MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows-: — ~ , a For Christchurch and North at 6 a. m. 9. a. m., and 5' p. m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &0. , at 9 a.m. FFor 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 lorks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, Fat 3,-15 p,m. daily. ■ For Wakanui, and Seadeld, on Tues days and Fridays, at 6 a. m.

‘""Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office— ' From Christchurch at 10.30 a.m., 4.50 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Chertsey, Rakaia, &c. at 10.35 a.m. daily. , From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.25 p.m. daily. , - - : Fr«m Temuka and Timaru at 9.20 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. ni* •

W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With Which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1880. St. Stephen’s Parish Gift Auction and Bazaar.

The gift auction ancl bazaar in aid of the funds of St. Stephen’s parish was held in the Town Hall to-day, and opened at two o’clock. The ladies’ stalls were pre sided over by Mesdames Fooks, Felton, Gates, Garter, Gundry, Curtis, Shury, and Crisp. The refreshment stalls were under the charge of Misses Compton, Cowper, Gates, and Mrs. Cambridge. A Christmas tree was “ planted” on the stage, and Mr. Shury took charge of the “forestry” of it, aided by the Misses Shury. Con spicuously situated in the centre of the hall was a large and costly doll, and as handsome as costly, the contribution of Messrs. Zouch and Ferryman, which will be raffled this evening. The ladies’ stalls were very attractively decorated, and comprise contributions of fancy work from all the leading parishioners. The stock and produce department is under the care of Messrs. Bulloch and Gundry, and the sale was held in the horse bazaar. Very noticeable gifts were three head of cattle, by Mr. Joseph Hunt, and a buggy horse by Mr. Edward Cookson. Mr. Hawdon, of W esterfield, also contributed a cow and calf, while several dozens of fowls and ducks were sent in by different farmers. In the produce department, under the gallery of the hall, we noticed gifts of flour from Messrs. Moffat, Bowers, and Davis, the millers of the district; fat sheep by' Mr. Carter; dressed pigs by Mr. Hay Smith, and others ; and a fine assortment of orna mental trees from Messrs. Sealy Brothers. There were smaller gifts of grain, etc., from many other farmers. From the large quantity of goods of every descrip tion, both useful and ornamental—con tributed liberally by settlers of every de

nomination—we have no doubt the bazaar will be an financial success. We •‘must ‘ not omit to mention that the needful carpentering for the erection of stalls, etc., was done by Messrs. St. Hill and Gates, the contribution of timber and labor being in itself no mean gift. We must compliment the pastor of the church on the very successful effort that has been made by the parishioners to relieve his incubus of debt, and hope that it will result in enabling him very soon to start with a clean sheet.

Telegraphic Stations have been opened at Maliono and Pukeuri Junction, County of Waikato.

The Waterworks Bills. —The Ash burton Waterworks Bill and the Malvern Water-race Transfer Bills were read a second time in the House last night.

A Goon Wash Up.—A party of four men on the Seventeen-Mile Beach have brought into Greymouth twenty-one pounds weight of gold, the produce of a fortnight’s washing.

Excessive Drinking. —An auctioneer named Grant was found dead on Tuesday night in a house in Auckland. At the inquest a verdict was found that Grant died in a fit of apoplexy, caused by .ex cessive drinking.

Chertsey. —A concert and entertain ment -will be given to-morrow evening in the school-room, Chertsey, in aid of the Library Fund. An entertaining pro gramme will be presented, to conclude with,a dance. A large number of tickets have been disposed of, and, should the weather prove favorable, there is every prospect of a good attendance.

The Ashburton Contempt of Court Case. —Mr. Downie Stewart has given notice to move in the House of Represen tatives that he will ask “ if the attention of Government has been directed to the fact that a solicitor of the Supreme Court at Ashburton had been committed to prison for contempt of Court, and if so what action they propose taking in the matter. ”

Plucky Conduct of a Well-Known Jockey. —Fred Hedge, the well-known jockey, did a noble thing on Tuesday. A swagger was crossing the Opilii river, south of Temuka. The stream was in pretty high flood, and the man was carried off his legs and swept a good way down the river. Fred, jumped his horse into the strong current, and at considerable risk brought the swagger out in safety. But for Fred.’s plucky jump the swagger would have been carried out to sea. The Canterbury Police. —The annual report on the Constabulary force of the colony has been laid before the House of Representatives. .Inspector Broham’s report on the Canterbury division says that there is scarcely an offence known to the law that has not been brought under the notice of the police, although there was no great increase of crime last year. Three thousand eight hundred offences were reported, and 3467 persons appre hended. The strength of the force is the same a 3 it was four years back, viz., 100 men. Mr. Broham suggests the recogni tion of long service by increased pay, and recommends that more - men should be stationed at Lyttelton. He also suggests the necessity of passing the Police Offences Statute, and urges further that a complete licensing statute is required. The alteration of the Adulteration of Food Act is considered necessary to enable the police constables to lay informations and compel persons to supply samples for analysis. Colonel Roberts’ report on the West Coast force contains nothing im portant. He speaks highly of his men.

Limeligiit Exhibition. —The exhibi tion of excellent scenes by the aid of lime light was given in the Town Hall last night. The scenes were of a varied des cription comprising scenes from nature— the most striking and effective of which were ferns and seaweed from various parts of New Zealand. These we may remark were not paintings but were the real plants themselves displayed on glass, and they made very interesting pictures on the screen. Several, natural phe nomena were also illustrated, such as ice bergs, water spouts, the rainbow, etc. ; and some very nice astronomical diagrams were shown. After the laughter arising from the exhibition of a good number of comic pictures had subsided, several songs were sung. This was not the least inter esting part of the entertainment, and was heartily applauded. A trio was sung by Mr. Craighead and Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, followed by “ The Minstrel Boy,” by Mrs. Craighead, which was loudly ap plauded, and in response she sang with effect “Mary o’ Argyle.” Mr. Craighead sang “Nancy Lee” with all the “go ” the song wants, and had to repeat it. Miss Jowsey, with grace and sweetness, sang “ Father Come Home ” and “Far Away,” and two Scotch songs were also, sung— “ Gloomy Winter” and Annie Laurie.” The accompaniments were played by Mr. Weeks. After the vocal parts Mr. Puddi combe delivered' a lecture on “The Drunkards Progress” which was illus trated by pictures shown by limelight. The Rev. A. J Smith described the other scenes a 3 they were shown. The last pictures exhibited were those of several local public buildings, which were brought out with great clearness. The entertain ment was for the benefit of the Primitive Methodist Church, and we are sorry that it was not more largely attended. Answering Literally.—A very polite and impressive gentleman said to a youth in the street, “ Boy may I enquire where P-obinson’s drug store is ? ” Certainly, sir,” replied the boy, very respectfully. “ Well, sir,” said the gentleman after waiting awhile, “'where is it?” “I have not the least idea,” said the urchin. There was another boy who was accosted by an ascetic lady with “ Boy, I want to go to D Street.” “ Well, ma’am,” said the boy, “ why don’t you go there, then ? ” Warm.—The Chief Justice at a recent sitting of the Bankruptcy Court in Wellington, strongly condemned the Wellington tradesmen for allowing their customers to get heavily, into debt. He had before him an instance of a butcher on Lambton Quay of having permitted a debtor, then before the Court, to get into his books to the extent of L2l. “ And yet,” cried his Honor, “ this tradesman was a subscriber to the Gazette, in which he must have seen that the debtor had made an assignment of his property to his wife ! It is absurd for people to subscribe to such a publication unless they make use of what they see in it. ” — Post.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE

(Per Reuter's Agency.) The Money Market. London, July 19. Five per cent. New Zealand 10-40 Loan, 104 ; five per cent. New Zealand Loan, 1889, 107. Shipping. The Orient Company’s steamer Acon cagua arrived at Plymouth yesterday. A Dividend.. The English, Scottish, and Australia 11 Chartered Bank pays a four per cent, dividend, for the half year, and carries forward L 6,000 to the reserve fund. Shaking Up. • Manilla, July 19. An earthquake which took place here has caused great damage. Deserters. Calcutta, July 20. The troops which were reported as hav ing deserted at Ghishk partly consisted of Ayoub Khan’s cavalry. Home. Sick. Montreal, July 20. The Marchioness of Lome proceeds to England shortly for the purpose of obtain ng change of air.

AUSTRALIAN

{Per Ratter's Agency.) Arrived. Melbourne, July 20. The P. and O. Company’s steamer Kaisircliind, with the inward mails via Suez, which left London on June 4th, arrived at King George’s Sound to-day. Sailed —Rotomahana for the Bluff. Bank Interest Seduced.

The banks have reduced the interest on deposits to four per cent.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Captured. Auckland, July 21,

The prisoner Whittle, -who escaped from the gaol, at first made for the Waihalcerei ranges, but subsequently doubled back towards town. He was apprehended last night at Otahuhu by Detective Brennan, who ascertained that his sister and liis mother-in-law resided in the village. After patient waiting, the man turned up, and was marched back to Auckland. There will be an enquiry into the escape. Criminal. -Dunedin, July 21. John Thomas, Isabella Thomas, and John Dutton were committed for trial for house - breaking. The only evidence against the two last-named was that they had pledged some of the stolen property. • Fire- A fire broke out at the Auld Scotland Hotel early yesterday evening, but was promptly extinguished. It appears there are suspicious circumstances connected with the fire, which the police are investi gating.

Native Affairs

New Plymouth, July 20.

The following are further particulars ■re the arrest of natives. At about three p. m. yesterday afternoon the natives who were fencing were ordered to stop opera tions by Colonel Roberts, and on tlieir refusing to do so, he ordered them to be arrested. Te Whetu, the leader, was first singled out and seized. He resisted violently, and it was with much difficulty he -was secured, but after a good deal of struggling the handcuffs were securely fastened on, and Te Whetu made a prisoner. This native is supposed to be the murderer of Brady, a European, some thirteen years ago. The other natives, on seeing their chief a prisoner, quietly surrendered themselves, and all were duly handcuffed. The natives were then taken to the Armed Constabu lary camp, and Colonel Roberts sent to town for a conveyance. Sevei'al were sent out, arriving there at seven o’clock last night. The prisoners were well guarded by the constabulary and brought into the town of New Plymouth, arriving at two this morning. It is not known what will be done with them, as the Crown Prosecutor has got no instructions respect ing them. It is said that one of Te Whiti’s sons is amongst the prisoners. When the news of the arrest was carried to Parihalca great excitement prevailed amongst the natives assembled at the meeting, and they all declared their de termination to prosecute the work of erecting fences until all were taken prisoners. A number of natives near town started for Pariliaka this morning.

The natives again erected a fence across the road near the camp this morning at 11.30. It was pulled do.vn by the con stabulary, and two natives commenced fencing again, when they were made prisoners. They evidently expected to be taken, and seemed pleased at the idea of a trip to Wellington. One asked that he should be served with blankets. They will be sent in to town to-night. Wellington, July 20.

Government this afternoon received in timation that two natives had again started fencing. Orders have been given to warn them to desist or they would be arrested, but as they persisted in obstruct ing the road they were taken into custody. It is supposed that they had been sent by Te Whiti for the purpose of being arrested. Te Whetu was the murderer of Brady, some years ago, at Taranaki, and the Go vernment have done a good stroke by capturing him. Nothing is yet decided re the disposal of the new prisoners.

Tit for Tat.— The Bang it ilcei Advocate is responsible for the following :—An up country correspondent writes —“ A gentle man, or rather a man possessed of a large share of worldly goods, passed through a toll-gate where a lady waited to take the toll. He, feeling indisposed to bend his haughty person, threw the coin on the ground and rode on. On his return he handed the fair toll-keeper a pound note, and waited while she went in for change. She came to the door and through the change on the ground. He had no alternative but to dismount and gather it from the mud, which he did with very bad grace.” Let us hope the lesson was understood and appreciated.

The Civil Service.

. From the Hansard report to hand of Mr. Saunders’ speech on the Civil Service wemake the following extracts - THE SCAMPED WAGONS. Sir, the paper that I move for may not be in the possession of hon. members. It is a very short one, and I will read it : “ Wellington, 29th June, 1880. “No wagons built by contract under this department at Dunedin were delivered in Christchurch at the end of last year, and I believe the same remark applies to the Railway Department.

“The last contract for wagons in Dunedin was finished in. August, 1877, consequently • they had been running for thirteen months before the line to Christ church. was opened, and nearly two and a half years before the date referred to. I may add that, so far as wagons built under the supervision of this department in Dunedin at any time are concerned, there is not the slightest ground for think ing them defective : they have in every instance been made with proper materials. “ As the proposition laid down in ask ing the qustions ia incorrect, they cannot, of course, be answered otherwise than as above.

“W. N. Blair, “ Engineer in Charge Middle Island. ”

That, sir, is a very short document ; but to my mind, it is one of the most im portant documents ever asked for in this House : in fact, I may go further and say it is one of the most humiliating docu ments ever produced in this House. The statements there made are, whether wilfully or carelessly ao, every one of them incor rect. We are told that the last contract for wagons in Dunedin was finished in August, 1877, and consequently they had been running for thirteen months. When hon. members see the way in which those wagons were constructed they will see at once that it was impossible for them to have run thirteen months, or that, if they did so run, they must have run empty : the only wonder is that the nails in the flooring-boards were sufficiently strong to keep them together long enough to travel empty from Dune,din to Christchurch. The hon. gentlemen then read .letters from Mr. Alison D. Smith, District Loco motive Superintendent at Christchurch and proceeded. Now, Sir, with such evidence as that before us—with the possibility of seeing with our eyes, with the knowledge that the present Minister for Public Work? has seen two of the wagons himself, and with the knowledge that twenty-six more of them are now lying at the siding at Ad dington waiting to be rebuilt —what are you to think of such a letter as that, writ ten by one of the highest civil servants in the colony, and placed beFore this House by the Minister for Public Works 1 Sir, when I think of the position Mr. Blair occupies, and of the millions of expendi ture that we have intrusted to his capacity and veracitj 7 , such a report as this from him appears to me to he one of the most serious things we ever had to take into consideration. What is the value of a man in such a position as that who is capable of misleading this House to the extent which that letter is calculated to mislead 1 I have not the slightest inten tion to attack any person to-night. I in tend to stand here fearlessly, and assert the truth ; and it is a matter of perfect indifference to me whether Mr. Blair, or Mr. Conyers, or Mr. Anybody else shall shall come under the reprobation which truth will find for them. It would have been easy for the Commissioners to have steered a safe and easy course ; it would have been exceedingly easy for them to have brought in a report similar to that brought in by the last Civil Service Com mission, recommending an easy and gene rally-comfortable reform—that the Civil Service should be made more comfortable and secure. That report received univer sal approbation, but it was one which, I be lieve, produced no effect, or, at all events, none in the direction of economy. We were determined not to do the same. We felt that that, if our work was to be of any good, we must state definite facts—we must investigate matters for ourselves, and make the information we obtained public, so as to put the Government in a position to act upon the information so obtained. I notice that, in this House, if you get up and say there are far too many civil servants and their number should be reduced, there is a general clapping of hands and cheering all round, and every one believes the statement ; but put your finger upon one person who can be dis missed and say, “ There is the man,” and you find at once that you have put your hand into a hornet’s nest, and have the strongest body of men in any colony ready to attack you. We knew this quite well when we were framing our report. We knew that we should have the highest civil servants in the colony doing' every thing they could to damage that report, and describing it as a misleading and care less conclusion from facts. But I am glad to see that the report has stood the fire so well as it has done ; that it has stood the first attack made upon it, although hacked up by one of the highest civil servants in the colony, in a letter like the one I now ask to be laid on the table, and a letter that must inflict everlasting reprobation upon him. A COMPLIMENT RETURNED. There is another thing that I felt was a high compliment to the report which has been laid before this House, and that is the remark about it by the hon. member for Port Chalmers, the ex-Minister for Public Works. Ho had told us while some persons were saying that the state ments contained in the report were not true, that lie thought they were so true— so common-place and so obvious—that he himself could have sat down in his office and written a similar report. I thought that, if-the Commission could in any way flatter themselves that, in three months’ investigation, they had been able to get to the bottom of ail the things that the lion, gentleman must have got to the bottom of during the many years he was Superintendent of Otago, and all the time he was Minister for Public Works—if we had succeeded in writing such a report as that gentleman would have been able to write—then we should have shown our selves possessed of more than the ability of common mortals. I have not the slightest doubt of the ability of that gen tleman to write not only such a report as we did, but an infinitely better report— an infinitely more searching report, and one that would bring a great many more thing's to light that have been very costly to this country, but yet lie hid in the safe keeping of himself and his friends. From the position he has taken in the affairs of this colony, and the Pub

lic Works Department especially, his 1 wish would, I imagine, scarcely lead him i in that direction, and Ido not think that 1 he would be able to write the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, without to a considerable extent damaging his own reputation. I do not think we shall ever get a report of that character from him, unless he were to report upon matters which are kept very _ faithfully within his own heart. I feel, sir, that we can only expect such a report from him as an act of death-bed repentance. A NEEDLESS REPLY. There is this statement made by Mr. Conjers “They [the Commissioners] strongly insisted that every stationmaster should be empowered to arrange the crossing-places of trains, and alter them to suit the emergencies that may occur. ” Wo are quite unconscious of having thought of anything so absurd. I remem ber a gentleman who used to sit on these benches, and who is now, I believe, Mr. Conyers’ lawyer. Whenever he stood up in this House to reply to anything that had been said on the opposite side his in variable practice was first of all to entirely misrepresent what had been said, and then to answer it in the most triumphant manner. This is wliat the reply of Mr. Conyers has done. Great as is the effect it ha 3 produced, it scarcely touches or attacks a single fact stated by tlio Com missioners. It is one of the most remark able documents I have ever met with in this respect. It shows how extremely successful a man may bo by simply having the audacity to make a statement which his opponent never made, and then reply to it. Ninety-nino persons out of every hundred who have read this letter of Mr. Conyers have not compared it with the Civil Service Commission’s report. They see a statement made here and triumph antly answered, and they come to the conclusion that the report itself ha 3 been answered emphatically and completely. As I said before, I am not aware of a single fact in the Civil Service; Com mission’s report that is in the slightest degree shaken, by this letter. The most remarkable position Mr. Conyers takes up in this letter is, that he acts like the fly on the bullock’s horn, which is conceited enough to suppose that all the bullock’s actions are made with a view to his presence in that position ; he seems to think that the Commissioners had but one object in view, and that was to attack him. THE HUMANE COMMISSIONER. There is a statement which still further shows me who was the writer of this letter. I find th se humane sentiments expressed : with great pathos —“I could not turn adrift to starve persons who have faith fully served and suffered in the service of the department. So barbarous and in human a measure would be a stigma on ' any administration. ” When a man goes to a lawyer with a good case, he is gene rally very careful to tell the lawyer what part of the case he must admit and what ■ part he must deny. Now, Mr. Conyers 1 had .the most absolute evidence at his - command that he was not in the slightest i degree responsible for the retention of : unnecessary gatekeepers, and could at > once have proved that their existence was ■ not his fault ; but, unfortunately for him, precisely the same evidence puts him out ; of court in assuming this high tone of ; humanity. We have it in evidence that ' Mr. Conyers himself distinctly ordered 1 these servants to be dismissed ; but it was t Mr. Back, of Christchurch, backed up by s the strong recommendations of certain in ; fiuential persons in Christchurch, that 1 prevented his order being carried out. > Now, Mr. Conyers, believing that he had ; a bad case upon the whole, has evidently - gone to his lawyer, who told him, as per • sons do in such circumstances, “ Abuse l the Commissioners well, and use your own > judgment as to what you admit and what - you deny ( ;” and there is no doubt that ■ the writer of this letter has chosen this , high tone of humanity, and this charge of j hard-heartednesa on the Commissioners, > in ignorance of the fact that his client had : a really good defence. ! WASTE. t Then we are told that we have alleged ' waste, but have not proved it. Well, , when four gentlemen state as distinctly ' and as specifically as the Commission have ' done where the waste exists, which they have seen with their own eyes, and how it can be remedied, I should think it was the duty of anyone who wished to defend the charges under the head, “ Waste,” not to call upon them to prove the waste, but to give evidence to disprove it ; instead of which, Mr. Conyers denies it in this para graph and denies it in several others. WHOSE PAY THE COMMISSIONER WOULD REDUCE AND WHOSE HE WOULDN’T. Mr. Conyers, in the fifth paragraph, on page 7 of his letter, says, “ I am still effecting savings of an extent more than commensurate with the sweeping and un practical suggestions_,of the Commission.” Sir, those members of the House who will take the trouble to read Mr. Conyers’ own evidence will find that he distinctly states that he considers the Service well organised, well managed and economical ; and, when asked by the Commissioners whether he could point out any direction 1 in which money could be saved, he dis tinctly stated that he could not, with the exception of one direction, in which the Commission has reported : that is, that Mr. Conyers’ thought it would be possible to take per cent, off the salaries of all the railway employes from the station masters downwardt. We expected him to recommend reductions from the station masters upwards, but we generally found that those above the stationm asters recommended reductions from station masters downward, and those below the stationmastera recommended reductions upwards. We thought it possible that the reductions might be effected both ways, and we recommended that. TRUTH AND WHISKY.

The crowning charge against the Com mission is contained in the last paragraph but one : “ While engaged in writing this reply, it has come to my knowledge that the Civil Service Commissioners have actually examined as one of their witnesses a person dismissed the service for drunkenness.” I never looked upon drunkenness as the one unpardonable crime that a man could commit in this world. I can quite understand that the manager of a railway looks upon it as a very dangerous offence, and one which he must deal with severely ; but it never ap peared to ma to be an offence which dis qualified a man for ever afterwards from giving evidence in Court. If there is any fault to be found with the Civil Service Commission in regard to the witnesses they thought proper to examine, it is that they confined themselves too exclusively

to civil servants who had not been dis nnssed. I think, if- we had examined more civil, servants who had been dismissed, we should have found a great many more who would have revealed little facts to us that we had very great difficulty in find ing out without their evidence. Ido no know that we did examine any servant who had been dismissed for drunkenness ; we may or we may not. To the best of niy recollection, we only examined one dismissed servant, and 'he was an en gineer, and I do not think he was dis missed for drunkenness. However, even if we did, I am prepared to justify it, and to say that I think a man should not be debarred from, giving evidence before "any Commission from the.simple fact that - he may have been. dismissed for drunken ness. A £6OO AMATEUR. There is no part of the report that' has excited so much violent comment as that in which the Commissioners thought it their duty to specify a few officers as mere samples of what they believed might be done in the way of diminishing the number of officers in the Service, And, first, we ccme to Mr. Armstrong r | “At Dunedin we found an officer, receiving L6OO a year, called a locomotive engineer, who informed us in his evidence that his business , was not to inspect "the working . engines and discover that they required repair, for which duty a distinct officer is employed. : This engineer, who admits that he had no practical experience of locomotives previous to his appoint ment, is paid L6OO a year to go into the locomotive shop with an engine' that has been found to require repair, and instruct the long-experienced locomotive foreman what to do with it.”

The evidence upon which that state ment rests is that of Mr. Armstrong him self : “ 3042. Sir It. Douglas—l understand that you served your apprenticeship to a carpenter ?— Ye3. “ 3043. And you have learned your engineering, so far as locomotives are con cerned, in New Zealand ?—Yes. “3044. Did yoii learn it in Messrs. Brogden’s service, or in the Government service ?—After I came into the Govern* ment service. > - !

“ 3045. In what capacity did you entel the Government service ?—Ab an engineer of permanent way and rolling stock. “ 3046. Then the Government appointed you to look after engines about which you knew nothing—at any rate, you had no technical knowledge on the subject?—l had no practical knowledge.” That is the evidence of the man him self ; I do not know that we could pro duce anything more conclusive. I wish hon. members to pay particular attention to that gentleman, because his name will come up again in the course of the. even ing, and the House has been given to understand, from a question which was put the other day, that the Commission stated that he had nothing else to do. He tells us in his evidence .that that was his principal work. He Mid not say lie had nothing else to do ; in fact, we found him rather a proof of the adage that “ Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do,” and that he is largely engaged in work that —well, I will say in work that does not contribute in any way to the wel fare and prosperity of the colony.

WEST COAST LAND PURCHASES.

How the Money Went. The appendices to the West Coast Com mission’s report contain some reading matter of a highly interesting and startling character, showing, as it does, how money has been lavishly spent upon the natives for every conceivable kind of thing, and charged to “ land purchases.” We give a few specimens from the accounts paid to storekeepers out of the LIOOO which- was obtained for compensation for land pur chases on the West CoaSt, but which was really spent in supplying every conceivable sort of articles to the natives, in connection with the Waitara meeting. In one of the vouchers for LSOO, a sum of L 339 11s was paid for what the Commissioners term “ unusual items,” such as ladies’ side saddles, habits, velvets, silks, French merino shawls, lockets, ribbons, charged to the “ acquisition of land.” In another voucher there is an expenditure for fancy biscuits, cocoa, salmon, sardines, jam, port wine, brandy, old tom, oysters, mullet, and tins of fruit. Another voucher included lobsters, preserved peaches, and entertain ments at the theatre. The total sum charged in this way to the acquisition of land was L2OOO. “ Mr. ” Rewi pur chased in one day L2Ol 103 3d worth of goods, and we quote his “little bill” in full, as giving a fair sample of the . whole : —New Plymouth, 28th November, 1878. —Mr. Rewi, bought of Walter Wright.—Hat, 5s Gd; umbrella, 15s ; coat, L 3 10s ; tie, 2s ; portmanteau, L 7 IQ3 ; umbrella, 18s Gd ; suit, 455; 2 chemises at 5s Gd ; 3 do at 3s Gd; 1 do, 5s ; 6 shirts at 7« Gd ; hat, 24s ; 4 pair socks, at 2s ; yards plaid at 3s 9d ; 46 yards blue flannel at 3s ; 48| yards merino at 6s ; jackets, 255, 655, 20s, 245, 355,-15s ; 43i yards plaid at 3s Gd ; feathers, 10s 6d, 25s ; 8 crimeans, 12s 6d ; 54|- yards French merino at 4s Gd ; 2 shawls, 35s ; portmanteaus, 455, 50s; corset, 8s Gd; umbrella, LI 4s ; silk jacket 35s ; cloth jackets, 70s si 2os ; 2 pinafores at 5s ; cloak, 27s 9d ; skirts, 253, 17s Gd ; 3 do at 12s Gd ; 2 do at 9s Gd ; 1 do, 15s Gd ; boots, 10s Gd, 21s, 15s ; fichu, LI; costume*.Ls ; 3 chemises at 3s 9d ; shawl, 42s ; 4i yards Turkey red at Is 9d ; 3 shawls at 18s ; costume, 60s ; yards American cloth, 2s Gd , lady’s saddle, L 7 10s ; bridle, 30s ; whip, 16s ; Baddle-eloth, 10s 6d ; shawl, 27s Gd ; 4 liaudkerchiefs at 6s Gd ; skirt, 15s Gd ; shirt, 12s 6d ; habit, L 9 9s ; 18| yards merino at 2s 6d ; suit, L2 5s ; cos tume, L2 10s ; habit, L 5 5s ; carriage, 6s; trimmings, 49s ; haberdashery, 30s ; vel vets, 40s; 0 pair scissors at 2s; ribbons, 355; thimbles, 4s; soap, 10s Gd ; ties and handkerchiefs, L 3 5s Gd ; riding-hat, LI 5s ; collars, Is ; hat, 21s ; locket, 170. Gd ; cuffs, 2s Gd ; jackets, 18s, 50s ; 3 shirts at 7s Gd ; 5 scarfs at 3s Gd.— Paid. — W. Wright. —L2ol 19s 3d. In other accounts there were boys’ suits,' braces, belts, long-handled shovels, plough-harness, red and white paint, car penter’s tools, thimbles, theatre tickets (Lll), special trains, etc. The return of the approximate expenditure in connec tion with the Waitara meeting in June, 1878, made up as follows : Erection of buildings, L3BB 8s Gd; special train, LlO5 15s ; provisions, presents, etc., L 363 5s Gd (Ll 5-1 19s 7d yet remains un paid) ; contribution to banquet, Ll4O j horse (gift to Rewi), L6O; total, L 1057 9a. — Evening Post,

THE ASHBURTON HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1.880.



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 a GOOD PIANO on hire, by the evening. J ones, H. M. Stationery and Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and Raring Square. 4 DVERTISEMENTS, inserted under J\ the Shilling rate, must be prepaid. Booked, Is. 6d. will be charged. 625 c "ANTED 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 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. X)ROMISSORY Note Forms, in Books I of 25, unstamped, for sale at the Herald Office. Price 2s. 6d. e?-ch. H 1/-. OUSEMAIDS. —The Herald asks a Housemaid for you in 20 words for ."VYrANTED.—’ The Herald tells your Vy Wants in 20 words, for 1/ —cash. .XT is only a Penny, is to be got every ‘ X where in Town, along the Railway line, and of tb=> Country Agents. WANTED, those in search of employ ment, to call and enter their names at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is; LABOURERS requiring work can secure first opening by applying early at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is. "Ylf ANTED Known, the “ Ashburton V V Herald ” circulates throughout the Provincial District of Canterbury. X7IORMS PRINTED —“To Let” and Xj “ For Sale ” —-can be obtained at the Herald Office. Ball programme cards in very neat styles, with Pencils and Ribbons printed at the Herald Office East street, near Railway Station. THE PENNY made the postal system of England a success. So has it made the Herald. Everybody buys the Herald nnEACHERS can obtain the MULTI § . PLICATION TABLES, printed on 'gummed paper, in any quantity at the Herald Office, East street, near the Railway Station. FOOLSCAP Ledgers and Cash Books, 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. WANTED KNOWN —That Money can . be saved by purchasing your Sta monery and Account Books, for cash, at the “Herald” and “Guardian” Whole tale Stationery Dep6t, Saunders’ Build ings, near Station. HAVE- you Lost Anything I—Tell the finder through the Herald for a Shilling. If he is honest lie will bring it to you without a reward, but you can bait : a finder. of shaky morals by a tempting offer of remuneration for his trouble. AT for a Shilling cash.



r . THE ASHBURTON HERALD. Ain) Borough and County Advertiser. THE following are AGENTS for the Sale of the “Ashburton Herald” in Town : H. M. Jones, Stationer, Baring square. E; A. Garnett, Perfumer, Hairdresser, Etc., -Montgomery's Buildings.



Miscellaneous r r TO LET, . A two-roomed cottage Burnett street. • Apply, Ashburton Hotel. in i 1 PIANOFORTE FOR SALE. i A GOOD Strong Cottage Pianoforte ] ■f\ for Sale, second hand, price L3o i cash. Apply office of this paper. 641 c 1 TO CONTRACT PLOUGHMEN. WANTED,. Immediately, several TEAMS for Stubble and other ( Ploughing. For particulars, apply to 1 GOULD & CAMERON. Springfield, lGfch July. G7oc-52g TO CONTRACTORS. TENDERS are invited for Forming an EMBANKMENT at Mr. | Homersham’s Wool - scouring Works. Plans and specifications may be seen at our Office, and Tenders, enclosing a guarantee deposit of Five Pounds, are to be delivered not later than 4 p.m. on FRIDAY, July 23. 36g-678c FOOKS AND SON. ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. A PFLICATIONS for all LICENSES ./\ required under tlie Borough Bye- Laws, will be received at the Town Clerk’s office, till NOON on MONDAY, 26th inst. CHARLES BRADDELL, Town Clerk. Borough Council Office, ■ 16th July, 1880. G73c



OPENING OF THE CENTRAL BOARDING-HOUSE, Baring Square. THE -Proprietor begs to inform liis friends and patrons that be will open tlie above bouse by a D A N C E, ON FRIDAY EVENING Next, July 23, At 8 o’clock. Tickets, ss. each; ladies half-price. Refreshments provided. GEORGE WATTS, 681 c Proprietor. TO A. HARRISON, Esq., Dear Sir — WE, the undersigned Burgesses of Ash burton, respectfully i-equest you to allow yourself to be nominated for the seat in the Borough Council, vacated by E. Saunders, Esq., and in the event of your complying . with our request, we pledge ourselves to use our best endeavors to secure your return. Yours faithfully, George St. Hill J. Tucker Wm. Anderson O. Digby Andrew Orr T. Chambers W. T. Davison JohpW. Baker J. M. Cambridge Thomas Taylor J. R. Chapman John Orr William Sparrow E. A. Garnett James Bradley Baker and Brown And 25 others. 1 ' 'Havelock street, July 29 th, 18S0. Gentlemen — PERMIT me to thank you for the above kind expression of your wishes, in answer to which I simply say —PUT ME IN—and I will endeavor to act to the best of my ability for our Borough. And believe me, faithfully yours, Gllc ALFRED HARRISON.



Amusements. Town hall assembly room (Upstairs.) PRESENTS TO EVERY VISITOR, The Greatest Success in New Zealand for the last twelve months. THE ORIENTAL EXHIBITION Will OPEN on WEDNESDAY, July. 21, at 10 a.m., and will continue for a short season. Admission—One Shilling, and a Present to Every Visitor. KAURT AND ALI, 669 c Proprietors.