COMMERCIAL.

[by telegraph.]

Dunedin, June 18. Prime beef, 255. per lOOlbs. ; mutton, 3cl. per lb. ; good sample mill wheat, 3s. 6d. to 3s. lOd. fowl wheat, 2s. 6d. to 3s. ; oats, Is. 3d., to Is. 4d.;; malt barley, 3s. 6d. to 3s. lOd.; feed, 2s. 6d to 35.; pota toes, L2 7s. 6d. ; old hay, L 4; new oaten hay, L 3 ; chaff, L 3 ; straw, L2 ; bran, L3 Y ; pollard, L 4 ; flour, L 9 10s. to LlO ; oatmeal, L 9 10s ; pearl- barley, L2O onions, L 7 ; cheese, sd. ; bacon, rolled, 10d. ; ham, Is. ; sides of bacon, lOd.

CHRISTCHURCH CORN EXCHANGE

.. The following is the report of the Christchurch Corn Exchange for the week ending Friday evening, the 18th inst : •- VI The dullness which has characterised the grain trade almost from its commence ment, has, during the week that has lapsed, been more palpable. The busi ness that is being done, is what may be termed a hand to mouth one. Buyers are still to be found for large lines of produce, but the quality must be unexceptionable. The recent favorable account of consign ments of oats to the United Kingdom has caused a better inquiry for milling '..samples, although prices are as yet not sensibly affected. It is reported that several applications for space have been made in order further to test the practic ability of making a staple export of this Cireal.

IjgWheat.—Large lines of really good mill ing samples will meet with buyers at from 3s. 6d. to 3s. 7d., f.o.b. Second quality,

milling, is in good supply, with a fair de mand, at from 3s. to 3s. 3d. f.o.b. Chick wheat also is in large supply, and is being offered at very low figures, viz., at from Is. 9d. to 2s. 4d. per bushel. Oats.—lnquiries are on foot for good heavy milling samples suitable for ship ment at from Is. 4d. to Is. sd. per bushel f.o.b. Feed qualities are passing into consumption at from Is. to Is. 3d. per bushel ; inferior feed samples 9d. to lid. per bushel. Barley.—A rather better demand is ap parent for.parcels of undeniable malting quality ; for such 3s. to 3s. 4d. per bushel is obtainable. Second rate malting 2s. to 2s. 6d. Discolored and inferior is almost unsaleable.

Potatoes are being inquired for, but prices are unaltered. For immediate de livery, 255. to 265. per ton is given ; for forward delivery, 355. to 365. per ton,

sacks extra in both cases.

Grass Seed.—No business doing at pre sent ; prices nominal. Cheese and Butter.—Quotations are un altered. 4d. to 4|d. for the former, and 9d. to lOd. for the latter.

To Correspondents.

“An Elector.”—Your letter is just a little too personal. However, you were perfectly justified in calling attention to the poor thing’s wish to represent the other half of Coleridge when the division takes place, and that is doubtless the ob ject he has in view in trying to drum up electors to register. Bat it is somewhat premature as yet to tear him to pieces, however much he may like it. Besides, it only panders to his vanity.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1880. A Shining Light Under a Shadow.

Our to-day’s telegrams informs us the fact that William Acton Blakeway Adams, Esq., an M.H.R., and a luminary of the barrister’s roll is at present under a cloud. He gave some very shady evidence a month or two ago in the R.M. Court, Nelson, in reference to professional trans actions he had had with a client, and his evidence was of such a nature that it was

deemed advisable to lay a criminal infor mation against the legal legislator for per jury. The Grand Jury sat on the case yesterday and brought in a true bill against Mr. Adams, who will appear on Wednesday next, in the new role of a prisoner at the bar. Mr. Adams’ weak point is his intense personal vanity, as witness the triumphant manner in which he received a testimonial from the Nelson College boys, a number of whom were a week or so afterwards arraigned for some l acts bordering upon petty larceny. “ One fool always finds others to admire him,” and in this case the Nelson College larri kins, and the Nelson city representatives seem to be well met.

The No-Confidence Debate

The debate dragged on last night again, Colonel Trimble defending the Property Tax as against the Land Tax, and holding that no exemptions should be made in the taxation of land, neither Maori, Euro pean, nor Crown. He denounced the Native Lands Purchase Department as a great blot on our civilisation, and the sooner it was swept away the better. He defended the maintenance of an armed force on the West Coast until the country was opened up. Mr. Ballance followed, urging a land tax in lien of a property tax, and held that there had been no saving, but an increase of expenditure, despite the outcry. He attributed the disarrangement of the colony’s finances to the falling-off in land sales, and a similar alling-off had taken place in all the Aus tralian Colonies. He said the making up of the railway accounts to March showed the late Government in a false light-, for it showed the year s work without the most profitable season—when the grain traffic was on. He deprecated the with drawal of the subsidies, which would press hard on some districts. Mr. Reader Wood said he thought the whole question before the House in this debate was—who was to be in power. There was really no other question. Both sides were agreed as to the colony’s difficult position, and Government did not put it forward that the proposals they were making were a blessing to the colony, but were a stern necessity. , After Mr. Pyke and Dr. Wallis had spoken in favor of the No-confidence motion, the House adjourned at 12.30.

Guild v. Kingsbury.

At the R.M. Court yesterday, Mr. O’Reilly, on notice, applied for a re-hear ing in this case. He said the position at present was that the case drawn by him self and Mr. Ireland for their respective clients had not been approved by either solicitor. It was then referred to his Worship to state a case. His Worship had stated a case, but stated it in such a way that it was useless sending it to the Supreme Court, as it would net be enter tained in its present shape. He had drawn his Worship’s attention to the omission of the necessary allegation that the parties had not agreed, and had pointed out the ruling of the Supreme Court on tins point ; also, the omission of a statement showing that the Court had been closed on the Saturday and Monday after the decision, so that the bond could not be entered into within three days. That, besides these objections to the case as stated by his Worship, no evidence at all was sot out, and as he (Mr. O’Reilly) relied upon the case as it appeared in the evidence, the suppression of the evidence made it useless to proceeed. As the fact was patent that an injustice had been done his client to the extent of 112 acres, at 3s. per acre, he now applied for a re-hearing of the case, so that the injustice could be remedied.

Mr. Branson objected. Mr. O’Reilly could set out the omission stated in his affidavit, and bring it before the Supreme Court in that way. This application had been made before, and his Worship had exercised his discretion. He couldjinot now entertain it.

Mr. O’Reilly said, as to mending his Worship’s omission by an affidavit, if the case was called on in the .Supreme Court, it would at once appear. His Worship’s jurisdiction to state a case was not shown. He and his affidavit would be out of Court, and the case would be sent back. His Worship had, in the express terms of the Act a discretion to grant a re-hearing at any time. His Worship said he would dismiss the application. Mr. Branson applied for costs. His Worship allowed one guinea. Mr. O’Reilly asked his Worship’s au thority to give costs, and His Worship referred to the Act of 1879, which gave him power to give costs in actions where he had no jurisdiction. Mr. O’Reilly—And that is your au thority ? His Worship—Yes. Mr. O’Reilly—Then I shall certainly go for a prohibition.

Drunkenness. —For being drunk and disorderly and using obscene language, his Worship, this morning, fined Wm. Briscoe 20s. or the usual term in limbo. Another Pedestrian Match. —Mi*. John Groves, who beat young Montgo mery easily in the recent match of a miie, announces his willingness to give his op ponent fifty yards’ start for another spin, and backs himself for L 5 on the result. This start ought to bring the men together, and make a close thing of it, as Mont gomery v T as a bit out of condition in the previous contest. A.O.F.—The anniversary of the Court Star of Ashburton, No. 6034, was cele brated on Thursday night by a dinner, in the Somerset Hotel, purveyed by Bro. Shearman. About thirty members were present, and enjoyed a very pleasant even ing. Bro. Edwards, C.R., occupied the chair, and Bro. Thomas Smith, S.C.R., was croupier. In the course of a reply to the toast of “ The Officers,” Bro. Zouch, treasurer, said there were not so many members of the Court now as there had been when it first started, still, the posi tion of the Court was very satisfactory.

Tima.ru Steeplechases. —ln the Timaru Steeplechases, which came off yes terday, and of the first event, in which we gave the result as we received it by telegraph, the pace all round was very slow, the jockeys, apparently, devoting themselves more to watching each other than to legitimate racing. The Maiden was won by Robin Hood, with The Colonel second. The Timaru Cup was an easy win for The Agent, Royalty coming second, and Miss Hungerford third. The Consolation, which closed the day’s work, fell to Miss Hungerford, with Shillelagh second, in a long stern-chase.

The San Francisco Mail.—Supple mentary mails for the United Kingdom, &c., via San Francisco, will close at 5 o’clock for despatch per express train this evening. Late fee letter’s may be posted in the mail van up to the time of its departure for North.

Burnham.— WeTearn from Mr. Maddi son, master of the Burnham Industrial School, that the Rev. J. Davidson, ChaplainH.M. Gaol, Addington, conducted Divine Service at the school on Thursday last, at which 130 of the inmates were present, and hopes to be .able to arrange for a permanent weekly service being held there. His Lordship, the Primate, will probably address the children next Tliurs day. The inmates have to thank Mr. Maddison for these arrangements: Remanded. — At a short sitting of the R.M. Court this morning, at which Mr. Guinness, R.M., presided, the following cases were remanded until next Friday, on the application of Constable Warring, bail being allowed in each case :—Ben jamin Corrie, alleged sheep-stealing ; Charles Ryan, charged with having no lawful visible means of support (Mr. Branson for accused) ; Wm. Watson, on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences (Mr. Ireland for accused).

Drunk. —A man named William Fowler was brought before Mr. Guinness yester day morning, charged with being drunk and disorderly in East street. Constable Warring deponed to arresting accused on the previous night. He was hanging on to a fence outside the Somerset Hotel. Prisoner admitted having had.something to drink, but doubted whether he was drunk. After hearing the evidence of Constable Neill, who said that Fowler had frequently been before the Bench in Christchurch, both of drunkenness, for lunacy, and assaulting a constable in the lock-up, his Worship inflicted a fine of 205., or forty-eight hours’imprisonment. Henry Davis plead guilty to being drunk and using obscene language in a pub lic place. For the first offence he was fined 205., or forty-eight hours’ imprison ment, and a like penalty for using obscene language. Inquests. —An inquest on the body of Daniel Campbell, who died suddenly on Tuesday last, was held at the Mount Somers Hotel on Thurs day, before Dr. Trevor, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr. Henderson was chosen foreman. After hearing the evidence of two of deceased’s mates, Mr. Forbes, his employer, and Dr. Stewart, who had made a post mortem examination of deceased, the jury returned a verdict of died from natural causes—the immediate cause of death being congestion of the lungs.—An inquest was held at the Water ton Hotel yesterday before Dr. Trevor, coroner of the district, and a jury—Mr. Wm. Taylor being foreman—on the body of Ellen an account of whose death by scalding we gave-in a recent issue. Ann Frampton, the mother of the deceased, gave evidence to the effect that while washing out of doors on the 14th inst., the deceased, who was only four years and a half old, caught her hat in a bowl of hot water which witness was carrying, and upset the bowl, scalding deceased severely. Witness dressed the scalds as speedily as possible, and next day sent for Dr. Stewart, but all efforts to save the child’s life were unavailing, and it died on Tuesday evening about seven o’clock. The evidence of a sister of the deceased, and likewise that of the father, corroborated the statement by the mother. Dr. Stewart give medical testimony, and considered that every means had been resorted to for the little sufferer’s case, and the jury returned a verdict of, “ Acci dental Death. ”

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) The Markets. . London, June 17. Consols have further risen one-quarter, and are to-day quoted at 98| ex dividend. New Zealand securities are unchanged. The markets for Australian and New Zealand breadstuff's are quiet, and without change in price. London, June 18. Bank discount 2L The total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is L 17,375,000. The Australians. The match between the Australians and Dublin University team at Dublin was commenced to day. They played against eighteen of the latter. Great interest is being taken in the Australian matches. They went in first, and were all out for 220 runs. Slight was not out for 56. The Home team then went in for their first innings, and have lost one wicket for 7 runs. Irish Relief Bill. In the House of Commons a Bill for Irish Relief has been read a second time. The Conference. Berlin, June 17. The European Comference commenced its sitting to-day. Prince Hohenlohe was elected president. The proceedings of the Conference are kept secret. The Turko-Greek Question. Athens, June 18. The Greek Government has sent a cir cular note to the Great Powers, setting forth a claim for territory between Janina and Prevesa, south of Albania, and for an extensive district in the Pro vince of Thessaly. The demands of the Government, it is announced, will be re ferred to the Special Commission to be dispatched by the Berlin Conference to settle the Turko-Greek frontier question on the spot.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Renter's Telegrams.) Nailing His Colors to the Mast. Melbourne, June 19. In the Assembly last night, Mr Service made a speech, in the course of which he said he was aware his party ivas on the eve of a great political battle, but he would not abandon his position, as he was con vinced the country was favorable to his scheme of reform.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Abe Hicken. Auckland, J une 18. , Abe Hicken returns to Australia next week.

A Government Official in Trouble. William O’Connell is charged with forg ing and uttering a cheque for Ll 4 on the National Bank. The prisoner was sub agent for the Government Life Assurance, and recently was canvassing at Coro mandel, but getting short of money he presented the cheque in question at the bank and was at once informed it was forged. Ellen M'Cloughes, whose name prisoner forged, deponed that he had con fessed the fact to her. Looking for Gold. Palmerston North, June 18. A considerable party of prospectors under the command of an experienced miner named Rankin, have been search ing for gold in the valleys and creeks of the Tararua ranges. So far, it has found small but not payable quantities, but Rankin is convinced that there is a rich vein somewhere in the vicinity. The party toiled on in hope until provisions failed. On Wednesday a meeting of the principal men of Palmerston was held, and in order to thoroughly test the matter, it guaranteed a storekeeper for provisions for the party for three months. The place being made for is a gorge fourteen miles from Palmerston. The party is sanguine of ultimate success. As the party was out through the recent wretched weather, it may be expected they have undergone some privations, and the whole suffer from rheumatism. So far, they have ex pended L6O in the venture, and now that they are being backed, they start away again on Suuday. The Parihaka Meeting. New Plymouth, June 19. The Parihaka meeting closed last nig lit. The number of natives present was esti mated at 800. Tohu and Te Whiti both spoke, and were both very earnest in their exhortations to their followers to restrain themselves under any provocation given, and keep the peace. They said that the only way they could succeed in any undertaking was to avoid war, no matter what provocation was given. A great deal of Scriptural language was used, and the natives were told that the prophecy which related to the end of the world alluded to the present time. The work in which Te Whiti and Tohu are engaged is to be concluded at once. Only those who are followers of Te Whiti will partake of the advantages to be derived. The natives are the lords of the world, said Tohu, and although they were troubled with in vasions, the burden was light in compari son to that cai'ried by their adversaries. The natives had proved themselves superior by avoiding war, and, continu ing to do so, they would be successful. A Lawyer in Trouble. Nelson, June 18.

The Supreme Court sittings before the Chief Justice, opened this morning. A bill was also presented to the Grand Jury in relation to the charge of perjury against Mr. Acton Adams, M. H.R. Just before 5 p.m. the jury returned a true bill against him for perjury, and the case will be tried on Wednesday. Ay, What ? . Wellington, June 19.

A deputation from the Benevolent Society waited on the Colonial Secretary this morning to ascertain what assistance the institution would receive after the end of the present month, when the Corpora tion subsidy would cease. The Secretary replied that the question was a difficult one, and he would consult the Colonial Treasurer. The Fisheries Bill. Dunedin, June 18. The Otago Acclimatisation Society urge the amendment of the Fisheries Bill by the incorporation of the pro visions of The Salmon Trout Act, 1867, preserving the Acclimatisation Society’s revenues from licenses and penalties. The Carnival. The Carnival takings to date are L5lO. Drowned. The body found on Hindon railway has been identified as that of Michael McCarthy, laborer, who, while in a fit, to which he was greatly subject, fell into a few inches of water and was drowned. The Property Tax Again. Invercargill, June 19. A meeting of the Eastern District Re form Association passed resolutions de nouncing the Property Tax as wrong in principle, urging that if retrenchment were carried out it would be unnecessary ; but if further revenue were wanted we should have an income tax. A resolution was also passed deprecating the stoppage of subsidies, and suggesting exemption clauses. The principles of the Land Tax Act should be extended to the Rating Act, allowing local bodies to exempt im provements. Bunny Looking Up.

Invercargill, June 19.

Rabbit skins have locally increased in value a half-penny per pound. Stock and Co., local merchants, are buying them for export to the United States, whence a demand has sprung up. The Kakanui Meat Preserving Works has sent an order for several thousand rabbit carcases, at 4d. per pair.

CHISPA’S LETTER.

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

I see the Hon J. IST. V. ilson is down on the justices, and has poked up the Govern ment to shunt off the list all the insolvents “ and other unsuitable people.” I wonder how many features of a justice’s character he wants that word “unsuitable” to cover 1 I have heard of one justice who bravely fined a digger LI for being drunk, and an hour afterwards sat down with that digger and his mates, and helped and joined with the whole crowd in drinking the notes that remained. The digger got the second offence, ill seeing, I suppose, it was sanctioned by the august aid and majesty of the Bench. There is a Judge now on the bench who, while sitting as a Resident Magistrate, had to figure as defendant in innumerable debt cases, and even now his name does not seldom follow a small v for unpaid accounts. I should neither like to be plaintiff nor defendant in a case coming before a Judge like that, for I should be afraid that he owed my ad versary money, and the fear of a writ may wonderfully sway a decision. I have heard, too, of another case, in which the Magis trate is said to be owing all round and the first question asked of a client by the solicitors who practice in said Magistrate Court is—Does the beak owe you any money ? and the next is---Does he

owe the other side any 1 If there is nothing owing, the case, of course, is safe to be heard on its merits. If there is money owing—well, justice has one eye open then. Those solicitors were at one time meditating clubbing a few notes, buying up LSO worth of the beak’s paper, and putting him through. Colonel Brett has come across a Justice in Hawke’s Bay who had been convicted of sly-grogging. Can any one wonder at decent men refusing to accept the position of Justice of the Peace ?

Back again to the Court. I have often heard my legal friends discourse learnedly on what constituted vagrancy, and when a man could be said to have no lawful visible means of support. I was never able to get exactly at the hang of their opinions on the subject, but I have known worthless characters who travelled the country living on their wits, carry a two feet rule in their pocket, just to show that they had some show of doing work, when a policeman hove in sight. These are the sort of men who are perennially unem ployed, who seek for work always, but are in constant fear lest they should find it. We have that class of character here, too, as well as elsewhere. A loafer, whom I have often seen within cooey of the R.M. Court, was once threatened with the Vagrancy Act. He stoutly denied being without visible means of support, “ For,” said lie unblushingly, “ my brother is very well-to-do, and I loaf on him. ” But for the greater density of blood than water that brother would have been very glad to see his loafing relative do a month or two in a Government billet under very strict discipline. 1 But the case of this moral weed Bariera seems to me peculiar. What good purpose he can serve in this fair world of ours is an enigma. Still, it is also an enigma to me how, sentenced to three months’ compulsory service of. his adopted country for being a rouge and a vagabond and without visible lawful means of support, he should yet turn out to be the owner of between L2O and L3O worth of property, and be able to emerge from his free dwelling under Colonel Felton’s sheltering wing and claim it. The business—-if you can call it that—he carried on was, I pre sume, what his apprehension and convic tion aimed at stopping. Without the trulls he harbored his occupation was gone. Yet the furniture he claimed has been handed over to these women to help them on in their hellish trade. Brave law ! Strict and impartial justice !

I notice that one of the Wellington papers waxes jubilant over the fact that a considerable quantity of new silver and copper coin isfindingits way into circulation in Wellington. I don’t know that there is any very strong reason to be joyful over this fact ; but I would be very joyful in deed if it were a proved fact that a large quantity of any kind of coin—new or old had suddenly been added to that already in circulation in Ashburton in this year of grace 1880.

The Milton Pottery Company have en gaged an experienced hand for the manu of glassware. This information reaches us at a strangely opportune time. For now that another sixpence has been added to the cost of a gallon of beer, mine host will be able to lay aside the glasses he has been using, and go in for a set no smaller in bulk, but considerably reduced in capacity—reduced just enough to square that sixpence on the gallon. Tom Quill owes me something for this tip, and so do all his fellows in the trade. Ohisfa.

THE STORY-TELLER.

A NARROW ESCAPE. CHAPTER I—CLOUD AND SUNSHINE. “ Ettie, you do love me ? ” She turned towards him wiili a smile— “ I have told you, George, a thousand times, that I love you better than my life. What need, then, to ask me again ? ” “ Because,” he said, “ you are all that I have upon earth ; and it is so sweet to hear from your own lips that you are mine.”

They sat, hand in hand, upon a sloping bank overlooking the sea, which rolled in, drowsily, at their feet, and broke in wavelets on a sandy beach, the tiny ripples sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight. Two simple folk, forgetting all the world, even life itself, in the fulness of their love ! It was on the western coast, just where Somerset joins with Devon, and the softer beauties of the Bristol Channel begin to merge into the bolder scenery and mightier waters of the Atlantic. The time was many years ago, before railways were made or thought of, and when something of Arcadian simpli city was yet to be found in nooks and corners remote from high roads leading to and from great cities. In those days there was a frankness in the intercourse of grown-up people, which one seldom meets with now: a touch of childlike directness and honesty long since smoothed away by what we call the refinements of civilisation.

So these two sat, hand in hand, without a thought of shame, and talked to each other of their love, and their prospects in life, and their hopes of living over again in the future in the lives of their children. And ever and again, there came his eager question— “ You do love me, Ettie 1 ” And her bright and loving answer— “ Better than my life ! ”

They were well matched—in age, in looks, and fortunes. Ettie Stanton was the only child of a substantial yeoman, who dying soon after she came to woman hood, left her mistress of Stanton Holm, a comfortable farm, not too large for a woman to manage, as women were in those parts and in those days, yet large enough to make Ettie something of an heiress. Partly the farm, and partly her own grace and beauty, brought many suitors to Stanton Holrn. If Ettie had been so minded, she might have married half the parish—squire, parson, doctor, and yeoman alike were at her feet. But Nettie, being heart-free, refused them all, for she had no thought of marriage— till one day there came to her the Destined One who at some time in her life comes to every woman, and who conquered, and himself was conquered at a glance. This was George Thursfield, a handsome and generous young fellow from a midland city, to whom an uncle had bequeathed the farm next to Stanton Holm, and who thus became first Nettie’s neighbor, and

then her lover—for, this being their fate, acquaintance passed easily into friendship, and before they knew the difference, acquaintance had melted into love. And so it fell out that on this August day, Nettie Stanton and George Thursfield sat hand in hand upon a sloping bank over looking the sunlit sea, talking with loving fondness of loving and wedding : with the sunshine of happiness in their hearts, and to all outward seeming, with unclouded sunshine lighting up the prospect of their united lives.

But appearances are deceptive; and human foresight is poor and weak : baffled even by the changes of an hour. While the lovers revelled in their sunny dream and all seemed bright and fair before them, heavy clouds were gathering, and without warning a bitter storm was preparing to break upon their heads. It fell out in this way. Amongst Nettie’s former suitors had been Richard Ellerton, the only son of old Squire Eller ton, the chief landowner in Stanton parish and the parts adjacent. Richard was no favorite, either with gentlemen or yeomen. His temper was mai-ked with sullen obstinacy, he was proud and re vengeful, and used to domineer in his father’s household, he could not brook resistance to his will by pei sons of inferior station. So when Nettie Stanton refused his offer of marriage preferring to remain mistress of Stanton Holm rather than to become mistress of Stanton Hall, Richard Ellerton broke out into passionate exclamations of anger, then fell back upon humble entreaties, and at last, finding the girl determined in her resolution, he cried oat that his love was turned to hate, and vowed to be revenged.

Soon after this rebuff, Richard Ellerton quitted Stanton, and went, so they said at the Hall, to cure his grief by travel in foreign parts. By and by there came rumors that he had fallen into evil ways, and more than one seafaring man belong ing to the Channel ports affirmed that Richard Ellerton had been seen in the command of a fast-sailing schooner, part smuggler, part something worse, which now and then troubled the honest trading vessels in th' se waters. Some color was given to these stories by the remembrance that he had always been fond of a sailor’s life, and that from a lad he had chosen his associates out of the lower class of fishermen, all of whom were smugglers at the bottom; for in those days of high duty smuggling was profitable, and on the coast fishing boats were built with an eye to run over to France and the stow age of a cargo of contraband goods, for the safe lodgement of which numerous caves in the rocky headlands afforded means in abundance. To check these practices a revenue officer had long been posted at Stanton, and when suspicion arose it was his duty to send to the nearest coast-guard station for help. Of late, however the officer had not been much troubled, and with this inaction of the smugglers the rumors of Richard Ellerton’s connection with them had died away : the more so as every now and then there came to the squire letters in Rich ard’s hand from foreign cities, the very names of which were unknown to the Stanton folk.

(to be continued)

POVERTY AND SUICIDE.

A Sad End

At the inquest in Dunedin, on Wednes day, on the body of William C. England, who was discovered in a dying condition on the footpath, on Monday night, evidence was given showing that the deceased was a civil engineer and surveyor, 58 years of age, and had lately got into bad circum stances, through poverty and failing health. After hearing evidence, the Coroner then read a letter written by deceased, which was as follows : “ Cox’s Temperance Hotel, ‘ ‘ Maclaggan street, “Dunedin, June 14, 1880. “My Dear Friend, —I am so nervous that I can scarcely direct my pen, but I could not well do what I am forced to do without saying a word of farewell to my last friend. “lean no longer exist. I know not where to lay my head at night, or to find the price of a meal to appease the constant pain of hunger. You can have no adequate idea of the abhorrence with which I regard the idea of suicide, yet I am compelled to this course as the only one open to me. lam old, disabled from rheumatism, and cannot under the most favorable circumstances expect a long lease of life. If my mind was free as to the morality of the act, I would have no hesitation as to what I should do ; but seeing myself so pressed by insuperable difficulties, I have no alternative.— Yours in death, “W. C. England. “ P.S. —I have seen some people since I have written the first part of this note, and I see no hope for me. Oh, David, it is dreadful to think a man in the full possession of all his intellectual facul ties should be compelled to do ivhat I am going to do. It is horrible. Yet, what can Ido ?_ Nothing but that is left to me. Even as if all these things were not enough, the conditions of life in New Zea land are enough to discourage anyone to endure life here. Pity me, your poor friend,

W. C. England.” The Coroner stated that the de ceased no doubt died from the effects of strychnine administered by himself, and the jury returned a verdict to the effect that he committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.

The No-Confidence Debate.

Mr. Moss resumed the debate on the no-confidence motion yesterday. He re viewed the financial proposals, stating that the total deficiency amounted to L 990,000 in round numbers. To make good that deficiency the Treasurer had had recourse to the Public Works Fund. When that fund was exhausted he would like to know what would be done. If the late Public Works Loan had not been floated, he would like to know in what position they would have found themselves placed. They had the country literally bleeding at their feet. Such being the case, Govern ment ought to welcome an Opposition or ganised for the express purpose of discuss ing and advising respecting this serious state of matters. Instead of that they had shown a disposition to stamp out opposi tion, and sat silent on their benches, in stead of entering heartily into the debate. The taxation they proposed was to be

THE ASHBURTON HERALD, SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1880.



ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST.



Butter,* .inferior to best 3 Eggs, $ dozen Cheese, prime quality, : Bacon, p.ime smoked, \ Hams ip cloth, If? lb Flour in bags, ioolb Oatmeal, K? 251 b Lard, lb - o 13 4



('. Messrs. Matson and Co. report as fol lows on the live stock market for the week ending June 17 • Yesterday’s weekly sale at the Adding ton Yards presented a large entry of all classes of sheep, both cross-bred and merinos, mutton being well represented. Of the former, the quality was generally good, Mr. R. M. Morten’s wethers and several other lines being especially prime, the first-mention,ed topping the market at 16s: per head. The auction opened with a good attendance, but the full supply had,the effect of causing biddings at the early sales to be somewhat languid, and prices fora time showed a decline of Is. to Is. 6d. per head under last week’s rates. This, however, was to a great extent re covered toward the middle and close of the sale, and, with the exception of one or two small lots, all the mutton was cleared at from 2d. to 2|d. per lb. Store sheep are still in great demand, more particu larly young ewes for breeding purposes, which are very difficult to obtain. In the absence of store cross-breds for turnip feeding, and in anticipation of the present wool rate being well maintained, half and three-quarter fat sheep are in many in stances being taken up by graziers at from 9s. to 10s, 6d. per head, to hold over for next season’s clip. The beef trade yester day exhibited ■ a slight sign of improve ment in the demand, and most of the lots on offer were cleared. The large.quantity, however, sent into the market every week, and the extensive outside transactions, prevent any hope of improvement in price for some little time, or until owners have to depend almost entirely upon hay and turnips for grazing purposes. Then, and not till then, may any improvement be looked for. Store cattle are moving off rather more freely, but no material alteration in values can be quoted. The totals yarded for the day comprised 293 head of cattle, 7,938 sheep, and 290 pigs, of which our entry included 174 head of cattle, 3,846 sheep, and 259 pigs. In pigs there was the largest entry of the season, but although competition for the various lots was well maintained, prices have fallen 10 to 25 per cent, below rates ruling a month or six weeks since. We hear from good authority, too, that bacon curers have reduced their trade price from sd. to 4d. and per lb. This must, of course, make a corresponding decrease in the price of stores. Country Sale.—On Tuesday, at the Tinwald Saleyards, we sold, by order of the trustee in the estate of Messrs. Wil liam Fleming, J. Smith, P. Whitelaw, and Gray, the whole of their live and dead stock, removed to the yards for con venience of sale. There was one of the largest audiences ever seen at the Tinwald Yards, and every line submitted caused keen competition, resulting In a to A al clearance at most satisfactory values.



Messrs. Acland, Campbell and Co. re port on their sales in the live stock market for the past fortnight, as follows :—On Tuesday, June 8, we held our usual fort nightly sale at Ashburton, when there was a large entry of sheep. We placed over 1000 at satisfactory rates. Fat cross-breds up to 10s., stores from 6s. 6d. to Bs. 6d., merino store wethers ss. 3d., ewes 4s. There were about the usual number of cattle entered, and nearly all were placed at prices equal to late quotations. A good many pigs came to hand, all of them being quickly disposed of at full prices. We also sold several farm horses, imple ments, &c., horses making up to L 24, double-furrow plough Ll2, M'Cormick reaper and binder L3O. On Friday, the 11th, and Saturday, the 12th, we held a clearing sale of stock, Ac., at Westerfield, on account of Mr. C. G. Hawdon. The sale was one of the most satisfactory we have held for some time, there being a very large attendance, in fact the largest we have ever seen at any country sale, and the biddings for nearly all lots were most spirited. Dairy cows fetched from L 5 to L 8 ss. ; two-year-old heifers, L 4 15s. ; three-year-old steers, L 5 ; two-year old steers, L 3 2s. 6d. ; yearlings, L2 7s. 6d. ; calves, 30s. The stud flock of pure Lincolns averaged about L 3 3s. all round, Messrs. M‘Lean, Greenaway, Cameron, and Corsbie being the buyers. Although this may appear a low price for such high class stock, still considering the times we must look on the rate as fairly satisfac tory. Good useful farm horses fetched from L2O to L 35. There was no difficulty in disposing of all the pigs at full market rates, averaging L2 15s. 6d.



Miscellaneous O - ! n AA A TO LEND, in sums to suit borrowers, at lowest rate of interest. F. P. O’Reilly, Solicitor, Ashburton. 424c-835g WANTED—A good GENERAL SER- V\ YANT. Apply at once, personally to Mr. Willcocks, Wheatsheaf Hotel, Wheatstone. 559 c WANTED— A General SERVANT. Apply to Mrs. Douglas, Post office. 9*730 WANTED Immediately, a Competent DRESSMAKER. Apply to T. R. Hodderand Company, Ashburton. 570 c A GOOD PIANO on hire, by the evening. H. M. Jones, Stationery and Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and Baring Square. WANTED KNOWN—That 0. 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 W' ANTED KNOWN, that M. NEALAS is now OPENING UP a First Class Assortment of BOOTS and SHOES, suitable for Winter wear, which he intends to dispose of at his usual CHEAP RATES. 924g-536c WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL. THE SCHOLARS are affectionately in vited to MEET at the Church, Cameron street, on SUNDAY next at One p.m., in order to be preseni at the Funeral Service of their late school-fellow, Ernest Edgar Williams. W. KEALL, 965 g Pastor. TO LET, A LARGE, comfortable room, centrally situated, suitable for society and committee meetings. Terms low. H. M. JONES, 567 c Baring square. A CHALLENGE. HEARING that George Montgo mery is willing to run me again, I will RUN HIM ONE MILE, and give him Fifty Yards’ Start, for Five Pounds. JOHN GROVES. 576 c Ashburton.



AGENTS FOR THE SALE OF NEW BILLS, ACTS, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. THE following NEW BILLS intro duced into Parliament can be ob tained at the Ashburton Guardian office : No. 21 Adulteration Prevention ~ 20 Aliens ~ 22 Animals Protection ~ 30 Bank and Bankers ~ 31 Bills of Exchange Procedure ~ 15 Brands and Branding ~ 23 Building Societies ~ 33 Chattels Securities ~ 35 Corrupt Practices Prevention ~ 24 Cruelty to x^nimals ~ 25 Deaths by Accidents Compensa tion ~ 19 Dog Registration ~ 14 Fencing ~ 4 Fisheries ~ 38 Hospitals and Charitable Insti tutions ~ 13 Impounding ~ 26 Juries ~ 17 Licensing ~ 27 Marriage ~ 28 Married Women’s Property Pro tection ~ 32 Mercantile Law ~ 11 Native Land Court ~ 12 Native Land Sales ~ 34 Regulation of Elections