perhaps find that comparisons between now and then are odious. The passage of the steamer is pe culiar in one respect: no sickness of any de scription appears to have been experienced on the voyage out, until the vessel’s arrival in harbor, when it was discovered that a child was suffering from something which was thought might be small pox, and the authorities had, reluctantly, to order the steamer into quarantine. We hope her stay will be a brief one, as costly vessel s of this description are too valuable to lie idle at anchor. She will proceed from here to Wellington with passengers for that port. We sincerely hope that the initiative step taken by the local shipping firm will prove such a financial success as to induce them to repeat the experiment frequently; and this system of iuteroceanic intercourse is then bound to be profitable and proges sive, both to the ship-owners and the colony. Dunedin, with her bar-bound harbor, will of course be exempted from sharing in the glories of Lyttelton and Wellington, but she can gain them at second-hand by the interposition of the Great South Railway.

Farewell Banquet and Presentation to Mr. Ennis.

On Saturday evening the railway em ployees in this district entertained Mr. W. Ennis, Inspector of Permanent AVay, to a banquet in Quill’s Hotel. The occa sion of the gathering was to take farewell of Mr. Ennis, who is leaving for Inver cargill, and to mark the esteem in which his fellow-officials hold him by some tangible token of it. Over fifty railway men of all grades were present, from stations as far south as Timaru and as far north as Selwyn, and the chair was occu pied by Mr. B. Pilkington, Station master, Ashburton, the croupier being Mr. Dines, of the permanent way staff. After full and deserved honor had been done to Mr. Quill’s good things, and the loyalty and patriotism of the company had been displayed in the toast of Her Majesty, &c., Mr. Pilkington proposed the toast of the evening. In doing so, he paid a very high compliment to Mr. Ennis, dilating at some length on the many sterling virtues and agreeable quali ties he possessed, and the thoroughly fair and honest way in which he discharged the duties of his position to the Govern ment who employed him, to the men placed under him, and to those belonging to other departments of the service who had to do with him in the every-day run of railway business. It was evident by the expressions of assent given utterance to by those present that the tone of Mr. Pilkington’s remarks was in perfect accord with the feelings of the company, and quite a pitch of enthusiasm was reached when the chairman asked Mr. Dines, as an officer of Mr. Ennis’ department, to make the presentation, to do which had been the chief purpose of tlieir meeting that night. Mr, Dines then preserved

Mr. Ennis with a handsome black marble timepiece. In doing so, he said that when he heard too much flattery poured out on a man, he always thought there was something wrong. He would give no un due flattery to Mr. Ennis, but would simply tell what he knew of him. The presence of so many men that night, who had been thrown into business relation ship, with Mr. Ennis, proved the esteem in which that gentleman was held, and a further proof might be given in the fact that the presentation now made represented the spontaneous good-will offering. of every man on the part of the line over which Mr. Ennis’ jurisdiction extended. Perhaps there was no one who had better opportunities for noting the good or bad qualities of their guest than he (the speaker) had had. Specially was loyalty to duty a feature of Mr. Ennis’ character, and in this connection it was prominently remarkable that all orders from head quarters had to be fulfilled to the letter, and no swerving from them would be tolerated. This was especially necessary on a railway line where the lives of many people depended on the efficiency and carefulness of the staff. In essentials Mr. Ennis was stern in exacting complete fulfilment, but he was never found to be factious or oppressive in trifles, and in dealing with his men he had always been found to be just and fair without regard to nationality or creed, and where leniency was required and was justifi able, it was always kindly and for bearingly extended. He had said enough to show why Mr. Ennis had, commanded their respect and their esteem, and if all the officers in the railway service showed the same bearing and followed the same line of conduct, the service could not fail to be efficient in the highest degree. He hoped Mr. Ennis would live long to be able to look upon the gift he now gave him, and every time lie did so, be re minded of the high opinion his friends in this district held of him. Mr. Henry Stephenson, of the locomotive department, in a forcible speech tendered his concur rence in all that had been said by Mr. Dimes. Mr. Ennis then made a suitable reply, expressing his gratification at hav ing been able to discharge the not always easy duties that had fallen to him, to the satisfaction of his fellow workmen. He was going now, and he might safely say that but for the fact that the Government possessed in the employees of this district servants of a very superior class, he would not have been able to succeed so well either with the duties he had to discharge as Inspector, or in gaining their own good opinion. All departments of the service had worked in harmony together, and without this it was useless to hope for efficiency, far less for pleasure in their re lationship. Other toasts were proposed, amongst which were the “ Secretary to the presentation fund, Mr. Henderson,” who briefly replied; “Success to the New Zealand Railways ;” the “ Press ” replied to by the local representatives, who each had a good thing to say of Mr. Ennis, and of course “ The Ladies.” Several songs were sung in the evening, and the gathering dispersed when the solemn summons of respectability told the near approach of Sunday.

The Town Hall Stage. —The work men. are now busily engaged on the altera tions necessary to make a decent stage in the Town Hall. When they have finished, a complete change will have been wrought on the appearance of the hall, which hitherto has been the reverse of creditable to the township. The old eyesores of paper-hangings that did duty in the way of concealing what was going on behind the curtain have been relegated to the lumber room, and their place will be supplied by a pro per proscenium. In height some eighteen inches have been gained, and the new drop scene upon which Mr. Bourke is at work will hang fully two feet nearer the audience than formerly, so that consider able space will thus be added to that which was previously at the disposal of the per formers. The work is expected to be finished in a short time.

The Oddfellows’ Ball. —At a special meeting of the Committee of the Oddfellows’ Lodge appointed to make and carry out he arrangements for the anniversary ball, it was found necessary to engage the Town Hall for the ball in consequence of a de cision come to by the Freemasons at their lodge meeting on Friday not to let their hall for other than Masonic pui’poses. The Secretary, Mr. Williams, stated that Mr. Hugo Friedlander, one of the trustees of the Hall, and Mr. Zander, Secretary of the Somerset Lodge, had told him that he could depend on having the Masonic Hall for the projected assembly, and on the strongth of this assurance the Masonic Hall had been advertised as the place of meeting. The Committee were thankful that thej’’ found out the state of matters so soon, as about 100 of the tickets have been sent over the district—some to Christchurch, some even to Kaiapoi, and to many farmers in the out of the way places in the County. The change will in volve a very large amount of work upon the Secretary, Mr. Williams, and there is some talk of looking to those whose as surance misled the Committee for compensa ation. However, the Town Hall has been secured, and to our thinking the Com mittee made a mistake in not taking that hall to begin with, seeing that it was built for purposes of this kind, and from a public spirit on the part of the company to whom it belongs ; besides it is the best adapted of tlie two buildings for any meeting of this kind. At the ordinary Lodge meeting of the Oddfellows on Friday last, some of the members ex pressed their fear that the tickets had been fixed at too high a price. Some of these members were added to the Committee, and at the special meeting on Saturday the Committee went thoroughly into the matter of ways and means, and proved to the entire satisfaction of the doubtful ones, that when all refreshments, both eatable and drinkable were found free of any extra charge, they could not give satisfaction to their patrons and make both ends meet at the same time, if they reduced the price, especially as it was in tended to made this in every respect one of the best balls that has ever been given in connection with the Order in Canterbury. On the tenders for supplying the refresh ments being opened, that of Mr. Shear man, of the Somerset Hotel, was found to be the most suitable to their wants, and was consequently accepted. We feel satisfied that with such a well organized Committee to do the work, and with the very excellent and hard working Secre tary, Mr. Williams, at their head, the ball must be a success.

The Concrete Channelling. —Mr. Bradley started work to-day on his con tract for concreting the water-channels of the township, and expects to be finished in about six weeks.

Nlw Seam of Coal. —We learn that a new seam of coal was discovered a few days ago at Kowai Pass, on the property of. Mr. Macrae. The seam is fully sft. thick, and the coal is said to be equal to best Springfield coal. About twelve tons have been tried.— Press. “Dangerous Driving.” —Under this heading on Saturday we published a paragraph in which were described the performances of two men on the road opposite Baldwin’s Hotel. The sequel to that story has a very unpleasant feature in it—namely, an ugly cut in the back of the head of one of the performers, which will give the doctor some trouble in patch ing up. Perhaps we may hear more of the matter through the medium of the Pc lice Court.

Mount Somers Road Board.

The ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was held at the office, Mount Somers, on Monday, June 7th, 1880.. Present—Messrs. Cameron (in the chair), Taylor, and Peach. The following cor respondence was read : —From the Regis trar-General and from the Minister for Public Works, enclosing forms of returns and requesting that they may be filled in and forwarded ; the Clerk stated that the request had been complied with. From the Upper Ashburton Road Board, agree ing to form the boundary road from Thomson’s road to the north east corner of rural section2Bßß6, provided the Mount Somers Road Board contributed half the amount of accepted tender. From the Ashburton County Council, with reference to formation of roads leading into Alford Forest, and consenting to subsidise any expenditure of the Board to the amount of L3OO. From the Secretary for Public V orks with reference to the route to be adopted for the continuation of the Mount Somers Railway. A petition was received from Alex. Hewson and nine other ratepayers, offer ing to furnish all the necessary birch tim ber gratis for a foot bridge over Bowyer’s Stream on Hewson’s road, provided tlie Board find all other timber and labor. The Board considered the proposal a fair one, and decided to -call for tenders for the work.

A petition was received from Mr. Peter Joli and fourteen others, urging upon the Board the necessity for at once forming Graham’s road from the end of the metal ling to a point forty chains north-west to wards the Forest. The surveyor to re port at next meeting, and to ascertain whom the road will benefit.

From Messrs. Wm. Montgomery and Co. re contract for drain pipes. The clerk stated that he had replied. Circulars and price lists were received from Messrs. Austin and Kirk, and also from Messrs. Wm. Montgomery and Co., Ashburton. Mr. Andrew Macfarlane waited upon the Board and requested that a cutting may be made down the big terrace opposite his house, and leading to the bush sections in the North Ashburton gorge. The sur veyor to report. Mr. William Fergus attended rc drain age on Fergus road. The Board, after considering the surveyor’s report upon the above, decided to compel the ivater to follow its natural course through Mr. William Wilson’s section.

The surveyor was instructed to call for tenders for the following works :—Re metalling township road, 133 chains; footbridge over Bowyer’s stream on Hew son’s road ; formation on Stevenson’s road, 90 chains more or less ; also, for fresh tenders for the supply of drain pipes for twelve months, and to send a copy of the specifications to the Lyttelton Times office, Christchurch.

With reference to the surveyor’s report upon the Black Mountain track, it was decided to have it repaired after the winter is over.

The surveyor was instructed to report (generally upon Fergus’ road ; to estimate value of work done by Michael McAvey on Shepherd’s bush road ; and also con tract done by Donald Forbes on Anama Downs cutting. It was decided to send a copy of the report upon the road between Alford Forest road and western approach to Taylor’s stream bridge to the County Council, with a request that it may receive their immediate attention.

Mr. Cookson, jun., laid upon the table the valuation list for 1880, as prepared by him.

With reference to the letter from the Upper Ashburton Road Board, it was decided to contribute half the cost of the formation of the Boundary road. The Surveyor's report was lead and con sidered.

Tenders were opened, and one accepted for each of the following works :—No. 11, Stevenson’s road ; No. 12, Anama Downs road. Only one tender having been received for the supply of drain pipes, it was decided to call for fresli tenders.

The pay sheet, amounting to L5248s 9d, having been passed for payment the Board adjourned.

A Boston man went home at three o’clock in the morning, pitched upstairs, pulled off his boots and laid them away in the bureau drawer, threw his best coat under the bed, remarked to his wife that his political enemies “ hadn’t muzzer chanze after all,” and calmly sat down on the floor and went to sleep with his head on his nine-dollav silk hat. It is such little incidents as this that makes American politics impressive.

A Farmer in Fifeshire had occasion one day to send his man on some business to a neighbouring farm. On his arrival there the goodwife, with her usual hospi tality, had him supplied with a substantial repast of cold bacon and oatmeal cakes. The bacon being more of a rarity than the oatmeal in any form, he confined his operations exclusively to it. The good woman, on observing this, again recom mended the bread to his notice, when he replied with great energy, “ Na, faith, no, mistress, this is strong eneuch without bread. ”

“ Poor Herbert! how Ido wish you did not have to slave so from morning till night,” murmured his v r ife, as with a fond caress she seated herself on her husband’s knee, and gently stroked the auburn locks from the lofty brow. And the grave stern man of business understood her at once, and answered, “ Well, Susie, what is it— a bonnet or what 1 Don’t be too hard on me, for money is scarcer than ever.”

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(per press association).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday, June 11,

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. SECOND READINGS. The Hon. John Hall replied on the de bate on the second reading of the Election Petitions Bill. He maintained that in questions of this kind trial by jury would not be as safe as that by a Judge of the Supreme Court. Before the Bill passed into law he would consult with the Judi cial authorities as to the propriety of getting these cases tried by two Judges, instead of one.

The motion for the second reading was passed. The Hon. J. Hall moved the second reading of the Corrupt Practices Preven tion Bill. He read and commented upon the provisions of the Bill.

Dr. Wallis blamed the Government for introducing important measures similar to the present without affording proper infor mation as to the principles of such measures. This was not a new Bill, it was only to his mind an effort to perfect the law as it stood.

Sir W. Fox said the question of con veyances was a very serious item in elec tion costs. If an elector would not travel a mile or so to exercise his vote, then he was not worthy of the franchise at all. If the want of a conveyance prevented a man attending, he was better away. The closing of public houses on election days was another matter to which he would direct attention. In San Francisco they found no difliculiy in doing this. He witnessed an election in that city con ducted under these circumstances, and although it contains a population of 350,000, he did not witness a single case of intoxication. It was a sad sight to see men about to exercise one of the most sacred privileges with their brains muddled with intoxicating liquor. The Bill, as it stood, was inconsistent. If one gave a man a sandwich and a glass of ivater, that was corruption, and would invalidate the election, whereas if they spent LSOO for cab hire, that was perfectly legitimate. Again, it was wrong in principle to put a candidate to heavy expenses. After a long debate in which several members took part, the motion wascarried, and the Bill read a second time. the agent-general. Mr. George asked, without notice, if a remor was true that Government had re ceived a cablegram from England announc ing the resignation of the Agent-general. The Hon. J. Hall said that there was no foundation for the rumor whatever. miscellaneous. The Regulation of Elections Bill was further considered in Committee. Amend ments to substitute “ person ” for “ regis tered elector ” in clause 11, were negatived on a division, as was also a proposal to strike out the words requiring the written assent of candidates. Several * verbal amendments were made. A preposal to extend the hours of poling to 7 p. m. was lost on a division by 38 to 21. Progress was reported, and leave ob tained to sit again. The House rose at 12 40.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Renter's Agency.) The Markets. London, June 11. The potal quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 1,550,000 quarters. Australian tallow, best beef, is quoted at 325. 6d., and best mutton at 345. 6d. New Zealand securities—s per cent. 10.40 loan, 104 ; 5 per cent. 1889 loan, 102£. The Mails. The homeward Australian mails, via Suez and Brindisi, which left Melbourne on April 28, were delivered to-day. The homeward mails per Orient steamship Sorato, via Brindisi, were also delivered to-day-. Gordon^Pasha. Gordon Pasha has gone to China. Another Win.

The match between the Australians and an eleven of Yorkshire concluded to-day. The Home team continued their second innings, and scored 100. Spofforth took six wickets. Boyle’s fielding in this innings was excellent. The Australians then requiring 91 runs to win, went in, and made the necessary score with the loss of five wickets, and won the match, there fore, by the same number of wickets. McDonnell, in the second innings of the Australians, made the highest score, 47, and was caught out. The Markets. London, June 12. Consuls are quoted at 98J- ex dividend. Sydney copra is quoted at Ll 9 per ton. The Evacuation of Cabul. In the House of Commons to-day the Marquis of Hartington, Secretary of State for India, in reply to a question, said that the exact date for the evacuation of Cabul by British troops was not yet fixed. Affairs in Greece. It has been announced that the Euro pean Conference will despatch a special Commission to Greece to settle the frontier question on the spot. Shipping.

The Orient Company’s Potosi sailed from Plymouth to-day for Australia.

Turkish Affairs.

As a result of the circular note which was sent by the British Government last month to the European Powers, specifying means for the solution of Greek, Monte negrin, and Armenian questions, the Great Powers have now presented a col lective note to the Sultan, informing him he will be held responsible for the delay that has taken place with regard to the cession of territory to Montenegro, and for his failure in executing necessary reforms in Armenia. The note further states that the Great Powers will insist on the strict execution of the treaty of Berlin by Turkey. The Sultan has not yet replied to the note. Ayoub Khan’s Movements, Calcutoa, June 12.

A report which was recently circulated to the effect that Ayoub Khan was making warlike preparations to wrest

Candahai from tho descendants of Where Ali are now confirmed. The latest intelli gence from Afganistan, however, states that owing to the defections from his sup porters, Ayoub Khan’s movements have now totally collapsed.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Reuter's Telegrams.) Joining the Majority. Melbourne, June 10.

Peter Lalor, a member of the Legisla tive Assembly, and formerly Minister of Trade and Customs in the Berry Govern ment, has called a meeting of his credi tors.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) An Hospital Scandal. Auckland, June 13.

A great scandal has arisen in connection with the hospital, which is exciting great public interest. It is alleged that Mrs. Brown the head nurse, had retained a por tion of some monies, the property of certain deceased patients, instead of accounting for it. Information was given to Dr. Pliilson by the night nurse (Mrs. Gadd), and he took steps to make repara tion. The strangest thing is that accused was retained in office and the informant dismissed. Mr. Sheehan Speaks. Grahamstown, June 13. Mr. Sheehan addressed his constituents last night. He condemned the property tax, and supported a land and income tax. At the conclusion he received a vote of thanks and confidence. The Hannah Mokau Again. New Plymouth, June 13. The Collector of Customs and Inspector Bullen proceeded to Waitara last night, and made a seizure of the Hannah Mokau, on behalf of the Government. Te Whiti Gets a New Light- Te Whiti has ingeniously turned the road making and telegraph erection into a fulfilment of his prophecy that the Go vernor could come to him. He tells the natives that the wire is being brought to Parihaka so that they can talk with the Governor, and therefore the Governor was coming to him, as he prophesied years ago. The Road Makers.

It is announced, on good authority, that the Ngakumikumiki Armed Constabulary camp will be advanced next week, if the weather permits. The natives have erected fences across the road now being made by the Constabulary at Ngakumi kumiki, not with a view to obstruction, but to preserve some old burial places. The Hawera correspondent of the Herald says that Mr Parris visits both camps, and will attend the usual meeting at Parihaka on June 18, when Te Whiti is expected to make the Constabulary a very hand some present of pigs, bullocks, and potatoes. The road works are progressing slowly, in consequence of bad weather. The cutting out reserves will occupy a long time, Captain Skeet’s staff being altogether too small for the work to be done. A Precious Bath. Wellington, June 12. The balance-sheet of the Thorndon Bath Company shows a profit of L 122. The Directors recommend a dividend of 10 per cent. The Iron Horse. Nelson, June 12. An accident occurred on the railway last night. As a train after leaving Wakefield was nearing the road crossing, the driver saw three horses within the railway fence ; they bolted to get over the cattle stops, and the first jumped over them, the second fell into the stops and rolled over on the rails, and the third went on top of the second. Though the engine was reversed it had still too much speed on, and one of the horses was nearly cut in two and thrown on the road way, and the second had its legs taken off. At Richmond the train above referred to had to pass another going down to Fox hill, which was filled with volunteers from Richmond. The passengers had alighted when the train proceeded on to the points to admit of shunting, but just as the Richmond train was at the points the up train came along, and the two engines col lided. Fortunately very little damage was done.

Acquitted. Timaru, June 14.

Frank Fowler, the Malay, indicted for rape at Temuka, was acquitted, the Crown Prosecutor, in the absence of suf ficient corroborative evidence, entering a nolle prosequi. The civil sittings of the Supreme Court have now commenced.

The Sacking of Mrs. Furness’ Shop. Dunedin, June 14.

The enquiry into the Volunteer’s mis conduct at Ashburton shows that the affair was grossly exaggerated. One Volunteer has been suspended. The Black Calandar. Invercargill, June 14.

The Supreme Court opened to-day. Robert Arnold for stabbing, got eighteen months hard labor. Thomas Tibbets and Pressnett, for larceny, got two years and four months respectively. The Rabbit Fur Show. The Dipton rabbit fur show was a great success, and brought exhibitors from all parts of Southland. Joseph Hatch well, the well-known seal fur trader, and Graham C. Ross were the judges. The exhibits amounted to about three hundred, and were dressed in various styles, and represented some fine varieties. The prize takers were James Tracy of Dipton first; John Lee, of Benmore, second ; master J. Robertson, of Bunvood, highly commended. A. Caithness, of Edendale, and Win. Orr of Dipton, had the best assorted bundle of various colors. The whole exhibits will be forwarded to Mel bourne Exhibition, in which space has been secured by Mr. W. Daniel, Dipton, on behalf of the Rabbiters’ Association.

The Growth of Public Opinion on the Liquor Traffic.

[communicated. ]

During the last five years the question of the liquor traffic has received more at - tention from Legislatures and the public than , has been bestowed upon ic during any previous twenty in the history of the great temperance movement. There can be no doubt but that to a great extent this attention has been called to the subject by the persistent agitation of temperance re formers—of the extreme men who have hoisted the banner of total abstinence em blazoned with the motto “prohibition.” But there have been other agencies at work than those of temperance leagues and lodges ; and other tongues than those of rabid teetotallers have spoken; Bril liant Sir Wilfred Lawson did much in the British Parliament, to be sure, and he was not single-handed in his efforts after restrictive legislation ; satirists have been severe upon the drinking habits of the English people, and clergymen from the pulpit have denounced them ; a flood of teetotal literature went over the land, and every means teetotallers could use was taken advantage of to disseminate their doctrines ; they even succeeded in getting the House of Lords to appoint a com mission to inquire into the subject, and report. But all these agencies might still have been working on, and with only the comparatively small result that attend simply missionary efforts, had the wave of adversity not arisen that but recently swept over the whole world, from the back wash of which we in New Zealand are but recovering. When toiling, contented, plodding, beer drinking John Bull came to understand that it was quite possible for him—with his character unstained, his right hand still cunning, his arm strong, and his frame as sturdy as they had ever been—to find it a precarious job to obtain a simple living, and a very easy and probable thing to come to the verge of wanting bread, he began to waken up and lot k at things he never thought of before, and in alight in which he had never viewed them. So long as things were prosperous and work plentiful, if John w r as healthy and strong his bread was sure ; and only sickness or accident could jeopardise it. In these piping times he “ lived by the way,” and took his pleasure, contributing copiously to the revenue and to the support of a traffic engaging an army of people larger than the population of this colony. From no teetotal view at all, but from a very business-like profit and loss standpoint he reckoned up the daily cost ofhis necessaries and his luxuries, and out of his small income, he found that for years he had been daily getting rid of a sum for liquor which, saved, would have enabled him to breast the wave of adversity and; defy poverty. The same facts had been hinted to him long before by the teetotal agitators ; but then times were good, and he had never formed one of a crowd of un employed men—a crowd of thousands— hard times had not for genei’ations before come so far over the threshold of his.home, nor of those.of so many of his mates. >He saw the merchant suffer and the tradesman go to the wall j the baker go through the Court from unpaid bread bills, and the butcher put up his shutters—for though the mouths to supply were just as many as before, the money to pay for tnat supply was not forthcoming. The mill stopped and the workshop closed, but still, somehow the beer pump was always able to keep going, and its owner kept his head above water. All this panorama passed before John Bull’s eyes. With a full belly it would not have affected him much : but with an empty stomach it set him a-think ing. It set thousands a-thinking—and the result is, that though the pronounced teetotallers find their pledge books with no more signatures in them than usual, the revenue from liquor has been largely re duced, andthetradeinthatcommodityisnot nearly so extensive. John Bull’s thoughts on this subject of beer have told in politics as well. The English publican has always been a Tory, and loyally did he throw the weight of his powerful influence into the scale in his party’s favor. This time, however, “ bung” was nowhere. He could not rally his revolted subjects who went over to the other side, and the side of Liberalism won. Steadily and surelypublic opinion— formed when the hard fact of starvation stared many thousands in the face, and hunger gnawed the stomachs of thousands more—is advancing, and if a Permissive Bill is to pass in England at all. it will be while public opinion retains its present form. It will not therefore be surprising if, under the new Gladstonian Ministry, Sir Wilfrid Lawson should make one more dash with his pet measure—and win ! The change that has come over John Bull at Home has not stopped its influence at the “white cliffs of Dover. ” It has travelled over every land where the hard times went —and the result ? Every colony is considering the subject in Parliament, having before them, in two instances at least—those of New Zealand and New South Wales—Licensing Bills that five years ago would have been looked upon as the most inflammatory documents ever penned, treasonable to the great vested in teres's of a powerful trade—and an at tempt on the liberty of the subject. But John Bull in the colonies sits calmly by, allows Boniface to roar himself hoarse with his opposition, but lends him no aid ! Pass what measures, you like, says John, and tax the liquor as you may ; I care not. From one end of the colony to the other the Licensing Benches have steadily refused such applications for new licenses as have come before them, and have cast very dubious eyes indeed upon many transfers, so that he must be a good man indeed—in his particular line, and as that goes—who may hope to find grace in the eyes of those whose prerogative it is to say “ Ay” to the opening of a new house. The advance of this public opinion will tell upon the trade as a whole —it must. It may not—doubtless it will not—for many years, if ever, bring to England or to her colonies legislation on the liquor question similar to that of the . great Maine law, but if it has the effect of clearing out the mere dens of infamy that exist in the Old Country and in this colony under the name of hotels, and leave only such establishments as are >n the hands of respectable men, whose houses honestly discharge the true functions for which hotels exist, the empire will have every reason to rejoice.

A. Photographer -announces that, besides other accessories, he has a “ new front gate, just the thing for a lover’s pic ture.”

THE ASHBURTON HERALD, MONDAY, JUNE 14, 1880.



NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. All orders 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. 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. Miscellaneous WANTED—A good GENERAL SER VV VANT. Apply at once, personally to Mr. WiUcocks, Wheatsheaf Hotel, Wheatstone. 559 c TTTANTED—BOARD and LODGING, W by a Respectable Young Man, in a Private Family. Apply Herald office. 561 c MUSIC Folios, with Spring Backs; Concertinas, 20 Keys, from 65.; Mouth Organs, &c. H. M. Jones, Stationery and Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and Baring Square. TTTANTED KNOWN, that M. W NEALAS is now OPENING UP a First Class Assortment of BOOTS and SHOES, suitable for Winter wear, which he intends to dispose of at his usual CHEAP RATES. 924g-536c FOOLSCAP Ledgers and Cash Books, Pocket Ledgers, Where is it 1 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. TTT ANTED—TENDERS for CLEAR 'V ING Fourteen Miles of Drainage on the Chatmoss Estate. Full particulars can be ascertained by applying to James Scott, at Montgomery and Co.’s Store, East street, Ashburton. 535c-930g ■VTEW LINES JUST OPENED—GIass Inks and Inkstands, Book Slides, Scrap Albums, Desks, Workboxes, Photo graph Frames from 6d. each. H. M. Jones, Stationery and Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and Baring Square. COMPOSITION Dolls, China Dolls, "Wooden Dolls, Rag Dolls, Toys, China Mugs, Balls, &c. H. M. Jones, Stationery and Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and Baring Square. & ST. JOHN’S MASONIC LODGE. LODGE OF EMERGENCY. A LODGE OF EMERGENCY will be held on TUESDAY, the 15th inst., at the New Masonic Hall, for the INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS. Visiting Brethren are cordially invited. By order of the W.M. 555 c ms 1.0.0.F.,M.U LOYAL ASHBURTON LODGE, No. 6003, WILL Celebrate their Seventh Anni versary by a Grand Ball To be held in the town hall, Ashburton, on FRIDAY, JULY 2nd, 1880. Tickets—Double, 15s; for Gentleman only, 10s.; for Lady only, 7s. 6d.; with refreshments provided. To be had of any member of the Committee, or THOMAS WILLIAMS Hon. Secretary. 56Cc



Miscellaneous. i? -j A AAA TO LEND, in sums to ct'JLv/j suit borrowers, at lowest rate of interest. F. P. O’Reilly, Solicitor, Ashburton. 424c-835g THE undersigned are now selling the best screened Old Lambton New castle COAL at LOWEST CURRENT RATES. W. MONTGOMERY & CO., 562 c . Limited. WANTED KNOWN—That C. Haw 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 NEW BILLS. THE following NEW BILLS now be fore Parliament are ON SALE at the office of this paper :—Bills of Ex change Procedure, S. ; Marriage, 9d. ; Juries, Is. 3d. ; Deaths by Accident Com pensation, 6d. ; Cruelty to Animals, Gd. ; Building Societies, 9d. ; Animal’s Protection, 6d. ; Adulteration Prevention, 6d. ; Aliens, Gd.; Mercantile Law, Is. ; Banks and Bankers, 9d. ; Married Women’s Property Protection, Gd. ; Chat tels Securities, 6d. ilso the first No. of Hansard, price Gd., and the following Parliamentary Papers . —Despatches from the Secretary of State to the Governor of New Zealand, 2s. Gd. : papers relative to the Prospectus of the German Maritime Trading Company, 3d.; Annual Report of the Otago University, 3d. ; Despatches from the Governor of New Zealand to the Secretary of State, 2s. Gd. ; Treaties of Commerce, Is. Gd ; Papers referring to the French Convicts from New Caledonia, 9d., Ac., &c.



Holloway’s Pills.—lmportant for the Delicate. —It is difficult to determine which is the more trying to the human constitution—the damp, cold days of the autumn and winter,or the keen, dry, easterly winds of springs Throughout the seasons good health may be maintained by occasional doses of Holloway’s Pills, which purify the blood and act as whole some stimulants to the skin, stomach, liver, bowels, and kidneys. This celebrated medicine needs but a fair trial to convince the ailing and desponding that it will restore and cheer them without danger, pain, or inconvenience, as by a timely recourse to them the first erring func tion may be reclaimed, suffering may be spared and life saved.—Advt.