The Manawatu Steamer Affair.

Some weeks ago, we took note of a very peculiar case of marine management that occurred at Wellington in connection with the steamer Manawatu. On board that steamboat an accident had occurred, by which- the crown of the boilers sunk, and the safety of both ship and crew was im perilled. An inquiry into the facts brought out the startling intelligence that one engineer, the only qualified one on board, believed he shipped only for the purpose of enabling the owners or agent to comply with the shipping laws, that he received no pay, and was only taking a pleasure trip, doing nothing on board as an engineer, the whole • work of at tending to the engines being done by a ihan who, whatever his skill, had no certificate, and in his hands the accident occurred. A telegram informs us that legal proceedings are now to be taken on the facts elicited at the inquiry, and the captain is to be proceeded against for going to sea without a proper complement of men ; against the purser for falsifying the ship’s articles, (it having come out in evidence that he signed the name of the certificated engineer to the articles without his consent or knowledge) and aga’nst the agent of the vessel for fraudu lently engaging men to go to sea. It will perhaps be remembered that the engineer who, by his own statement enabled the agent to evade the law by taking a pas senger on board the vessel, has up to this time been the only one of the lot of offenders who has suffered any punish ment—he having had his certificate taken from him for six months.

Sir Hercules Robinson on the Cost of Education.

Sir Hercules Robinson brought with

him to this colony a character for being a mad of man of some parts, and those of * the jAshburton settlers who heard him ( deliver his reply to the County Council’s address when he turned the first sod of the Mount Somers Railway would be satisfied that the character he brought with him was not an undeserved one. Sir Her cules Robinson’s public utterances since he came to the colony, some nine or ten months ago, have not been many, but when he has opened his mouth he has ' always said something worth thinking over. Colonial Governors as a rule are not the most brilliant of British statesmen, and we in New Zealand are fortunate in having at our head a gentleman of Sir Hercules Robinson’s talent. Last week he spoke at the opening of the Wellington Normal School, a fitting and apt occasion on which to give his opinion of our much lauded educational system. Of this sys tem of ours the fame is world-wide, and for instituting it the colony has gained golden opinions from all sorts of people in other countries. Wherever New Zea land is known, so also is the fact that her educational system is the most liberal of of any State under the sun, that it is free and unsectarian, and that under it no child brought up in the colony can pos sibly be without a knowledge of the three

R’s, while education embracing a wider range of subjects may easily be secured, if parents are but willing to keep their children at school. There is little to pre vent this —certainly |no deterrent in fluence m the shape of school fees—and there is no direct taxation of any kind for the support of the system. In a great measure, too, the educational affairs of the colony are directly in the hands of the people as represented in the Local Com mittees whom they elect, and through these in the Education Boards, the members of which are elected by the Committees. Altogether the educa tion system of the oolony is a grand one—and that is just what Sir Hercules has to say of it. But he says a good deal more. He asks whether the attempt to provide the “ machinery for supplying the whole youthful population of the colony with free education of the varied and advanced character embraced in the six standards will not entail upon the country an expen diture more heavy than can be borne. As to cost, however, he had to confess that when he contemplated the expenditure which primary education will entail on the general revenue, so soon as the scheme at present established by law is brought into full operation, the prospect appeared to him to beappaling.” It has had an ap palling appearance to more than Sir Her cules Robinson ever since the system was adopted, but so much in love with the free and open handed gift of education were the majority of the people that those who dared to think it too costly had to say so with bated breath. Now r , however, the Governor, after, as he says, several months of study of the Education Act and its administration, makes the statement boldly that the education given is altogether of too high a class for the colony to provide free, and soon the consolidated revenue will be unable to bear the cost. It is when we are brought face to face with hard figures on the subject that we begin to.think of what the cost of the system is like, and the figures given by Sir Hercules, and given just before the meeting of Par liament, seems to us to indicate rocks ahead for the completely free character of New Zealand’s State education. He

points out that in 1877, when the present Education Act came into force, Parliament w r rote off £204,200 for purposes of primary education. In 1878 this sum increased to £317,923 ; and in 1879 to £368,457 —or, as Sir Hercules makes it, from £5 for every child in average daily attendance in 1877, to £6 12s. in 1878 and £6 14s. in 1879. His Excellency pointed out that

the expenditure could not by any possi bility be reduced below LG per head, if the present character of the education given were to be maintained, and at the natural rate of increase in attendance the colony would soon find it self face to face with an expenditure from the consolidated revenue of from £400,000 to £500,000 a year, and this upon primary education alone, and exclusive of the no mean cost of the Education Department, and what was expended upon higher and secondary education. His Excellency dealt with other features of our education system, but we are con tent to refer only'to the question of cost, as being the most powerful factor, in the present state of the colony’s finance, for bringing about a change. Delivered just at the time it was, we are inclined to. take the Governor’s speech as an indication of what line legislation will take on educa tion this year. And all tilings considered we fancy that a re-imposition of the household tax for education looms up in the near future, for it stands to

reason that something more than a Par liamentary vote from the consolidated fund will be required to sustain an educa tion costing £6 14s. for every child in average attendance. For this sum per annum in the old country something more could be obtained than a bare knowledge, and not very certain at that, of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Indeed, there are not many of the Grammar Schools, whose school fees amount to so much per head.

Singular Case of Lightning Stroke.

A paper was read at a late meeting of the Clinical Society, London, by Dri G. Wilks, of Ashford, on a remarkable case of lightning stroke, which occurred on June 8, 1878. A farm labourer was struck by lightning whilst standing under a willow tree, close to the window of a shed in which his three fellow-workmen had just taken shelter from a violent storm of rain. His companions found the tree partly denuded of its bark, and the patient’s boots standing at its foot. The patient himself was lying on his back two yards off, and though he was fully clothed previously, he was now naked, with abso lutely nothing on except part of the left arm of his flannel vest. He was con scious, but much burnt, and his leg was badly broken. The field around was strewn with fragments of the clothing, the clothes were split and torn from top to bottom, the edges of the fragments' being often torn into shreds or fringes; they only showed evidences of fire where they came in contact with metal, such as his watch and the buckle of his waist-belt. There were no laces in the boots. The left boot was torn and twisted into fan tastic shapes, but the. sole Was uninjured, and there were no signs of fire upon it ; the right boot had the leather much torn and the sole rent and burnt. The watch had a hole burnt through the case, and the chain was almost entirely destroyed. The stockings were split down the inner side ; the hat was uninjured. The .patient stated that he was struck violently on the chest and shoulders, became en veloped in blinding light, and was hurled into the air, coming down on his back, “ all of a crash,” and never losing con sciousness. The hair of his face was burnt, and the body was covered with burns. Down each thigh and leg was a broad crimson indurated band of burning, passing along the innerside of the knee, and ending below the left inner ankle and the right heel; a lacerated wound, with a comminuted fracture of the oscalcis. The bones of the right leg were fractured, and the tibia protruded through the skin in the course of the burn. He was dis charged healed twenty w'eeks after the occurrence. Dr. Wilks remarked on the almost complete exemption of the nervous system and on the probability that the clothes being wet acted as good conduc tors, and so diverted the electric current from the great nervous trunks, thus saving the man’s life.

THE ASHBURTON HERALD.

[Wednesday, May 19* 1880.



Business Notices. BEST NEWCASTLE LAMBTON COLLIERY. 50s. f ' ERTOK 1 A PER CENT. DISCOUNT J-U for CASH. SPRINGFIELD COALS 40s. PER TON. 10 Per Cent. Discount for Cash. To be delivered in my yard. Acconnts to be paid monthly. 359 C ~773 G C. PERCY COX.



Q 0 T T 0 N & 00., HORSE CLIPPERS, 24 Years’ Colonial Experience. HORSES BROKEN IN TO SADDLE AND HARNESS. Moderate Charges. Apply Baldwin s Hotel, or Brighton Boarding House, Triangle. 842g-450c



JUST ARRIVED —Young Ladies’ Journals for APRIL, and other Magazines. H. M. JONES, Stationer, 60c East Street and Baring Square. Boarding Houses. CENTRAL TEMPERANCE HOTEL,. Baring Square (Near Town Hall). T> E-OPENING of the above comrno- JIL/ dious and centrally situated Pri vate and Commercial Hotel. T. BROADBELT, PROPRIETOR, Is prepared to give Superior Accommoda tion to Boarders and the Travelling Public on REASONABLE TERMS. Weekly Board and Lodging ... £1 Weekly Board 14s. MEALS AT ALL HOURS. Dinner on Saturday from 11.30. Beds (single), Is. Gd. Private Room for Ladies. 153rj-624a



Edmiston, Gundry & Co. FOR SALE, BY PRIVATE TREATY. THE undersigned have for sale by Private Treaty, the following Pro perties : R.S. 28216, 7,8, 9, containing 686 acres, which will be sold in farms of 100 acres and upwards. This property is within 4 miles of Ashburton township, is very good land, and will be sold on very reasonable terms, viz, 10s. per acre cash and the balance at a low rate of interest on a term of years. 210 ACRES on Gould and Cameron’s run. This property is partly fenced with gorse fences. 128 ACRES at Cherts'ey, all securely fenced, and is at present sown with turnips. This property will be sold at a low price on easy terms. 125 ACRES at Greenstreet, securely fenced with live fences, and sub divided, and a permanent stream' of water. 285 ACRES at Greenstreet, to be sold or let on a purchasing clause in one or more blocks. This is excellent land, and laid down in English grass, and well watered with creeks. This would make a capital farm, and will be sold on very liberal terms. 210 ACRES close to the township of Ashburton, with good dwell ing-house, stable, granary, &c. This property will be let for a term of years at a low rent. 500 ACRES at Orari, in one or more blocks. 150 ACRES at Tinv aid. A capital farm, being all fenced and ready for cropping. There are three creeks running through this pro perty; 150 ACRES at Ashton. A well com pact farm, together with house, stables, &c.- Price very low. . 800 ACRES at Mount'Possession. 1500 ACRES near the spread Eagle Hotel. T.S. No 879, Ashburton. T.S. 301, 302, Burnett-street, Ash-, burton. : / T.S. 247, Kcrmode Street, Ashbur ton. T.S. 182, 183, opposite Church, Tinwald, a bargain, &c. EDMISTON, GUNDRY, & CO., Auctioneers and Estate Agents. Agents for the gOUTH BRITISH FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY. Capital £1,000,000. Risks taken on all kinds of Property, Growing Crops, Grain in Stack, Thresh ing Machines, &c. EDMISTON, GUNDRY, & CO., East Street. 106



Alfred Harrison. IMPORTANT CLEARING SALE A GREAT OPPOTRUNITY. ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT RESERVE. THURSDAY, 20TH MAY. 12 o’Clock Sharp. ALFRED HARRISON has received instructions from the Trustee in the Estate of Henry Thomas, of Ashton, to , SELL BY PUBLIC AUCTION, AT THE TINWALD SALE YARDS, on the above date, the following VALUABLE STOCK AND IMPLE MENTS : 1 Draught HORSE, 1 A “ Captain” ■| Draught MARE, “ ’Rlnssnm ” REAPER and BINDER—by McCormick Fraught FILLY, 1 DRAY “ Jessie ” X J D.F. PLOUGH J Set HARROWS * HARNESS, &c. Also, At the same time and place, under in structions from Mr. Hugh Donaldson, ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT RESERVE, 2 Draught MARES Q in foal O FOALS GELDINGS -11 DAIRY COWS -L-fl re;i COLT, 2 -really good HEIFERS broken to harness 2 Hack MARES Jg CALVES H Light Draught T BULL—well bred A- FILLY, rising 2 years PIGS Etc., etc. WITHOUT RESERVE, AT THE TINWALD SALE YARDS. THURSDAY, 20tii MA Y. 12 to the minute. ALFRED HARRISON, 853c-477e Auctioneer.



Alfred Harrison. BY ORDER OF THE BAILIFF OF THE R.M. COURT. THURSDAY, 2oth MAY. 1.2 o’clock sharp. A LFREB HARRISON is instructed by the Bailiff to Sell by Public Auction, at the TIN WALD SALEYARDS, gg SACKS WHEAT, Seconds. 12 sharp. ALFRED HARRISON, 476 c Auctioneer. WEDNESDAY, 26th MAY, 12 0 clock. ALFRED HARRISON has received instructions from S. J. Zander, Esq., who is leaving the colony, to sell by Public Auction, on the premises, at the corner of Tancred street, opposite the Church of England parsonage, the whole of his furniture and effects, comprising Piano, by Erard, Drawing-room Suite, in brown rep Gilt Mirror Occasional Tables Wardrobe, Sewing Machine (treadle) Bedsteads Bedding Brussels Carpets Very Handsome Bronze and Marble Clock and Statuettes Double barrel Gun in case, complete Kitchen Utensils, &c., &c. The whole of the above are excep tionally good and nearly new. • Sale at 12 o’clock sharp. ALFRED HARRISON, 863g-572c Auctioneer. Acland, Campbell, and Co. Important Sale. TOWNSHIP OF CHELMSFORD; LAGMOHR, ASHBURTON. Five and three quarter miles from Tin wald, on Mount Somers Railway Line. STATION NOW IN COURSE OF ERECTION. SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY FOR SECURING A TOWNSHIP FREEHOLD. TERMS VERY EASY. Messrs, acland, Campbell, & CO. have received instructions from the Proprietors to sell BY PUBLIC AUCTION, V ON Tuesday, May 25, 'AT TIN WALD, AT 1 1.30 SHARP. i Qf* BUILDING 100 ' ALLOTMENTS IOO’ In the above Township, averaging from one quarter to half an acre. The situation is one of the best, being m the centre of the largest and' best agricultural districts in Can terbury, with tli.e branch railway already completed, and the - station now in course of erec tion. And at the same time, EIGHT OR -NINE FARMS, Adjoining, or close ■to above, and vary ing in size from 111 to 350 Acres, WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE. Plans can be seen, and full particulars obtained, from Messrs. Acland, Campbell, and Co., Christchurch, and Mr. Boyle, Ashburton. Sale commences at 11.30 sharp, ACLAND, CAMPBELL, & CO., 475 Auctioneers. T. Bullock. ■ THE undersigned has the following PROPERTIES to LET with a pur chasing clause, or FOR SALE on liberal terms of payment —* -| fc'A ACRES good WHEAT LAND, all ploughed and ready for cross ploughing for wheat; situated about three miles from the township. f*F7 ACRES, near the above ; also good U ® WHEAT LAND, ploughed once and ready for cross-ploughing. PZ£\ ACRES, partly improved, near Wins low. This will be sold very cheap, and on very liberal terms. TOWN PROPERTIES. VALUABLE BUSINESS SITE in Bur * nett Street, being T.S. 177, next the “ Mail” office. T>ART of T.S. 139, Peter Street. This -®- will be sold cheap, and on liberal terms. TO Railway Employes, Mechanics, and Others.—FOß SALE, cheap, Lot 78, situated on East Town Belt. Terms, £5 cash ; balance by monthly or quarterly payments. FOR SALE, Cheap, Dwelling-house of 7 rooms, situated on the East Belt, near the Parsonage—For particulars apply to T. Bullock. 453 d T. BULLOCK.



Business Notices. LATEST STYLES FROM LONDON & PARIS. CRAIGHEAD & CO., Merchant Tailors, - TANCRED STREET, (Next Orr & Co.) PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED. 982a-4400 PATRONISED BY ALL CLASSES. THE GREATEST DISCOVERY OF THE AGE. KIUEIi’S TRADE H\s MARK. PURE EXTRACT of KEROSINE WILL NOT IGNITE IF LAMP IS UPSET. Burns in any, Kerosine Lamp ; gives a brighter light, lasts longer, is free from smell and free from danger. Sold by all respectable grocers and storekeepers throughout the colony. The next time you want Oil for your Lamp try a tin of “ Niner’s Extract.” Sold in pints, quarts, half-gallon and one-gallon tins. Wholesale and Retail Agents for the Ashburton District— O R R AND CO., Ashburton and Rakaia. 316c-735g



PRACTICAL WATCH & CLOCK ... MAKER, JEWELLER, &c. V £ RO.BT. MURRAY, MOORE STREET, BEACH ROAD, ASHBURTON, HAYING had over thirty years’ ex perience in some of the leading establishments in England and Scotland, trusts by good workmanship and atten tion to business to merit a share of the patronage of the inhabitants of Ashburton and County. A well-assorted stock of Watches, Clocks, Jewellery, Spectacles, &c. Watch Glasses and Keys, of best quality, fitted. All Watch and Clock Work and Jewel lery repairs executed on the Premises. ■ Specimens of Workmanship by R.M. shown in the window, AT MOORE STREET (Next. Door to the Road Board Office), BEACH ROAD, ASHBURTON. 824g-429c HORSE BREAKING. THE undersigned is now prepared to Undertake the BREAKING of HORSES to double and single harness, also to saddle. Mr. Willcocks has had a very consider able experience in Australia, and his success there as a Trainer is sufficient guarantee as to his ability. All orders to be left at the Coach Office, Commercial Hotel, Ashburton, or the Wheatsheaf Hotel, Wheatstone. 403c-816g GEO. WILLCOCKS. NOTICE. WESTERFIELD MILL. TO FARMERS, BAKERS, & OTHERS. rjIHE Westerfield Mill is now in full work, and the public can be supplied with FIRST-CLASS FLOUR on most reason able terms. Every attention will be’given to'Public Gristing, and farmers fron#*a distance caii have* grist done immediately after de livery. Applyjjto the Miller, HENRY BOWERS. Grain stored on liberal terms. 389c-796<? REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF BREAD. EDWARD TAYLOR has reduced the Price of his best Bread to sd. Cash at shop, and if delivered by cart, 5-gd. EDWARD TAYLOR, Saunders’ Buildings, 119 c ASHBURTON.



Business Notices. Dissolution OF Partnership. ORE AND CO., ~|p>EG to announce that they intend to DISSOLVE PARTNERSHIP on Ist SEPTEMBER, They will therefore, on Saturday, May Ist, offer the whole of their superior stock, amounting to over £20,000 worth of DRAPERY, IRONMONGERY, AND GROCERIES, ' AT COST PRICE. The reductions in price extends to every Department in our Business, And we trust our Customers will pay PROMPT CASH DURING SALE. All Goods will be marked in"'plain'figures with Red Ink. > ■f l % All outstanding accounts must be paid at once so that partnership accounts may be adjusted. I, l k ORE & CO., ASHBURTONI& RAKAIA April 24th, 1880.



P. S. —A Large Shipment of Drapery Goods just opened up ex Pallala. Guns! Guns! Guns! POWDER. 'SHOT. CAPS. ■ORE AND CO. AYE " now on hand a very fine assortment of BREECHLOADING DOUBLE AND SINGLE-BARREL GUNS, And as these have been imported direct from the we are prepared to Sell at |the_jnost Reasonable Prices— Fromjj£2 01R R A NID C O E 9 KJ 199c-9



Business Notices. T. It HODDER & CO. ET AYE much pleasure in announc- JL ing to their friends and the public generally, that their stock of' WINTER DRAPERY, MILLINERY, MEN’S AND HOYS’ CLOTHING HATS AND HOSIERY, BOOTS AND SHOES, IS NOT TO BE SURPASSED FOR QUALITY AN D ASSORTMENT, Each Department being replete with everything suitable for the season. JUST TO HAND— A Very Large Assortment of Melbourne Clothing, MADE ESPECIALLY TO ORDER. T. R. HODDER & Of), having been encouraged by their greatly increased trade in the Clothing Department, have ENLARGED h HEIR PREMISES, Enabling them to keep a Larger and More Varied Assortment. Tailoring In all branches by most experienced hands. SUITS, RIDING TROUSERS, HABITS, &c., made on the most im proved principle, at the shortest notice, and as cheap, or cheaper, than any house in Canterbury. T. R. HODDER and CO., seeking to Encourage Local Industries keep a well assorted stock of Xaiapoi, Roslyn, and Mosgiel Manufactured Goods. Boots and Shoes, Imported and Colonial make, from the best Christchurch and Dunedin Manufacturers. T. R. HODDER & CO. j while not pro fessing to sell everything at COST PRICE, are prepared to meet EXISTING COM PETITION and to encourage all Cash Purchasers. An experience of twenty six years Colonial storekeeping has taught our Firm the value of a Cash Grocery Business, which they have found succeed so'well in Ashburton since bringing down the prices of many leading commodities, which course they are still prepared to continue and show their preferring PROMPT CASH, rather than risk long credit with large profits. Ironmongery AND Crockeryware AT LOWEST PAYING RATES. Sole Agents for Singer’s Sewing Machines Sole Agents for Wanzer Sewing Machine. Agents for Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company. T. B, HODDER & CO. 407 c Public Notice. ASHBURTON STEEPLECHASE MEETING. SATURDAY, MAY 29th, 1880- List of Officers : President : E. G. Wright, Esq., M.H.R. Vice-President : W. C. Walker, Esq. Stewards : Mr. Hay T. Smith Mr. John Carter Mr. L. E. Corsbie Mr. R. Friedlander Mr. Neil M ‘Lean Mr. J. Hunt Mr. E. Saunders Mr. A. McLean Mr. E. S. Coster Dr. Ross Judge : Mr. M. Stitt. Starter : Mr. John Carter. Clerk of the Course: Mr. E. Saunders. Cleric of the Scales Mr. E. F. Wright. Hon. Secretary : Mr. J. Wilkie. Hon. Treasurer : Mr. C. C.'Fooks. Handicapper : Mr. H. P. Lance. FIRST RACE TO START AT 12.30 P.M. 1. Ashburton Handicap Steeplechase, of 40 sovs., added to a sweepstakes of 2 sovs. each for acceptors ; over about 3 miles of fair hunting country; nomination 2 sovs. 2. District Handicap of 20 sovs.*, added to a sweep of 2 sovs. for acceptors ; 2 miles ; nomination 1 sov., for district horses only. 3. The Wakanui Stakes, of 20 sovs.; weight for age ; open to all horses ; 2 miles ; entrance 1 sov. 4. Farmers’ Steepechase, of 15 sovs.; about 13, miles ; weight for age ; en trance 1 sov.; for district horses only. 5. Hack Steeplechase, of 5 sovs.; 1 mile ; catch weights ; entrance lsov. ; for district horses only. Rules 'and Regulations : The N.Z. Grand National Rules strictly adhered to, except where specified. A district horse shall mean a horse commonly resident in the County since March Ist, 1880, and the bona Jide pro perty of the owner ; and “ owner ” shall mean a person or persons commonly resi dent in the County of Ashburton not less than six months previous to this meeting. The decision of the Stewards on all dis puted points shall be final. No protest will be received unless 2 sovs. be deposited, which shall be forfeited if the protest be considered frivolous. Nominations for the Handicaps to be sent to the Secretary at Quill’s Hotel not later than 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 20th. Weights will bo declared on Tuesday, May 25th. Acceptances on night of general entry, Wednesday, May 26th, at 8 p.m. All entries to state age, color, and name of the horse, and the colors of the rider. JAMES WILKIE, ‘ Hon. Sec. Ashburton Steeplechases.