COMMERCIAL.

Alfred Harrison reports as follow : I held the weekly sale at my yards, and as usual, had a large attendance. Five draughts and hacks sold at prices ranging from L 3 10s. to L2l ; 1 fat cow brought L 6 7s. 6d.; 18 pigs were entered, and sold at from 17s. 6d. to L2 18s., or an average of sd. per lb.; a consignment of rabbits, in splendid condition, sold at Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. per pair ; turkeys, 10s. each ; geese, 17s. per pair ; ducks, 3s. 9d. per pair; fowls, 2s. 6d. to 3s. per pair ; oat 3, 200 bushels brought Is. per bushel ; barley, 100 bushels brought Is. per bushel ; chick feed, la. to Is. 3d. per bushel. Sundries brought very fair prices. The bidding generally was quick and spirited, and altogether a satisfactory sale was concluded.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows For Christchurch and North at 6 a. m. 9. a m., and sp. m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily. For Teinuka, 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 Longbeacli, at 3.15 p.m. daily. . - For Wakanui, and Seafield, on Tues days and Fridays, at 6 a. m.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office—

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

W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1880.

. Boys’ School. —The third quarter of Mr. Davidson’s Boys’ School opens the 6th of July. The Hospital Alterations. —The time for receiving tenders for the Hospital al terations has been extended till July 2. Plans. —Plans of the Temuka sections to be sold on the 6th July at Temuka, by Mr. K. F. Gray, lie at our office for in spection. Mount Somers Bridge.— The County Engineer advertises for tender’s for the approaches to Mount Somers Bridge over the South Ashburton River.

The Property Assessment Act. —Mr. Sperry announces the extension to 2nd August of the time for sending in the re turns required under this Act. The San Francisco Mail. —The mail steamer Zealandia arrived at Auckland yesterday, and sailed for ,Sydney at six in the evening. In coming alongside she bumped, but did little damage. Insolvents. —First meetings of credi tors of H. Cape-Williamson, shoolmastei, Cambridge, and R. H. Burgess, laborer, Alford Forest, will be held on Saturday in the District Coui’thouse, at the hours of 11 and 12 respectively. Drunk.— At the R.M. Court this morn ing, a first offender was fined the usual ss. Constable Reuse also brought up a man from Rakaia who had been drunk in a railway carriage, and this individual, being also boforehis Worship for the first time, escaped with the light penalty of 10s.

Parliamentary.— A new batch of Par liamentary Papers, Bills, Reports, “Han sard,” &c., came to lucid by the last mail, and can be purchased at the office of this paper. The cost is trifling, so that any one desirous of learning the business in detail before the House, or the draft of new Bills now under consideration can procure printed copies. The Vacancy in the Council.—We understand that Messrs. Alfred Harrison and Thomas Quill have been asked by different parties to stand for the vacancy in the Council, caused by the resignation of Mr. Edward Saunders, and have con sented, so that there will be no lack of interest if they should go to the poll. Other names mentioned as those of suitable gentlemen are Messrs. Ward, Poyntz, Boyle, and Compton.

Gas v. Kerosene. —During the con versation which took place at the Borough Council last evening when the gas account was brought up for payment, Mr. St. Hill remarked that it would be better for the Council to dispense with gas for the street lamps and purchase kerosene ones in stead, as he reckoned the Council were paying about L 6 per 1,000 feet. Mr. Par kin modified this by stating that L 3 would be nearer the mark, but both gentlemen were very warm in their protestations against what they considered the exorbi tant rates that were being paid for illu minating the dreary streets of our town ship. Custom.— ln the case of Poyntz and Co., v. Brankin, heard at the Court this morning, evidence was brought by the plaintiffs, for the purpose of proving their case, as to what were the usages of trade circles in the matter. Mr. Branson ridi culed this evidence as being inadmissible, stating that the colony was not old enough yet for actions in Courts of law to be decided by. custom. The people of the colony recognized no customs, beyond “customs duties!” His Worship in giving judgment coincided with the learned gentleman, remarking that the way in which business was carried on in the colony was certainly ruled by no re cognized usages, a state of things which he had very good grounds for knowing, much to his regret. Evidently his Wor ship at some "time or another has been victimised.

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last night. Pre sent —His Worship the Mayor (presiding), Messrs. Weymouth Roberts, Friedlander, Williamson, Orr, St. Hill, Bullock, and Parkin. the bye-laws. Before the usual business came on, the Council held a special meeting for the purpose of confirming a resolution adopt ing the Borough Bye-laws. Mr. Crisp, Borough Solicitor, was in attendance. The following resolution was carried : “That the resolutions referring to bye laws in and for the Borough of Ashburton, adopted by the Council at a special meet ing held on the 31st day of May, 1880, be confirmed, and that the bye-laws adopted for the said borough at the said special meeting be confirmed. ” The Council then proceeded with its ordinary business. chairman’s statement.

The Mayor said the credit balance at the bank was L 263 Bs. lOd. There would have to be about LI,OOO expended before the next year’s rate could be called in. His Worship said that he had been un able to see Mr. Walker, Chairman of the County Council, with reference to the water supply works, but he thought it would be unwise to incure any more ex pense in this affair until the matter was settled. The rates collected since last meeting amounted to Ll 9 19s. The Mayor said he was sorry to have to refer to the resignation as a councillor of Mr. Edward Saunders. He was not only sorry on account of Mr. Saunders being an energetic councillor, but also because Mr. Saunders’ [pet scheme, the water supply, was not yet completed, and a letter which would be read during the evening would show that there was a likelihood of un pleasantness occurring with reference to the matter. He was surprised at the letter referred to coming from Messrs. Saunders Bros., seeing that Mr. Edward Saunders, a member of that firm, had been instrumental in getting the water scheme inaugurated, and it was on his offering the use of the water that the scheme was entertained by the Council. CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs. Saunders 81-03. wrote, giving the Council notice that it would be held liable for any loss or damage which might arise through water being taken from the millrace for purposes of the Borough with

out their consent. , , , Mr. E. G. Crisp, Borough Solicitor, also read a letter to the Council which he had received from Messrs. Garrick and Lowli shaw, in which they stated that with reference to the matter they had received no instructions. The property was under mortgage to the Bank of New Zealand, and it must be made a party. The letter concluded by stating that they waited further instructions. . Mr. St. Hill wished to know in that case, what were they going to do for water. He was inclined to think there was something behind the scenes which the Council was not aware of. His Worship thought the Council was in a peculiar position, and such a con tingency as had arisen was never antici pated. He thought the deed draw n up by the Borough Solicitor secured to Saunders Bros, the prior right to the water in case of a scarcity. Mr. St. Hill thought it was just the way things were done by the Council. The water scheme had been in course of com pletion for some months, and the bye-laws had been hanging on for four years. Mr. Parkin was of opinion there would be no difficulty in the matter. There was no agreement signed, and the action taken by Mr. Saunders in shutting off the water, he thought, was only to prevent more serious complications until the deed was signed. Mr. Orr suggested that a deputation wait on the Bank of New Zealand, who he thought would not oppose the action of the Council if the property was in no way damaged. Mr. Parkin considered the Council would be perfectly justified in tsking the water and accepting the responsibility. He imagined there would be no difficulty. Mr. Bullock favored the idea of a depu tation waiting on the Bank of New Zea land. If any action had been taken in getting the water, as there was nothing in writing before the Council, the owners might sue for trespass. Mr Parkin still held to his idea on the subject. If a fire occurred during the next fortnight, perhaps through the absence of water the town might be burnt down. He was sure the ratepayers would back up the Council in the matter. Mr. Crisp cautioned the Council not to act rashly. The notice which had been sent to the Council that evening placed them in a peculiar 'position, and if any action were taken the Council would cer tainly make themselves liable to an action at law.

Mr’ Williamson thought it had been the fault of the Council that they were in their present position in not seeing that there was plenty of water in the race before turning it on. Mr. Parkin hinted that perhaps some of the officers of the Council had blundered. resignation. Mr. Edward Saunders tendered his re signation as a member of the Council con sequent on his removal to another dis trict. Mr. Bullock, in moving that the resigna tion be accepted, referred in very compli mentary terms to Mr. Saunders’ energetic labors in the interests of the Borough. While sorry to see the letter laid before them that evening with reference to the water supply, he thought Mr Saunders was certainly to be looked upon as being the originator of the scheme which was now so near completion. Mr. Parkin, in seconding the motion, thought that a letter should be written to Mr. Saunders, regretting that he had been compelled to resign, and acknowledging the very efficient services which he had rendered to the Borough while a member of the Council, such letter to be entered on the minutes. This suggestion was unanimously adopted by the Council. THE OUTFALL DRAIN. Mr. Brankin wrote complaining that the drain which the Council had made near his residence prevented his getting to and from his dwelling. Referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. LAMP-POSTS. His Worship stated that on receiving tenders from Messrs. J. R. Steele and Scott Bros, for the supply of lamp-posts, he had ordered four from the latter firm, as their offer was 15s. less than that of the former.

A letter was read from the Financial Committee of the Presbyterian Church, requesting that a lamp post be erected in close proximity to that place of worship, near the railway crossing. Mr. Bullock 1 hought the Council should erect the lamp, it being a most reason able request. Mr. Orr said it was doubtful whether any part of the town required lighting more than that in question. Mr. St. Hill objected, but Mr. Bullock would remind the Council that the lamp was not for the benefit of one place of worship, or for one indi vidual. The place referred to was a most dangerous one, and there was a deal of traffic there. He would move that the work be gone on with. Mr. Orr seconded.

Messrs. Parkin and St. Hill opposed the motion, the latter gentleman character ising the request as preposterous, in so far as iaying on the gas and then asking for a lamp to be erected as well. Mr. St. Hill offered an amendment io the effect that the work be undertaken if the main service pipe is laid for it. Mr. Parkin seconded the amendment which was carried. planting. The Chairman of the County Council wrote, enclosing a letter from W. Hislop, of Timaru, offering to supply the Council with trees for planting purposes. THE WATER QUESTION. In answer to the Mayor, Mr. Fooks said that on Friday last when he went up to see the water works, he found the water laid on by Mr. Wilkie. The mill was not at work at the time, but he understood it was to have been going shortly after wards. He measured the water coming down on Saturday and it was about 10,000, or 11,000 gallons per hour. Mr. Fooks did not know whether the con tractor had asked permission from Saun ders Bros, before turning on the water. Mr. R. Friedlander considered that too many had had a finger in the pie. He considered that if Saunders Bros, had been seen before the water had been turned on they would never have seen the letter laid before them that night. He would move that Messrs. Williamson and the Mayor be a deputation to Messrs. Saunders Bros., and the mortgagees of the property to endeayor to get the matter amicably settled. If that were done, he liad every confidence that the affair would not end in a lawsuit.

Mr. St. Hill seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

engineers’ report.

The Engineers' report for the fortnight was then read as follows :

Water Supply. —The several contracts may now be said to be completed. There are some matters of account in the way of deductions and additions that we arc now adjusting. The water was let on at the in take on Friday and Saturday, but was shut off by Mr. Saunders yesterday. There appears to be little loss by filtration in the bottom of the race between the intake and the Domain. It will be necessary when a permanent arrangement is completed for the supply from the race, to extend the concrete work in the form of a dam across the race, as the bottom is scouring away fast, and thus lessening the head of water. A few chains of the channel north of the gully in Winter’s road requires a few loads of clay to strengthen the embankment, and secure it more thoroughly from the risk of overflow.

Fencing at Reserve. —ln replacing the fence on the Domain boundary at the reservoir, we would suggest a fence of the same character as that in Baring square should be put up, with several posts at the angle of West and Wills streets, of a width apart sufficient to keep out cattle and horses. The lengt^ ; required is about four chains.

Outfall Drain.— According to instruc tions we have estimated the cost of a covered drain in different materials. The size of the timber drain would be 3ft. x Ift. lOin. internal measurement; and that of the brick and concrete sewers being of a permanent character, would be of about double that capacity. In either case we have calculated the length from Havelock street to the terrace by the Cemetery, and about 2ft. 6in. deeper than the present drain. The following are the estimated prices : Timber drain 2ft. square, including lowering and enlarging present cul verts, excavation, and filling in gullies and gratings, &c., 28 chains, at £"l3 ... ... ... ... ,£d^4 Concrete 6in. thick, 26 chains at ,£34 10s. 966 Composite Brickwork and Concrete, 28 chains at,£37105. ... ... ... 1050 Brickwork, 9m. thick, 28 chains at £5 ••• . I 4°° Immigration Cottages. —Mr. Lyons has completed his contract for repairs to the cottage on the north-west Belt. The overseer requests us to report that a cot tage on the south-east Belt is in the same dilapidated condition as the one reported at last meeting of the Council. Shingling. —The contractor has com menced delivering shingle in East street, and has completed the quantity required n Baring Square. The Labor Gang has been engaged in various work, taking up old lcerbing, making and fixing culverts, stacking and spreading shingle, and fencing north side of the outfall drain with old material, &c. The deduction has been made in the men’s wages, according to the Council’s instruc tions. FENCING. The recommendation of the Borough Engineers with reference to fencing the reserve was ordered to be left with the Works Committee with power to act, on the understanding that the Domain Board contribute half the amount. IMMIGRATION COTTAGES. The matter referred to in the En gineers’ report concerning the immigration cottages was left in the hands of the Works Committee, Councillor St. Hill suggesting that it was possible someone else wanted a cheap cottage. TANKS. Mr. Bullock suggested that as the water had now been brought into the town, a few concrete tanks should be erected on the reserves, so as to be handy in case of fire. Mr. St. Hill thought that one tank should be put at the back door of every merchant. A number of sand bags pro vided would be far more reasonable than the tanks. Mr. Parkin was proceeding to speak, when his Worship called his attention to the fact that there was nothing before the meeting, and the matter dropped ; not, however, before Mr. Parkin had reminded the Mayor that he had allowed the matter to be brought on without checking dis cussion. THE VACANCY. The returinng officer was ordered to make arrangements with reference to the election of a councillor in the place of Mr. E. Saunders resigned.

ACCOUNTS to the amount of L9O 13s. 6d. and pay sheet L 26 13s. 9d. were passed for pay ment.

EXTERMINATION OF THE KELLY GANG.

Ned Kelly Wounded and a Prisoner.

Bryne Killed. Severe Encounter with the Outlaws. Ploughshare Breast-plates. The Traitor Killed. The Gang at Bay. The Final Scene —Dan Kelly and Hart Burned, in the Hotel. Ned Kelly Riddled With Shot. Melbourne, Monday afternoon. Particulars of the capture of Ned Kelly are to hand. Twenty-five civilians had been bailed up by the Kellys when the police arrived. This was at three o’clock this morning, but fighting at once com menced. Ned Kelly took to the bush shortly afterwards, but returned at day light, and again entered into the fray, with two mates. They fought hard, but after a severe struggle, Ned Kelly received a shot in the groin, and thus wounded, he fell an easy captive to the police. .De prived of their leader, the rest of the gang made off. In the encounter, one of the black trackers received a graze on the head in the encounter with the outlaws. Later. A telegram to the Melbourne Exchange states that Ned Kelly is lying at Glen rowan Station, mortally wounded. Jones’ Hotel, which is close to the station, is oc cupied by Dan Kelly, Hart, and Byrne, and the civilians at the station, who were bailed up. A later telegram states Byrne is dead, and all the civilians have been released by

the outlaws. Dan Kelly and Hart still occupy the hotel, and incessant firing is kept up between them and the police : but it is expected they will surrender to day. The outlaws are covered with chain armor to protect them from the shots. Government have sent a mortar to Glenrowan to dislodge the outlaws. It is doubtful whether Ned Kelly will recover. He has been mortally wounded in three places. The breast-plates worn by the gang con sist of ploughshares. The man who was murdered by the Kellys at Sebastopol on Saturday was Sherrett, a selector, and a former asso ciate of the gang. He was recently em ployed by the police, four of whom were secreted in a house near the scene of the tragedy. Byrne and the Kellys compelled a German acquaintance to call Sherett on one side, when Byrne instantly killed him out of revenge. The police summoned them to surrender, but they refused, and the outlaws then fired a volley and at tempted to burn the house. They re mained outside till the morning, and then disappeared. The police were inactive, and tlieir explanations are unsatisfactory. They rode to Beechworth in the morning, when the trackers reported that the Kellys had been seen at Mirchison. Later. The police have surrounded tile Kellys at Jones’ Hotel, Glenrowan, seventy miles from the scene of the outrage at Sebasto pol. Superintendent Hare is wounded in the arm. The gang tore up the rails near Glenrowan, ahead of the special train, but unsuccessfully. Two children have been shot in one of the encounters with the gang. There is intense excitement over these events in Melbourne.

Owing to the outlaws still continuing their resistance the police fired the hotel, which was burned down. The charred remains of Hart and Dan Kelly were found armoured. The bodies of Byrne and a platelayer were also recovered. A reporter belonging to the Benalla paper, two children, and the hotelkeeper were slightly wounded. The civilians were kept prisoners the whole of Sunday, and the platelayei’s were compelled by the gang to destroy the railway. Ned Kelly has been taken to Benalla. Melbourne, June 29.

There js little fresh regarding yester day’s events at Glenrowan. Ned Kelly has in all thirteen wounds, and eighteen shots struck his armor. Dan Kelly and Hare were, it is said, burnt after death ; but it is not certain whether they com mitted suicide or were shot by the police.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

{By cable from Reuter's Agency.) The Effect of Eradlaugh’s Refucal to Swear. London, June 28. It is announced that Government will shortly introduce a resolution for per mitting members of the House of Commons to make an affirmation instead of taking the customary oath. New Commander. St. Petersburg, June 28.

Vice-Admiral Lessovski has been ap pointed Commander of the Russian naval squadron in the Pacific.

The Burmese Rebellion. Rangoon, June 28,

A severe encounter is taking place between the Burmese troops and the in rurgents. The latter suffered a complete defeat, and the leader has been captured.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Renter's Telegi ams.) Berry’s Manifesto. Melbourne, June 29.

A caucus of Liberals was held yester day, when a manifesto was adopted, and has to-day been issued by Mr. Berry. It recommends an extension of the franchise for the Council by enlarging the rate payers’ roll ; further, that members of the Council should be elected for six joars, one-third retiring every two years, and that the total number of electorates should be thirty-two, returning one mem ber each.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Earthquake. Wellington, June 28.

A telegram received by Captain Edwin to-day, reports that several shocks of earthquake have been experienced at Taupo. The Unemployed. A mass meeting of the unemployed will be held to-morrow to consider their posi tion. Fire. Timaru, June 29. A general grocery store in the main road belonging to James Martin Shep herd, was totally destroyed by fire at three this morning. The building was of wood, and contained a heavy and valuable stock of merchandise. The insurances are L9OO on the stock in the Union, L2OO of which is reinsured in the N ew Zealand ; L3OO on the building in the London and Lancashire. Shepherd estimates his loss in stock at between four and five hundred over the insurance. Supreme Court. Lunedin, June 29. There are seven cases for trial at the criminal sessions. Except one of man slaughter, the charges are unusually light. Evading the Licensing Laws. Invercargill, June 29. It is rumored that in two cases in South land in which licenses were refused, the houses will be opened as Working Men’s Clubs, the proprietors acting as managers. This evasion it is said is easily practicable in the present state of the law regarding Clubs. In one case, the license lost was the one for the house in which occurred the notorious case of lambing down. Triennial Parliaments. It is reported that the Southland mem bers intend to move for a repeal of the Triennial Parliaments Act. The Kellys Dramatised. A lucal author announces the produc tion of an Australian drama “ The Kellys. ”

The No-Confidence Debate.

[by telegraph.]

(From our own Correspondent.)

Wellington, June 28, The no-confidence debate excites no interest as no one doubts the result.

There is not the slightest ground for the rumor that Sir William Fox, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Saunders, and Mr. Reader Wood are leading a Middle Party.. They only feel that the present Government is strong enough to afford to let its support ers express their independent views with out damage. They are all far too old campaigners to be caught with chaff, or to play into Sir George Grey’s hands by creating a diversion. So long as the Opposition can find no better leaders than Sir George Grey and Mr; Macandrew, that party is never likely to be again entrusted with the purse-strings of this colony.

Meat Export.

Our friends on the other side are very active in the matter of setting going a trade in frozen meat, and we find that, seeing the earnestness manifested by the people everywhere throughout Australia, the Orient Company intend to fit up their fine steamers with apparatus for taking to England meat and other produce of Aus tralia. Sydney contemporaries tell us that this intention of the Orient Company has been received throughout the Aus tralian Colonies with unbounded satis faction, and assert that no step the direc tors of the Company could have taken would in an equal degree have tended so to enhance the Orient’s popularity in the Southern hemisphere, or advertise the Company’s devotion to Australian in terests. This is perfectly true, no doubt, and the step taken by the Orient Company directors is unquestionably one that will be as popular as it is opportune. It was announced by the Company just at a time when, in the flush of excitement over the success of the Strathleven ex periment, and satisfied that the London meat market was open to them, the people were beginning seriously to con sider how they could best make straight their path to the new field. This was a difficulty, and the Australians felt it to be so ; but the action of the Orient Company has, to a great extent at least, taken them out of that difficult} 7 But though the enterprise of the directors is certainly to be commended, the whole of the credit does not lie with them. Notwithstanding the success of rhe -Strathleven experiment, had there been apathy manifested on the part of the mass of Australia’s meat pro ducers on the subject of meat exportation —had they shown no desire to profit by the experiment that demonstrated how easily the barriers of time and the sea could be broken through, and how the gates of the London • market, yea the markets of every great centre of population in the world, ap proachable from the seaboard, could be thrown open to the entrance of Australian beef and mutton —had they appeared dead to the best interests of their commerce that were involved in the great experi ment so happily crowned with success— the directors of the Orient. Company would have taken no more notice of the Strath leven experiment than they would of the most unregarded event of every day life. But the Australian farmers were in a com motion of earnestness ; and seeing that the men who were most to be benefitted by the movement -were anxious to reap those benefits, and meant genuine busi ness, the Orient Company were prepared to meet them, and share in the benefits. Hence their readiness to find a means of conveying the meat. The movement of the company shows that they have faith in the future of the trade the Strathleven has pioneered so successfully, else they would never have made preparations to meet it : it shows, too, as we have said, that the Australian farmers are ready to take advantage of the means, for without some assurance that the producers were so ready the Orient Company would never have moved in the matter. Now, in this excitement on the other side, this striking the iron while its hot, is there no lesson to New Zealand ? Is all our enterprise crushed out of us by the weight of two bad harvests in succession, and a third following that was sold at low prices ? Has the Strathleven experiment no meaning for us ? Is it no more than a good thing That has happened to our neighbors on the other side, but a good thing that is beyond our reach and can bring us no benefit ? Does it open no department of commerce for New Zea land ? Must she, with her wide acres of land, depend only on the labors of the ploughman for her wealth, and ignore the possibility that the Australians are fast making a hard fact of? We trow not. Surely the time has come, after the experience of the past few years, when beef and mut ton should take the place of scraggy crops that will scarcely pay the reaper, and when the farmer should raise flesh that he can sell at 6d. a pound instead of oats that represent a value of Is. a bushel— sufficient to pay for a “ shout” for himself and crony. We think it is time that some steps be taken for the formation of a Frozen Meat Export Company, and that meantime farmers turn their atten tion more than they have of yore to stocking and less to cropping. The re proach of dryness will soon be removed from these plains, thanks to the County Council, and the way to success appears to us to be plain, were united action in the matter taken. But while no steps are taken to concentrate the farmers upon one purpose in the direction of profiting by the London meat market, of course nothing will be accomplished. The loss of Ll 5 on the Strathleven venture was sneered at by many as pointing to a failure, but it is as well that the full fact of the matter should be known, and with this view w-e place before our readers the following in regard to the experiment. The Strathleven’s shipment consisted of 36,4581bs weight of beef and 19,C351b5. weight of mutton. The prices realised from lOd. per lb. down to (for a small damaged lot) 2|d. lb.; but the averages were s|-d. for mutton and sd. for beef. Allowing for a large quantity used on the voyage for testing the con dition of the meat—and the anxiety of those on board on this score can be easily forgiven—and allowing also for 25 sheep, and nearly l,ooolbs of beef given away as presents in London as a sort of opening advertisement, it was found on arrival that the shrinkage on the 19,G351b5. of mutton amounted on the voyage to 4191b5., and on the 36,4581b5. of beef, to 2,0761b5., or nearly 2£ per cent. The experiment

being only an experiment, and everything having to be found without any previous experience, a deficiency of £ls 17s. 3d. can easily be put down as exchangable in the return of an established trade for a sweeping profit.

MONGOLIAN OATHS.

Procedure in Chinese Courts.

In the Flowery Land oaths, as under stood by Englishmen, are unknown in the courts of justice. In a Chinese court, the mandarin sits at the head of a small table, surrounded by soldiers. A double file of soldiers extends a long distance, round . the hall, and the -witness is not allowed to come within 30 feet of the magistrate. The witness is introduced under an armed guard, and immediately upon entering the temple of justice, is compelled to fall prostrate. With head touching the mat ting, he is compelled to crawl upon his hands and knees to the appointed place. No oath is administered, but the witness gives his evidence without raising his head from the ground or daring to look at the mandarin or any one else in the court. The solemnity of the proceedings, and the display of power to punish if perjury is perpetrated, is considered by the man-, darins sufficient to ensure truthful testi mony. In Australia several methods of administering oaths have been used. Some time ago a paragraph went round the papers, showing that the present method of blowing out a match was intro duced from motives of economy. For general information, we publish the words used in the three oaths which it has been customary to administer to Celestials. It may be mentioned that the only oath a Buddhist Chinaman considers binding is

CUTTING OFF A COCK'S HEAD. This is only resorted to in China in cases of emergency. When a crime has been committed, the perpetrator of which the police are unable to discover, anyone who may be suspected is brought s up before the mandarin of the district. If the accused man persists in his innocence, he is taken to the front of a joss house, and seated in public. Two large tapers are lighted, arid three sacred sticks are placed between them crosswise. The suspected individual then kneels down reverently,

UNCOILS HIS PIGTAIL, and after muttering a prayer, takes a cock in his left hand and a sharp knife in the other, and repeats the following, of which we give an English translation : —“ May it please heaven and earth and the gods, and evil spirits, I , this day, swear by my own mouth to tell the truth. If I do not speak truly, may the gods and evil spirits punish me, as the fowl dies under the sword and the body will be divided or drowned in the high seas, and my soul will be cast down into hell, and likewise the souls of my children will be consigned to eternal perdition. ” Chinese criminals have been known to confess to committing murder rather than take this oath, which is the most terrible and binding known in the countries -where the Buddhist religion prevails. , - ... T BREAKING A PLATE i.cijltJ is an oath peculiar to the Amoy province of China. It is only used in war time, and is practically a sworn declaration of fealty. When soldiers are, enlisted they are drawn up on parade, and each man swears as follows, smashing a plate as he utters the last word “ In the face of the enemies of my country I swear to truly obey all orders, to be faithful to my cause, and never to betray my leaders. If I break my word, I hope to be killed by the first bullet fired by the enemy, or to drop down dead before a shot is fired.”

BLOWING OUT A MATCH is unknown in Chinese courts, of justice. It is used among Celestials in ordinary life much as a bullock driver blasphem ously ornaments and emphasises an as sertion. As an oath,, blowing out a match is practically meaningless among China men. The formula runs as follows : The witness takes a match in his right hand, and says, “I swear to tell the truth. If Ido not tell the truth may my life terminate as soon as this match is blown out.”

Humourists are not encouraged in China. When a paragraphist gets off a joke on a slant-eyed emperor, the alleged humourist has his pig-tail cut off. The loss of his hirsute appendage is bad enough, but when they amputate it without remov ing it from his head, it becomes painful, and the paragraphist’s propensity for joking is cured for ever. “ What made you quit the East ? ” said a man in Nevada to a new comer. “ I got into trouble by marrying two wives,” was the response. *‘ Well,” said the other, “I came out here because I got into trouble by marrying only one wife.” “ And I,” added a bystander, “ came here because I got into trouble simply by pro mising to marry one.”

Mark Twain’s Latest.

Mark Twain’s latest production is a letter giving his opinion of private secre taries, in which he sits down rather hard upon Mr. Kirby, private secretary to Postmaster-General Key. The letter has caused a great deal of amusement among Mr. Kirby’s associates in the post-office, and that gentleman feels very much torn up in consequence, and probably will not be anxious to tackle the subject again, at least not for some time. Some days ago Mr. Kirby took occasion to write a letter to Mr. Clemens (Mark Twain) in which he had the temerity to criticise some com ments made by that gentleman upon a recent order of the post-office department, saying that “ it was to meet just such hardened cases as yours; and I also Bend you a copy of the postal laws, and hope you will take the trouble to look into the matter thoroughly. ” It seems in the letter received in reply that Mr. Clemens did look into the matter thoroughly, and Mr. Kirby thinks now that he made too searching a study of it. Among other things in his letter Mr. Clemens says : “My callow friend, when you shall have outgrown the effervescence of youth, and acquired a bit of wordly experience, you will cease to make mistakes like that. This is, you will recognise,, the simple wisdom of minding your business. You seem to think you have been called to account. This is a great error. It is the post-office department of the United States that has been called to account. There is a difference here which you seem to have overlooked. I will point it out. You are not the post-office depart ment, but only an expensive and un

THE ASHBURTON HERALD, TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1880.



Miscellaneous WANTED—A good GENERAL SER- Y\ YANT. Apply at once, personally to Mr. Willcocks, Wheatsheaf Hotel, Wheatstone. 559 c WANTED, a GENERAL SERVANT. 'V Apply Mrs Saunders, Ashburton Mill. 603 c A GOOD PIANO on hire, by the evening. H. M. Jones, Stationery and Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and Baring Square. "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 i usual Cheap Rates. All kinds of Boots Made and Repaired. 805g—417c TV7ANTED to buy Old Zinc 4s. 6d. per cwt., Leadss. per cwt. Apply to the Chef de Cuisine, Commercial Hotel. 596 c WANTED— A Good NURSEGIRL. Apply at the Tinwald Hotel. 591 c WANTED KNOWN—That H. Hooper, jun., having purchased the horse and dray from R. Cullen, has commenced business as General Carrier. 592 c BOYS’ SCHOOL, ASHBURTON. nnHE Third Quarter will begin on Ji TUESDAY, the 6th day of July. 605 c D. DAVIDSON. ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL. TENDERS are invited for AP PROACHES to Bridge over South Ashburton River at Mount Somers. Plana and specifications can be seen at County Council Office, Ashburton, and Tenders, addressed to the Chairman, to be sent to in not later than 11 o’clock a.m., WEDNES 7th JULY, next. By order, WILLAM BAXTER, 992a-608c County Engineer. V. R. THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ACT, 1879. EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SEND ING IN STATEMENT. is hereby given that the time J3l for sending in the statement of pro perty required by the above Act as fixed for the 30th day of June, 1880, has now been EXTENDED to the 2nd August, 1880. JOHN SPERRY, Commissioner. y S . Property Tax Department, Wellington, 25th June, 1880. 598 c ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. EXTRAORDINARY VACANCY. hf HEREBY GIVE NOTICE, in pur | *uance of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, and the Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876, that an Election will be held on WEDNESDAY, the 21st day of JULY next, at the Borough Council Offices, Ashburton, for the purpose of ELECTING one person to fill the Extra ordinary Vacancy caused by the resigna tion of Councillor Edward Saunders. All Nominations must be made in the form prescribed by the Local Elections Act, 1876, and delivered to the Returning Officer before 12 o’clock NOON, on THURSDAY, the Bth day of JULY next. Forms of Nomination may be obtained at the Town Clerk’s office. CHARLES BRADDELL, Returning Officer. Borough Council Office, 29th June. 1880. 40-606 c 1