The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With Which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1880.

Shipping. —The steamers Go-Ahead, Jane Douglas, and Hawea arrived at Lyttelton this morning from Wellington. Accident. —We were misinformed yes terday regarding the accident to Mr. Kidd’s boy. The child -was not taken to Christchurch, but was attended to by Dr. Ross, of this town. The Licensing Court. —The quarterly meeting of the Licensing Commissioners for the districts of Ashburton, Rakaia, •and Mount Somers is announced to take - pi aC e on Tuesday, the 7th September.

South Rakaia Domain Board.— The meeting of this Board, which was to have been held on Thursday, lapsed for want of a quorum of members. The Racecourse. —Mr. Wilkie, the Secretary to the Ashburton Racing Club invites tenders for burning tussocks, ploughing, harrowing, &c., on the race course.

Methven. —A meeting of ratepayers is convened by the chairman of the Mount H'utt Road Board for Thursday next, at 4 p. m., to consider correspondence re ceived from the chairman of the County Council re the water supply. Vital Statistics. —Thirty-seven “little strangers ” came to Ashburton district (bless their little hearts), during the month of July; four persons went to their long home ; and Cupid wa3 success ful in uniting only two loving hearts.

Destructive Hares. —A nurseryman at Remuera, Auckland province, had 5,000 trees barked this week by two hares. The damage done amounted to L6B. He watched the animals and destroyed them. A Sketching Club. —The people in Auckland city possessing artistic leanings are forming a Sketching Club, and the Press Association agent in that aristocratic city considers the fact worth telegraphing —we don’t.

An Inducement. —A wedding bonnet, to the competing bachelor ploughman who is first married after the match is among the inducements offered to those who com pete at the Winton Ploughing Match. A pair of blankets and a pair of sheets are also among the prizes. Our Post Office. —During the year 1879 there were issued from the Ashbur ton Post Office 1,619 money orders, the total value of which was L 5,754 9s. 6d., yielding a commission to Government of L 94 12s. Gd. There were paid at the office during the same year 598 money orders, representing a total value of L 2,179 17s. Bd. This amount of business is not equalled by any other office in the Christchurch district, and Lyttelton is considerably under. In fact Ashburton is one of the few country offices in the colony the number of whose money orders runs into four figures. The Ash burton Post Office also makes a very good appearance in the matter of savings bank business. There were 137 accounts opened, and 404. deposits made, amounting in all to L 4,752 2s. 3d., a 3 against 94 accounts closed, 282 withdrawals of money amounting to L 3,471 7s. 3d. In telegraph business there were 8,132 messages of all codes dispatched, representing L 598 14s. 6d. Of these 7,373 were private and press messages, and 759 Government tele grams. The value of the Government messages was L 57 7s. 9d., leaving a net yield of L 541 6d. 9d. from the pub lic. There has been a considerable falling off in the telegraphic business and a corresponding increase in the postal work, owing, we presume, to the ideas of economy that the depression in trade has enforced, and which promote the using of a post card for a penny instead of a telegram for a shilling. Things are not driven at high pressure in these days, as they were some months ago, when trade was brisk and money plentiful.

Cambridge School Committee. —The Cambridge School Committee held their usual monthly meeting last Monday night. Present—Messrs. Megson (in the chair), Bill, Watkins, Grayburn, and Lloyd. The Chairman read correspondence from the Board re salaries and gymnastic apparatus applied for by the Committee. The master reported that, owing to the wet weather, there was a reduction in the numbers and attendances during July, as compared with the previous month—only 61 per cent, in daily average attendance. This was not considered so satisfactory as the last report. It -was evidently owing to the wet weather, but the Committee feel it their duty to urge upon the parents the necessity of sending their children regularly to school. The master in his report intimated that he intended sending a monthly circular to parents, showing the number of attendances of their child ren and the number of times the school had been opened. The master having complained that the school chimney smoked to such an extent as to compel the fire to be raked out and to drive them all out of doors, it wa3 resolved that the Chairman write to the Board on the matter. On the motion of Mr. Lill, seconded by Mr. Grayburn, it was decided that the school books and materials pur chased by the master from Mr. D. Wil liamson, to the order of the Committee, at the opening of the school, become school property, and that the master render a monthly account of cash re ceived. Several small accounts were passed for payment, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman being accorded, the meeting adjourned to the first Monday in September.

CHISPA’S LETTER.

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

So far as the Comity Council is con cerned, the libraries may go “clam.” Every little district in the County has suddenly taken a literary fit, and the word is “Library.” Whether the hope of nibbling a L2O-note or so of County money has set them all singing, reciting, fiddling, and dancing, or the high jinks Have been indulged in simply for ’ love of a long neglected cause —and the libraries have been so—l cannot tell, but, if the County cash is aimed at a mistake has been made. W. C. Walker, Esq., with his coadjutors on the committee, don’t see it. I don’t wonder either at the fit of blindness that has come over them so suddenly; it was quite time to take alarm. So long as Ashburton, Rakaia, and Waterloo, with (peradventure Mr. Cameron were successful in raising it) Methven in the future, were the only claimants aid the thing was not so formidable. But no sooner had Ash burton made that conceited claim to be made the great centre and heart of the librarian’s lore in the county, than up rose a host of claims from places some people in this township knew only by name, and if asked where they were could not even point out the direction. It was this crop of young libraries that frightened the Councillors, and, as you say, it is just as well. I hear the Ashburton Library Committee are to institute a mild form of dissipation in order to get rid of the old piano that belongs to the inststution. and to give its tones a more metallic if even less melodious jingle. They are not going to raffle it—that is

the vulgar name —they are going to dis pose of it by “ art union,” for Lso—los. a share. One down, who makes two 1 Are you on ? Ho dice, you know !

Councillor Williamson’s soundness of judgment I have always respected, and I never believed him capable of doing a swindle—in fact, I don’t? think he is the real swindler in the concern I am about to speak of. Some Borough Father or other struck the idea that a kerosene lamp at the corner of West street and . Havelock street, would sorve as well as ga3, to make darkness visible, especially a 3 no gas main had yet carried the illuminating vapor to that.quarter. It was Councillor William son who suggested that the kerosene lamp should be tried, with a view to light the dark corner, and at the same time show the difference in cost between gas and oil. Now, I am not a gas shareholder, but 1 won’t have the company swindled. I won’t have Councillor Parkin coming telling us that it is cheaper to use kerosene than gas, and adducing this lamp as an instance. Councillor Parkin well knew that the only member of the local Parliament who was likely to be in the vicinity of that lamp of a night was Councillor Orr, and that only of a Sunday. Sunday last was the one solitary instance in which the lamp shone out— ever since its light has remained in em bryo in the lamp lighter’s match box. I hold that lamp is a mockery and a snare. It may serve to show the Presbyterian people the path to evening duty of a Sun day—but there are other equally good citizens who want to be shown the dry places on a week night. You want more than twopsnworth of oil a night for that, when there is no moon. But I ex pect when the old lady begins to shine again well get the lamp lit.

I thought those shanties on the west Baring Square reserve were to be removed —that their “ avaricious ” owners were to be told to “ shunt.” Whether they have been so told or not, they still enjoy their otium cum dignitcite in the old gully. I don’t know that Councillor St. Hill was guilty of his usual far-sightedness in this matter ; or in that other matter of Mr. Jameson’s plough and such, that he would have removed off the unrented reserve. Why didn’t ho get those “avaricious ” people to pay rent, instead of hounding them off the municipal estate. Even if lie got ss. a week it would have been better than nothing in these times, and would have helped to defray the great cost he is now trying so hard to reduce.

Permit me to compliment Ashburton on becoming an electoral district, and to remind her that she need never be in any difficulty as to a representative, as I am always at her service. When ink-slinging gives out it is usual to take to the law for a living ; but even that last refuge of the distressed may fail, and then, of course, there is only the extreme resource of politics left.

The water supply scheme is crawling slowly along—a good deal faster since the men began to throw clay into the holes. The water is down in town already r for that matter. My well has risen five feet since the stream reached the back of the cricket ground. Chispa.

CABLS NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE

(Per Reuter's Agency.) Discount. Aug. 5. The market rate of discount is -g- lowerr. Shipping. Arrived—Nebo and Star of India from Lyttelton ; Hermana and Wellington, from Port Chalmers. Messrs. Money, Wigram and Co.’s steamer Somersetshire sailed from Ply mouth to-day. The Bank of England. The total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is L 15,500,000. The market rate of discount is one-half per cent, below bank rate. The Australian Cricketers. The Australian cricketers commenced a match to-day against eighteen of the Hunslet Club, at Hunslet, near Leeds. The Home team went in first and scored 75 runs. The Australians then went in, and were all disposed of for 65, the bowling of the Hunslet men being dead on the wicket, and doing great execution. The weather was showery during the day, and the ground was consequently dead. Threatened Loss to New Zealand. August 6. Sir Hercules Robinson will, it is stated, succeed Sir Bartle Erere as Governor of Cape Colony. The Irish Tenants’ Compensation Bill- Troops Sent to Ireland.

The Right Hon. W. E. Forster, Chief Secretary for Ireland, made a speech in the House of Commons to-day, in the course of which he said he regretted the rejection of the Irish Tenants’ Compensa tion Bill by the House of Lords ; but trusted that the favorable harvest pros pects would alleviate the condition of the farmers. Ho appealed to members to use their influence to prevent disorders, in consequence of the rejection of the Bill. Troops have been ordered to Ireland, as disturbances are feared. Affairs in Afghanistan. Calcutta, August 5. A messenger reports having seen Ayoub Khan’s forces on Sunday at Sangbar, but in consequence of heavy losses, Ayoub hesitates making an attack on Candahar. No further intelligence has been received regarding General Phayre’s advance. Orders have been issued to evacuate Cabul in one week. On the Defensive. Athens, Aug. 5.

The army reserve has been called out in consequence of the warlike preparations now being made by Turkey.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Reuter's Agency,) The Kelly Inquiry. Melbourne, Aug. G

The Kelly inquiry has commenced at Beechworth. Mr. Gaunson claimed a re mand, which was refused. Mclntyre was examined, after which the Court ad journed.

Quashed. The Government have quashed the Commission which was appointed to in quire into the M. V/. Ford and Bain railway works case.

The Victorian Loan. Melbourne, Aug. 7. Government have decided to issue shortly the balance of the last loan. The Markets. Sydney, Aug. 6. Hennessy’s brandy, in bulk, quarters, 10s. 3d, to 10s. 6d.; kerosene, Diamond, Is. 7|d. to Is. Bd. per gallon ; New Zea land wheat, per bushel, 3s. 9d.; New Zea land oats, per 401b5., 2s. to 2s. 3d.; maize, per GOlbs., 2s. 2d. The Agent-General. It is stated that the Hon. Saul Samuel, Postmaster - General, will accept the Agent-Generalship in London. The Omeo in Distress. Last night the steamer Omeo was ob served signalling, as if in distress, off Newcastle, and has not been seen since. Great anxiety is felt for her safety. Shipping.

Sailed—Wakatipu, for Wellington, on August 4, and Te Anau, for New Zealand, on the sfell.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Pedestrianism. Auckland, August 7. Young Wills, a pedestrian, who com menced to walk 108 miles in 24 hours at 9.30 last night, accomplished 6S miles at eleven this morning. Dissatisfaction. Gisborne, Aug. 6. There is much dissatisfaction expressed with the mode of procedure adopted by the Native Lands Court in the transaction of business before it. Application will shortly be made to adjourn for six months, and a petition will be sent to the Native Minister, praying that another Judge might be sent to conclude the business. The desire for a long time past has been that Judge Fenton should preside in the district as Judge. The natives are apply ing en masse for their cases to be al journed. Certificate Returned. Wellington, Aug. 6. The court of enquiry into the recent accident to the barque Malay, off Welling ton Heads, returned Captain Holmes’ cer tificate. Obituary. Wellington, Aug. 7. Mr. George Hunter, an old settler, and formerly a member of the House of Repre sentatives for Wellington City, died last night, aged fifty-nine. Smuggling. At the Magistrate’s Court, John Backstraw, on a charge of smuggling fifty-two pounds of tobacco, was remanded till Monday. An Illegal Sale. Timaru, August 7. A man named .Win. Charters was ordered.by the Bench to pay 203. or sutler twenty-four imprisonment, for selling a hare and cock pheasant without a license.

The Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill.

The Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill is one of those measures which the Legislature of the colony has to consider every session, and like it 3 fellow annual, the Permissive or Local Option Bill, the majority in its favor is increasing every year. In favor of the Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill there is quite a strong majority in the House this session, and when we find forty-six ranged against fourteen there does not seem to be much hope for the minority offering a very successful opposition. Yet those fourteen oppositionists were equal to the task of obstructing business till half past two in the morning of Friday. All sorts of silly amendments were proposed, and all the around that has already been gone over a hundred times was re-covered by the opponents without throwing any new light on the right or wrong of the principle of marrying the sister of one’s deceased wife. But the Maori members who op posed the measure had something to say as an argument against the Bill that was rather fresh. Tamoana said that. before the missionaries came to New Zealand it was perfectly legitimate for a Maori to take unto himself to wife the sister of his departed better half. Now, however, those barbarous times had gone, and mar riages were contracted on a different basis. Those Maoris who were so conservative of the barbarous customs of the past as to take to their bosom the sister of their de ceased wife were those who ignored the Church, and refused to be civilised. Ho would oppose the Bill because it seemed to him that the Europeans were making a retrograde movement in the direction of the habits and customs that the mis sionaries had taught the natives to aban don. Te Whero, again, rejoiced in this Bill, for just the same reason that Tomo ana deplored it. He was overjoyed at the notion of the white men relap sing to the state from which the noble savages had recently emerged. He had pleasing recollections of the Maori customs of the olden time, and he was much pleased with the notion that his white brethren were to copy at least one of those customs that came so happily to his recollection. But the wily aboriginal would oppose the Bill notwithstanding. Tawhai said that to him, as a Maori, the Bill said—return, go back to your old customs, and this he was not prepared to do. These dark-skinned men and brethren seem to think they have found a flaw in the teaching of the missionaries, and though Sir George Grey has taught them the art of politics—viz., to do what your party find to be expedient irrespective of right or conscience—and they oppose the Bill because their leaders have taught them to, they evidently think that white civilisation is ad vancing back to that of the dark-skin. It is palpable that the natives have got the religious and social aspect of the ques tion somewhat mixed ; but from the tele graphic summary of the sitting that has reached us it is difficult to discover any real objectiou that the white opponents of the measure have to it. To our mind there seems to be none, beyond a pre judice, and this prejudice is being gradu ally broken down. As the Hon. John Hall says, the only places where the measure is not law are New Zealand and Great Britain. In nearly all other Eng

lish speaking communities the prejudice against these marriages has been overcome, and sooner or later Great Britain, must follow in the track of her children, the colonies, who have, in very many instances, been her pioneers in advanced measures of freedom.

South Bakaia Road Board.

The Board held it's usual monthly meet ing on Thursday, sth instant. Present— Messrs. G. N. Mackie (Chairman), D. G. Holmes, E. S. Coster, and W. Allan. The Clerk’s report was read and re ceived. The Chairman stated that he had re ceived the following tenders, which had been recommended by the township Works Committee:—Wm. Doherty—form ing part of Bowen street, 12s. per chain ; Charles Lake—metalling part of Bowen and Chapman streets, Is. 9d. per yard ; J. Leask —sinking a well, 3s. per foot ; and that all the works have been com pleted. The Chairman’s action was ap proved. A petition was received from twenty four residents in the township and neigh borhood, asking the Board to put in hand some work for their employment during the winter, as they have been a long time out of employment. It was resolved that the Cleric write to Mr. Shannon, whose name appears at the head of the list of signatures, informing him that the Board will put in hand the following works for the benefit of the local unemployed : —Forming Jones’ road, breaking stones on River Road and Thompson’s Track, and thinning the plan tation. The different works to be let in sections.

It was resolved that the Chairman and Messrs. Coster, Holmes, and Allan be ap pointed a Committee to visit the localities and fix the price to be given for the work, the Committee to meet on Thursday, 12th inst. It was resolved to invite tenders for metalling about twenty chains of the road from South road to Thomson’s track, the tenders to be considered on the 12th inst.

A letter was read from the Mount Hutt Road Board enclosing a resolution passed at a meeting held there on the 15th ultimo, re the Ashburton Waterworks Bill. The Clerk was instructed to reply that the Bill having passed the House, no action csulcl be taken in the matter. A circular was received from the Colonial Secretary at Wellington, asking the Board to proceed with such local works as the Board maj'’ be able to put in hand, with a view to relieving the ex isting depression in the labor market. It was resolved to reply to the Colonial Secretary that the Board is doing all it can to find work for the local unemployed. A letter was received from Harper, Harper, and Scott, informing the Board that Mr. John Maclean has executed the transfer of one acre of land for a gravel pit.

J. Beard wrote to the Board with refer ence to an account due by the Board to Lake and Beard. It was resolved to let the account stand over till next meeting.

Accounts to the amount of L 244 3s. Bd. were passed for payment, and the Board ad j ourned.

THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

Last night the Hon. Richard Oliver, the Minister for Public Works, delivered the usual Public Works Statement to the House of Representatives. After stating his intention of being as concise as pos sible, and in view of full reports by the various heads of departments being printed along with his statement, as well as copious tables and maps, the hon. gentleman said he would refrain from wearying the House with details while he showed what progress had been made in railway construction during the seven months that had elapsed since the delivery of his last Statement. Beginning then at the most northerly point in the North Island where railway works are in pro gres, he gave a clear account of the state of advancement of each work in the North Island. Coming on to the Middle Island he commenced with the Nelson-Greymouth line. Nelson City had been connected during the year with the port by a short line, and three miles had been added to the Nelson-Foxhili line. At the Grey mouth end, the Stillwater creek contract, an extension of the Brunnerton railway, had been found to be very costly the con tract price of only sixty-three chains having been L 12,234 for formation only. The Grey mouth harbor work had been delayed awaiting the report of Sir John Goode, which arrived in March. That report ap proved of the work which had already been done, which was intended to aid the development of the Grey'- coal industry. Some small contracts on the Greymouth- Hokitika line were either completed or nearly so, and no new works there would be begun this year. After stating that the last miie-and-a-quarter of the line re quired to connect Picton with Blenheim had been completed, and the Blenheim station buildings put in hand, the hon. gentleman went on to refer as follows to the Hurunui-Waitaki railway, with branches, “ The new works on the main line from Hurunui to Waitaki are the Waipara con tract, extending from Amberley to the Waipara river, and the Weka Pass section, nine miles long—a continuation of the line through the Pass to the Wai kari and Hurunui Plains. The latter section was reserved from contract in order to provide work for the unemployed of Christchurch.”

After referring to the completion of the Springfield cutting in February last, and the formation contract on the Little River and Akaroa branch, he noticed the open ing of the Ashburton branch, on the 7th of April last, when the first ten and three quarter miles became available. The bridge on the Opawa branch had been completed by contract, and the remainder of the work on the line had been reserved for giving work to the unemployed in the neighborhood. THE UNEMPLOYED. After a short reference to lines further south, Mr. Oliver reverts to the question of the unemployed ;—“ The great depression from which nearly all our industries have suffered lately has thrown many workmen out of employment, and the Govern ment have been called on to alleviate the consequent distress by finding work for them on the railways and roads which are in course of construction. We have thought it our duty to comply with these requests, and I am sorry to say that no

less a number than 1074 of these men are now being employed at low wages in various parts of the colony. Although it is to be deplored that in a country of such great natural resources as New Zealand, this state of things should exist, yet it _is by no means a new experience in the his tory of the colony. At various times dur ing the last twenty years the authorities have found it necessary to afford- similar temporary employment; but, fortunately the need for the interference of the Government has in every case soon passed away, and has been succeeded by a large demand for labor in the ordinary industries of the country at the highest rate of wages known in any part of "the world. I believe, Sir, that hon. members will agree with mo in thinking that this season of depression will also pas. 3 away, and give place to a period of prosperity not inferior to that which we have" until lately enjoyed. The disorgan isation of the labor market is already beginning to find its own remedy by fcring into existence new industries in the chief centres of population, and developing the self-reliant spirit of our working classes. There are also the most encouraging in dications of a revival of the goldfields industry which may be of the greatest value to the colony at large. Meantime, it is satisfactory to find that though many of the men thus employed by us are engaged in work to which they are unac customed, yet, from their labor, the colony has obtained a fair equivalent for the out lay. GENERAL PROGRESS IX RAILWAY CONSTRUC TION. “The sums voted by Parliament for ad ditional railway works in the last session, exclusive of preliminary surveys for lines not yet authorised, amounted L 2,398,700. On the 31st March L85G,550 of this sum had been expended, and liabilities in curred amounting to Li91Q,50G —making a total of L 2,707,056, leaving an unexpended balance on last year’s votes of L541,G44. Recognising the necessity for spreading the expenditure of the remaining public works fund over a period of at least the next three years, and believing that, as some of the railway works had been adopted in times of great prosperity, Par liament would not disapprove, in our changed circumstances, of having an opportunity afforded of reconsidering them, I have not been in haste to press on the construction of new works. In fact, only one new section of railway has been commenced since the end of last session. Many new sections were got ready for contract, and in some instances tenders were invited and received, but the grave considerations connected with a failing revenue, and an increased deficit from our finished railways, could not be evaded, and obliged us to defer the ac ceptance of some of these tenders so that time might be given for re-examining our future railway policy. ” ROADS. The Statement then goes on to deal with the expenditure of the votes for roads. In the North Island this has been mainly left to the local bodies, while the main lines of road under the charge f the Government have been maintained as usual. “ The road works instituted on the West Coast, between Waingongora and Stoney fivers, crossing the Waimate Plains, have been carried on very satis factorily, and the two sections of the roads will probably meet in a few days. The character of the country is very favorable, no natural obstacles having been met. The cross road from Stratford to Opunake through the bush is also being made. The amount expended on roads and bridges in the South Island during the past year is very small, and no new works of importance have been under taken.”

A COLONIST OE THE RIGHT SORT. Mr. Oliver apologised for noticing the work of snagging the Thames river by saying—“ Although not such a public work as is usually referred to in a State ment of this kind, I cannot refrain from mentioning the self-reliant . and public spirited efforts made by Mr. Firth, Mata niata, to remove the snags from the River Thames at his own cost. In these days, when colonists are too much in the habit of looking to the Government for almost everything, it is refreshing to see a public work useful to the community begun, carried on, and finished by a private person without application having been made to the Government for aid from the funds of the colony.” WATER-RACES. The expenditure on water-races did not appear to produce the benefits expected. None of the companies which Government had subsidised had been a success, and in most cases the undertakings had been abandoned. The total expenditure and liabilities upon goldfield water-races up to 31st March had been L 441,633, of which amount L 42,329 gives no return whatever, while works costing LSG,4SS had been handed over to local bodies, and from the comparatively successful races the Charleston, Nelson Creek, Waitnea, and Mount Ida—costing in all L 312.819, the the yearly return -was only about 1 per cent. These races, however, enabled 771 men to find remunerative employment, their earnings averaging Ll4O per man per annum. THE COAL INDUSTRY. “Almost every month brings new dis coveries of coal in some part of the colony, and it has become apparent that New Zea land is exceptionally rich in this mineral. Our most import lines of steamers are now almost wholly supplied from the coal mino3 of the colony, and the more ex tended use°of native coal will effect a sav ing of L 8,500 on our railways in the Middle Island for the current year, in ad dition to an almost equal amount hereto fore saved on those in the North Island.” WORKING RAILWAYS. After referring to the Cbdl Service Commissioners’ report on the manage ment, &c., of the working railways, which would be serviceable in remedying defects in organisation and practice, the State ment went on :—“ The working railways department began the last financial period under circumstances exceptionally un favorable-heavy floods in the South having interrupted traffic over more than a hundred miles of line, causing a loss of revenue, as well as a large expenditure for repairs. Amongst the first effects of the commercial depression from which we have been suffering has been a diminution of our railway traffic. The result was to be expected, and the efforts of the depart ment were directed to obtaining greater economy in our system of railway arrange ment. By working with a smaller staff of officers and men, and by reducing the number of trains and the speed at which they were run, a considerable saving haa

been effected, while the convenience of the public has not been materially cur tailed. The train service has already been reduced by 370,000 miles a year. The staff has been reduced by 266 men, and it is estimated that these and other economies which up to this time have been affected, will save on the year upwards of L44,C00. I am sorry to say that for the nine months ending 31st March, railways only gave a return equal to slightly under per cent per annum, while the rate of interest which we have to pay is over 5. Tke loss on the cost of the lines, which stands at L 8,629,582, was at the rate of L 237,730 per annum, and had to be furnished from surplus in the prosperous years which we have just passed. The hon. gentleman then went on to speak of the light in which railways had hitherto been viewed —that they were remunerative whether'’ 5 they yielded interest on their cost or not, inasmuch as they aided settlement and the development of the colony’s resources. But he contended the colony was not a joint stock company, with equal share and a community of interests, and th benefits of railways were very un equally distributed, many districts hav ing none, while all have to contribute to make up the loss that has been entailed upon the colony by the lines. The loss entailed such a serious charge upon the revenue of the colony, that unless the lines were made more nearly self-support ing it became questionable whether a desirable outlay in other departments of Government could be entertained. He attributed the unremunerativeness of the railways to the smallness of the population, and its scattered position—failing to furnish either goods or passenger traffic enough to make the line 3 payable at the hitherto current rates. In proportion to. population New Zealand had many more miles of constructed railways than either England, France, the United States, Canada, or any of the Australian colonies. The hop. gentleman went into statistiees to show how few people per head New Zealand possessed to the mile of railway, and in addition to the sparseness of the popula tion he gave as a reason for the non-profit of the lines, the needlessly low tariff adopted in many districts. It would be necessary to increase the tariff as far as the circumstances of the colony would allow. Traffic could not be increased to an indefinite extent, nor could tariff be so increased, but railway rates that were only designed to bring in 5 per cent, on the ... cost of outlay surely could not be con- > sidered high when competing modes of conveyance permitted their adoption. The hon. gentleman then spoke of a proposal to sell the railways, but could not imagins Avhere a purchaser could he found unless at a sacrifice of perhaps millions of money to the colony. Speaking of the Railway Commission’s recommend atiens, Mr. Oliver said that the funds at the Government’s disposal were insuffi cient to admit of even their not very lavish proposals being under taken, and Government would therefore content themselves with the extension of some incomplete lines to such nearest points as will bring them into use, and to some extent make the already incurred expenditure remunerative. Of the sura voted last year for public works, L 2,356,729 was for actual liabilities already existing. Realising the position? of the public works fund, Government had' endeavored to minimise expenditure, and to spread it over as large a space of time as possible. Todothis many works had to be deferred for which tenders had been re ceived. On the 31st March last the total ways and means was L 3,262,410, and the public works liabilities L 2,445,313, re ducible, however, by L 315,763 advances in the hands of officers, thus leaving a - balance of L 1,122,860 on March 31, 1880, clear of liabilities. Since March 31, s ways and means had been augmented by receipts and recoveries to L 29,934, and during the four months to July 31 the liabilities of the fund had been unavoid-, ably augmented to the extent of L 330,871. Adding L 29,934 to the balance of L 1,122,860 on March 31, and deducting L 330,871, the result, L 821,923, was ob tained as available on J uly 31. The ac count might be more clearly stated thus t ? —The ways and means on 31sfc July amounted to L 2,677,910 17s. Id. —con sisting of cash in hand L 593,910 17s. Id. ; Treasury and Deficiency Bills, L 121,700 9s. ; investments, L6?,000; guaranteed debentures, LBO,OOO ; total, L 2,677,910 17s. Id. The liabilities on the Bame date amounted to L 2,202,574. There were, however, imprests outstanding on 31st : July, L 246,486, making L 1,855,988, the net amount of liabilities to be provided for, and leaving a balance of L 821,923, as already stated, for new works and services. The estimates which I am about to submit, make a further demand on this balance of L 674,238 —leaving L 147,685 only for future appropriations front the public works fund. The votes for the various , works which we now propose are designed to provide for the expenditure up to fiOth June, 1881. After that date, and until we are again in a position to become borrowers, the only sources whence we can draw supplies for those purposes will be a portion of the proceeds of land sales, and the saving from estimates for the purchase of native land—a saving which we have reason to be lieve may be considerable, but which at present it is impossible to estimate.” The hon. gentleman then went on to enumerate the works in the North Island Government proposed to proceed with. These were a line to develop the Kaipara coal traffic ; the completion of the Thames- Waikato railway, as recommended by the commissioners (subject to further con sideration by Government) ; the Napier- Makutoku line ; the Wellington-Opaki line as far as Masterton, with provision made for the unemployed on the Opaki ex tension ; station works at Wellington; Foxton section and wharf at Wellington ; works on the opened line at Foxton and Kaiawai; the extension to Waverley, now in hand ; works at Carlyle for the un employed ; between Stratford and Hawera ; and the formation at Normanby. SOUTH ISLAND WORKS. The extension of the line from Foxhill to Bellgrove, on the Nelson to Grey mouth line, will be completed ; the StilL water section now in progress wih bg finished ; and the Greymouth harbor works carried on. The Picton and Blen-r heim line will be completed at the Blenheim end, where there are still some station works unfinished. The section of the main line from Amberley tq the Waipara plains is to bp finished, the nine miles through the Weka Pass being reserved for the unemployed. A few

THE ASHBURTON HERALD, SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, iBBq.



Miscellaneous o~i A AHA TO LEND, in sums to otXUjvU'/ S uit borrowers, at lowest rate of interest. F. P. O’Reilly, Solicitor, Ashburton. 424c-835g ittANTED TO PURCHASE a '»YV STAUNCH HACK, about four years old. Apply office of this paper. J 722 c V GOOD PIANO on hire, by the evening. Jones, H. M. Stationery and Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and Baring Square. A DVERTISEMENTS, inserted under J\ the Shilling rate, must be prepaid. Booked, Is. 6d. will be charged. 625 c ■XVOLUNTEER ACT and AMEND- V' MENTS on sale at the office of this paper. PIANOFORTE FOR SALE. A GOOD Strong Cottage Pianoforte J\ for Sale, second hand, price L 35 cash. Apply office of this paper. 641 c ANTED-An ENGAGEMENT by a youth 15 years of age, in an office, or as an apprentice. Apply Herald Re gistry. 734 c TENDERS WANTED, for making about 62 GATES ; labor only. Tenders addressed to the undersigned, received up to THURSDAY, the 13th inst. Plans &c., to be seen at Sealy Bros., East street. The lowest or any tender not necessarily appprif.pn 733c* ' NELSON & COUTTS. TENDERS. TENDERS are invited for the follow ing WORKS on the Racecourse : l. I —Ploughing, Harrowing, and Burn ing Tussocks, on a strip one chain wide and about sixty chains long. 2.—Fencing the same with sod bank and wires. Specifications to be seen at my house and at Quill’s Hotel on and after Monday next. Tenders to be sent in by SATURDAY, August 14th. JAMES WILKIE, Hon. Sec., 732c-97g Ashburton Racing Club. ASHBURTON HAIRCUTTING ROOMS. ; IMPORTANT NOTICE. MR. E. A. GARNETT begs to inform the inhabitants of Ashburton and surrounding districts that he has DIS POSED of his BUSINESS to Mr. F. CLARK, of Christchurch, and while thanking them for the liberal support accorded to him during his residence here, would solicit a continuance of the same on behalf of his successor. Referring to the above, F. CLARK hopes, by strict attention to business and moderate charges, to merit a fair share of public support. F. CLARK, HAIRDRESSER, TOBACCONIST, STATIONER, AND FANCY GOODS MERCHANT, Ashburton. Agent for the sale of the Ashburton Guardian and Evening Herald. 725c-92g R. In the District Court of Christchurch, Holden at Ashburton. V. IN THE MATTER OF The Debtors and Creditors Act, 1876, and the several Acts amending the same, and in the matter of the bankruptcy of WILLIAM BANKS, of the Hinds, in the County of Ashburton, Farmer, a debtor. THIS IS TO NOTlFYfthati the above named William Banks has this day filed in the above Court, a declaration that he is un able to meet his engagements with his creditors. The first meeting of creditors will be held at the District Court, Ashburton, on WEDNES DAY, the 18th day of August, 1880, at 11 o’clock in the forenoon. Dated this 7th day of August, 1880. C. CAVENDISH HURRELL, Clerk of the Court. E. G. Crisp, Solicitor for the Debtor 735 c L MASONIC. THE Masons of Ashburton are inrited to attend an EMERGENCY MEET ING of the St. John’s Lodge, On TUESDAY, 10th Inst., at 7.30, At the SOMERSET MASONIC HALL, When ADDRESS and LECTURES will be delivered by Bro. Rev. A. W. Hands Bro. H. Stephenson, P.M. Bro. F. Guinness. All are particularly invited to attend. THOMAS QUILL, R.W.M., Thistle Lodge, 627, S. C. CHAS. BRADDELL, W.M., Somerset Lodge, 1811, E.C. W. H. GUNDRY, W.M., 731 c St. John’s Lodge, 1858, E.C.