THE CHURCHES

SUNDAY AND WEEK NIGHT SER VICES AND MEETINGS.

EPISCOPALIAN CHURCH.— Tancred Street, West. Rev. A. W. Hands, Incumbent. Sunday. Morning at 11 a.m., Mr. J.. Ward. Afternoon at 2.30, Sunday School. Evening at 6.30, Mr. J. Ward. Wednesday. Evening Service at 7p. m., Rev. A. W. Hands. Choir Practice at 8. Vestry meets ori First Wednesday in September. Thursday. Confirmation Classes at 6 p.m., and Sun day School Teachers’ Meeting at 7.30. Country Services—To-Morrow. Mount Somera at 11 a.m., Rev. A. W, Hands. , • Alford Forest at 3 p.m., Rev. A. W. Hands, 'll v Tinwald at 3 p.m., Mr. J. Ward. Longbeach and Waterton, Mr. Grigg. f RAKAIA PARISH. - Rev. W. H. Elton, Incumbent. Sunday. St. Mark’s Church, Rakaia.— Morning at 11, Lay Reader. Evening at 7, Rev. W. H. Elton. St. John’s, Barrhill, 3 p.m., Lay Reader. Kyle, 3 p.m., Lay Reader. St. Barnabas’, Methven, 11, Rev. W. H. Elton. All Saints, Sherwood, 3 p.m., Rev. W. H.

'■? Elton. Communion.—First Sunday in the month at St. Mark’s. Second Sunday at St. John’s. Fourth Sunday at St. Barna bas. Fifth Sunday at All Saints. Baptism in St. Mark’s, and Children’s > Service at 3 p.m.—Second Sunday in - the month.. Sunday School. > r St. Mark’s, St. John’s, and Kyle, at 2.30 every Sunday. Friday. Evensong and Choir Practice at 7.30. St. Mark’s. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH— Have > ■ ' lock Street, West. •Rev. A., M. Beattie, Minister. Sunday Services. &-■ a Morning at 11, and Evening at 6.30, in the Church.—Rev. A. M. Beattie. In Wakanui School at 3 o’clock, afternoon, „ fortnightly.—Rev. A. M. Beattie. In Ashton School and Waterton Library Hall alternately, at 3 o’clock afternoon —fortnightly—Rev. A. M. Beattie. .Sunday School in the Church at 2.30 afternoon.—Mr. W. Gavin, Superinten ; dent. Tuesday. Finance Committee—First Tuesday of every month, in the Church at 7.30. S. S. Teachers’ Association —Second Tues day of every month, in the Church at f: 7 30. Wednesday. £ Pastor’s Bible Class in the Church Vestry—Weekly at 7. Week night Service at B—Rev. A. M. Beattie. . Thursday. Tinwald School —Weekly at 7.30. Friday. Choir Practice at 7.30 —Mr. Savage, con ductor ; Mr. A. Stott, organist.

RAKAIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. —Town Hall, Rakaia. Rev. B. J. Westbrooke, Minister. Sunday. Rakaia Town Hall at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m —Rev. B. J. Westbrooke. Kyle at 3 o’clock.

WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH. —Cameron Street, East. Rev. W. Keall, Pastor. Morning, at 11, Rev. W. Keall. Evening, at 6.30, Mr. J. Alison. Sunday School—Afternoon, at 2.30. Address at 3.30, by Mr. G. W. Andrews. COUNTRY SERVICES. Old Men’s Home—Afternoon, at 3, Mr. H. M. Jones. Willowby—Afternoon, at 3, Rev. W. Keall. i Tinwald—Evening, at 6.30, Rev. W. Keall. Seafield—Afternoon, at 2.30, Mr. J. Olsen. Sunday School at 1.30. > Wakanui—Afternoon, at 2.30, Mr. J. Alison. i:,' y Monday. Cameron Street Church—Prayer meeting a at eight o’clock. ’’ ' . . - Tuesday. Class Meeting at 7.30. .y ‘ .. Thursday. •IClass,Meeting, at 7 ; Preaching Service at eight. ; Friday. Choir Practice at 7.30. PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH. • .. . —Wilds Street, East., Rev. A. ~J. Smith, Pastor. -Sunday. ipy Morning School at 10 a.m. W; ’ Morning Service at 11 a.m. Afternoon School at 2.30 p.m. Evening Service at 6.30 p.m. y Monday. Ladies’Class—ln the Church at 7.30 p.m. Tuesday. ..Divine Service at 7.30 p.m. x * Wednesday. Sunday School Singing Practice at 7 p.m. _ Thursday. ' Class Meeting in Church at 7.30. Friday. Choir practice at 7.30. NEWLANDS PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH. Sunday. iy; Morning School, 9.30. r, ■ Divine Service at 11 a.m. and at 0.30. , ~ .. ASHBURTON FORKS. r Sunday Afternoon Service at 2,30. n- • ■ • i ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL.— 4; Burnett Street West. ’ Rev. Father Chervier. -Mass at 11 am. on the second Sunday of iy. every month. Benediction service in the evening of the same day at 6.30.

COMMERCIAL.

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST.

[by telegraph.]

Dunedin, Aug. 20.

Prime beef, 30s. to 325. 6d. per ioolb.j mutton, to 3d. per lb.; good sample milling wheat, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. ; fowl s wheat, 2s. 6d. to 35.; feed oats, is. Sd. to is. 6d. ; milling is. 7d. to is. Bd.; malt barley, 2s. 9d. to 3s. 3d, ; feed, is. gd. to 2s. id.; potatoes, L2 ss. to L2 7s. 6d. ; grass hay, L2 ios. ; oaten hay, L 3 ; medium wheat, 3s. 9d. to 45.; chaff, L2 155.; straw, L2 ; bran, L 3 55.; pollard, L 4; flour,, Lio to Lio ios.; oatmeal, Lg ios.; pearl barley, LlB ; onions, 7s. 6d. to Bs.; cheese, Sd,; bacon, rolled,- gd.j hams, sides bacon, per lb. (grain fed).

BIRTH.

Stewart. —On the 16th inst., the wife of Dr. Macbean Stewart, of a son. 785 c

MARRIAGE.

Fooks—McLaren.— On August 19, at St. Mary’s Church, Otaio, by the Rev. L. C. Brady, Charles Compton Fooks, surveyor, Ashburton, to, Maggie, youngest daughter of the late Mr. James McLaren, sheep farmer, Bre mar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. 140g-78Gc

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With Which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1880. Mysterious Disappearance.

Considerable anxiety is experienced by ! the parents and friends of a young man named Henry Bontan, whose home is at Addington, in consequence of his mys terious disappearance since the 6th July last. It appears that on the above date Bontan left his father’s house at Adding ton to go to work on the farm of Mr. Morrow, South Rakaia. The lad was on good terms with all the members of his family, and on leaving home expressed his intention of writing to his father immediately on reaching his destination, but up to the present nothing has been heard of him. The matter has been put in the hands of the police for elucidation, : but nothing f satisfactory has yet resulted , from their enquiries. Mr. Morrow states that the lad had been working for him about six months, and in the early part, of July last, Bontan went home to see his parents, but Mr. Morrow has not heard anything of him since. Bontan did not take any of his clothes with him, and Mr. Morrow still owes him L 6 for wages. Mr. Morrow thinks it very impropable that the lad has lost himself, because lie was so well acquainted with the district, ■ and has gone over the place a number of times in the dark, and the road is neither rough nor dangerous. No reason can be^

assigned for the lad clearing out, as he appeared to be well satisfied with his place.. Mr. Johns, a farmer at Kyle, states that Bontan came up with him in the train to Rakaia on the sth or 6th July last ; the lad said he had been home for a holiday, and was going back to Mr. Morrow’s. Mr. Johns left him on the railway plat form at Rakaia, and has not heard or seen anything of the lad since. Bontan was at one time in the employ of Mr. Lambie, at Kyle, a,nd that gentleman has .stated that the lad left him in a similar manner. Bontan is about sixteen years of age, 5 feet 4 inches in height, of slight build, dark brown hair, fresh complexion; and was dressed; in a dark tweed suit, and black billy-cock hat.

The Gale.

The gale which has been blowing with more or less force for the last three daysj and which apparently reached its maxi mum yesterday, ceased at noon to-day, and by two o’clock the weather had settled down to almost dead calm with steady rain. In Ashburton there has been really no damage done worth mentioning, but every district within the area covered by the gale has not been so fortunate.

s As we go to press the wind has changed to S.W., with rain. „ . /. At/-. Lyttelton considerable * Mam'rige has been done, chimneys ' having been blown down and roofs smashed in, ■ and fences and lighter buildings every where levelled. The same sort of damage was done at Kaiapoi, where the roof of the Woollen Factory“s .engine-shed was lifted off, and some sky lights broken elsewhere. Not a few buildings had to be buttressed to keep them in position, and for a time the in habitants had all they could do to keep their township from being blown away. A freshet is feared in the rivers, which are rising rapidly. At ’Rangiora chimneys were blown down in every direction, while light buildings were demolished. At Amberley the telegraph poles were borne down wholesale, and there was disaster amongst the tents of the “employed” on the Waipara rail way -works. The railway goods shed at Oxford was stripped of its _ roof, and the building! otherwise injured! At Oatharu, a house had its side blown in , - and a stone cottage was levelled. The gale must have covered pretty nearly all the Middle Island, for at Dunedin we find Campbell’s china bazaar had a wall blown in, and L1,500-worth of damage done. An iron and wood building belonging to Park and Curie was destroyed, and general devastation was done amongst the lighter buildings, &c. A telegram from Christchurch informs us that the gale is moderating in that city, and rain has com menced to fall.

Dismissed. —Peter Fagan was brought up on remand at the Court this morning, on a charge of lunacy from drink, and was dismissed. A Good Sign. —There has beon a great falling off in the number of applications for relief at the Christchurch Soup Kitchen during this week.

The Unemployed.— Favorable accounts continue to be received at Christchurch as to the conduot and treatment of the un employed sent up country to the railway works.

Mount Somers Pound. —Applications are invited by the Mount Somers Road Board from persons willing to take the position of poundkeeper for a term of twelve months. The Licensing Bill. —ln the usual slaughter of the innocents at the end of the session the Licensing Bill is included, so that legislation on the liquor question has been postponed for a session.

Testing the Liquor.— We understand that the various hotels in town were visited this morning bv- an officer- of the Government to obtain samples of whisky, for the purpose of being tested by the Government Analyst. The Spring Race Meeting.— We beg to remind our readers that; a meeting of those interested in race matters will be held to-night at Quill’s Hotel, As Ash burton has always held a prominent posi tion in sporting it will be a matter for regret if the public do not put in an-ap pearance of some strength.

Lecture at Cambridge. Mr. H. Cape-Williamson, schoolmaster at Cam bridge, delivered a lecture last night, in the Cambridge Sch®ol, on “ Agricultural Chemistry.” There was a very fair attendance, considering the boisterous night, and Mr. Megson was chairman. The subject was ably treated, and in a popu lar style. The Gale.— The north-west gale of yesterday seems to have been pretty severe in the northerly portion of this island, and to have done considerable damage. The telegraph lines between Christchurch and the distributing station at Blenheim have been blown down, and communication with Wellington is in terrupted. This accounts for the absence of our . usual budget of late cablegrams and telegrams.' • An Ungrateful Old Man.—A decripit old man, named Sullivan, was brought be fore his Worship this morning charged with being drunk and disorderly and using abusive language to the arresting con stable. Sergeant Felton stated that Sulli van had been brought up last November on a charge of vagrancy, but in .qoijsa quence of being a paralytic, he had beep accommodated with quarters at the Old Men’s home. Mr. Guinness inflicted a fine of 20s. on the culprit, in default to be imprisoned for forty-eight hours.

The Rivers. —The Nor-vaster which has been blowing for the- last few .days has had the effects of causing a consider able fresh in the Ashburton river. The Mount Somers coach found the South branch high enough to be unpleasant and the driver wa# discreet enough to take Digby’s bridge in preference to grossing the usual ford, down which a considerably body of water was flowing, “ It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good,” and we may perhaps thank our late boisterous weather for assisting to bring on the much-needed water supply for the town ship, as not only will there be A' larger quantity of water coming down the race, but the fluid will be of a denser nature than usual seeing that a. considerable amount of. sediment Is coming down the North branch in freshets.

CHISPA S, LETTER.

T am riot yet so bal'd that you can' see my brains. ’’—LONGFELLOW,

Not a bad yarn was thrown at my head this wegk. : . Bill'Jone§-(d ones is ,so/com mon a name, you know) gets very drunk, : arid very often—ip plainer language, lie is; a sot-. Besides/tjiat', he, is ,a-farmer, arid, most wonderful, of. alJi bp has been ablp'd;Q'|iye ! ,throiigl‘L all these hard timeippf., ppdr crops .rinc] ..poorer, prices, without going He got. word recently that a relatii/feTiad just died,;and it would be advisable for Bill to come to the place where the decease "had occurred (some miles away) arid remove the body for decent interment in .the buryirig ground near his place.- Bill: did not get the news, in' writing,but: by word of riiouth from a crony. Had Bill. been less of a lushington, he wquld-jhaye been, less liable to get taken in. He harnessed .the • mare to the old Whitechapel cart, took a (‘ deep, deep draught” insideqa deeper .one in his coat pocket for aisevon the.way; and set off. He was well obfuscated when he arrived, too much so to speak. . He.staggered into •the house of his friend, which showed no signs of mourning, but everybody was away except a hired. ,lad of, about fifteen years, Who opened the door for him. The lad was “struck up” at the, sight of the bloated face’that he scarcely knew what to.-dp, .How ever, he showed Bill'the., way to the big ' kitchen. There Bill saw the. corpse of his relative stretched, upt qp the, big table, and decently covered, with'a/cleaii; white sheet. The situation was oye\'powiring. Bill blun dered,.up to if, topk.it in his. great arms, and staggered out to the icart. .with. it, the boy steering behind the .while. Bill was much grieved at the. death, .of .liis.;- friend, much more so that the corpse should have been allowed to -lie .uncoffined .-and alone in that kitchen ; but he was stout-hearted and independent. He homeward went his weary way, keeping his courage up with brandy as lie went'. ' Gradually the ipare dropped down to a walk, and Bill dropped asleep. The mare stopped at a welbknown pub., but still Bill slept. The landlord hailed him in a sentence in which “ whisky” -occurred; Bill-is always ready to * anwer that Word ; of command, After wetting hit inward "clay; and weep ing a few briny tears over the death of his relative, he t'okbtlie Eomriwhakbeery land . lord- of-'the'sad ; burdcfi he bore in the cart. ■'They went out to -look,• • and-together nioiini, j The' ilfrfidlorcl lifted- the /.cover from the corpse,;■ and:.-in-the-, grey dusk tried to “ peer into the dead mail’s eye.” Then he put his hand upon the dead face. “Why,” he said, “lie’s warm.” “ Warm,” suddenly replied the corpse, “ if you’d been as long where Pve been down below, you'd be warm too.” Bill and- the-landlord, - with, .hair on end, plunged into the pub., and the “corpse” mizzled. , Don’t, if .you meet Bill, ever ask liim about his relative, hot. about 'the.dead pig he carried .so many/ miles under a “ wrong impression,'” , nor about tlio neighbor Who stole the pig, and sent it back to its owner, taking its place for the time'as a’ living- corpse.- If you' make mention of either of these characters in this yarn, hold yourself in readiness to fight;, . -:; >i ;

For doing- smart-things,' commend me to gentlemen of ..fh&. cloth,, a , You, editorial people try tabe,s.mart''sometimes, but you can’t come within caoey ”of the clergy folk. And they go about it ;so innocently, you know. A chum of mine, on devotion bent, attended, a place of worship last Sabbath, situate—well, not 100 miles from the Cathedral City. After listening to what.lm.termed..a “sparkling, sermon,” a string of notices were, given out by the presiding minister, amongst which was that of a lecture, which was announced to come of on the following Tuesday. After briefly commenting on the coming event,, this knowing- -parson intimated " that it would not be advertised; in the local papers, as it was not considered necessary; “ but:,” added he, “if those present will but tell those, who are absent, it. will get well known.” In point of fact, every worshipper pres‘drif>, on that occasion was to; be a cheap advertising medium, and as the church, iff qri'Sfetiofx’-’Tk’/oHe 'which I understand is-numerously, attended every Sunday;/it ; . may “'fairly I bff ? Tnferred that two-thirds of' the" inhabitants of the locality-would get to know of the antici pated lecture, that is,. supposing every devout worshipper fell- in with the wishes of his spiritual guide. '■ Smart business, man that clergyman. .Evidently mistaken his vocation. . It- has : not, however, come to my knowledge whether the attendance at, the lecture was satisfactory to the gehtleman who gave his services/or to the promoters.

When my friend told hie the above story it brought' to 'my mind a reminiscence of the early days of the colony. In one of the northern townships there resided, and still resides, to the- best- of my belief, an individual who was notorious for both the wealth he possesse'd 'and the leech-like manner in which it clung-'id' his pockets. In fact, it was as' 7 , ■’easy to extract a cc tanner ”<• from hmi ’fdr 'any purpose, charitable or otherwise, as it. would be to draw the proverbial blood‘ftbrii the pro verbial stone, or to take-the proverbial ££ breeks ”off the proverbial' Highlander. This gentleman had a "holy horrpr of advertising if it' entailed" any loss of his ££ bavrbees,” but sometimes he did a.little gratis advertising in a peculiar way of his own. On one occasion Olos'efist lost a pair of gold-mounted-spectacles, and how to let the numerous population of a sea-port town know. of. his loss, and interest them in the search for the recovery of the gold rims was a question that greatly exercised his mind, But-men of the Glosefist stamp are not long ip hitting on a plan to attain their ends, Tip's northern ; 1 .Croesus obtained .a bit of .cardboard i2ins. x 12ins., and stencilled on it the words denoting his loss. Slinging this placard over , his neck, by .means 'of a! piece of twine attached to either end, vClosefist pai’aded the sti’eets as usual, and in addition to his numerous acquaintanceff „.wh t cp,«,clustered, around'fimron. ’Change,; lie also, had the ; warmest sympathy AoP ’a l of ragged urchins; whose interest in liim was so warm, that they ; fbi’inedr'qhite-a i body gnfvfd for him during the greater part of the i day, when the presence of these youngsters hecaine.so unbearable that Close fist had to take refuge in the nearest hotel. Discarding his card-board’ lie fled to the office of the evening paper, and puttjng down sixpence, asked for an ££ ad.” to be inserted in the twenty-words-for-sixpenee .column. CLosefist appeared on ’Change next day with his usual nasal adornment. * . -

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) A Blackguard. Timaru, Aug. 21. William Brown, a resident at Pleasant 'Point, from which, the only constable was removed a week .ago, was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment * for a dastardly assault on -the landlady of- a boarding house.-- ■■ ; '- ; V--- The Gale. ;; ’ ' ; The recent heavy gale unroofed a few iron buildings and broke down a few fences, but otherwise did little darnage.

Alford Forest.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

, A ball was given last Monday evening, at the Alford Forest Hotel, to cele brate the completion of the bridge over the North Ashburton. Messrs. Thomas and Hill, with their -workmen, together with many of the inhabitants, were present. Dancing commenced at 9 o’clock, to -music supplied by Mr. Price and friends. The room was tastefully decorated with ferns, whose beauty con trasted well with that of the many ladies who were present. In the intervals, songs were given, and in the corn-se of the eveningispeeches were .delivered, praising the rapid completion of the bridge and ihe solid" character of the work. Mr. Thomas, in reply, said, although not great gainers by the contract, they had done.-their best, and, in every work they felt they were establishing their name in the best possible manner by carrying out their part of the business conscientiously. He thanked the ladies especially for honoring the occasion with their presence, and Mr. Tisch for the happy manner in which he had made provision for the affair. A most enjoyable evening was spent, and the party did not separate till rosy morn.

A meeting was held in the Main School on the 18th inst. for. the purpose of pro viding a properly fenced site as a burial ground. It was resolved that Mr. A. M'Farlane wait upon the Chief Surveyor, in Christchurch, asking for information, to be laid before the next meeting, on the 28th inst. - A daughter of Mr. John McKenzie was buried at Mount Somers on Sunday last, a large concourse of friends showing sympathy by their attendance.

Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Friday, August 20.

(Before Mr. F. Guinness, 8.M.) LUNACY FKOM DRINK. Peter Fagan, brought up on a charge of lunacy from drink, was remanded until to-day. ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A HORSE. Peter Govin, charged with cruelty to a horse, was defended by Mr. Branson, and pled not guilty. Charles Smithel, contractor, stated that on the 17th inst. accused, who was in his employ, was engaged, with a pair of' horses, scooping a road. One of the horses was a very good animal, the other not quite so good, but very willing. Govin had been in witness’ employ for about two years, and knew how to drive very well. On the date mentioned, wit ness saw Govin on four different occasions strike the off side horse with one of the swingle-tree bars. Blows were struck behind the horse’s ear 3, on the ribs, and on the flanks. Witness cautioned accused on the first occasion when .'he struck the horse, and told him the penalties ©f the law for such conduct. The horse bled from the nose, but there was no cut visible. When witness spoke to accused in the afternoon he threw a stone at wit ness, and cut him on the head with it. Never had occasion to complain of Govin’s conduct before. By Mr. Branson —The first blow was struck behind the ear ; the second on the ribs and flank ; the third on the hips ; and, I think, the fourth between the ears, and the horse then dropped. I had had a little drink that day, but I was not drunk. Do not recollect when accused went away. The last time accused struck the horse I ran up, and told him to leave. The reason I did not interfere before was that I did not consider the blows serious enough to injure the animal. I was not on horseback that day until I came to town. I then had three horses with me, and was not drunk. Mr. Branson —Then, I am prepared to swear you were, for I saw you. Examination continued —I was stunned by the blow from the stone. Am indebted to Gavin for wages and also for a loan of money, but have not brought this action as a matter of spite. Am prepared to pay the amount I owe accused. Bedollect Gavin saying to me, “ I don’t want to have anything to do with you, Charley, only pay me the money.” The horses are mine, but I did not think it necessary to take the horses away from accused. _ . Constable Smart said he arrested the acpused, who stated he was innocent of 'the charge. Saw the horse which was said; to have been beaten. One eye was partly closed, but could see no marks of blows. Smithel shewed me a cut on his head, where, he said, accused had hit him with a stone. Blood was flowing from the wound. By Mr .. .Branson—Smithel had been drinking, but was quite capable of taking care of himself. Mr. Branson characterised the evidence of Smithel as a tissue of falsehoods, and called Peter Gavin, the accused, who made a statement, the substance of which was that he had not struck the horse at all, that Smith,el had got the wound on his head by falling from his horse while in a sttae of intoxication, and that the information was laid against witness by Smithel-in consequcncp qf the latter owing witness money. ~, Sergeant Felton remembered prosecutor coming to the station and accusing Gavin of having ill-treated the horse. Smithel was the worse for liquor at the time. His Worship said the evidence "was very conflicting, and as there was some doubt about the matter, the charge would be dismissed. ALLEGED LARCENY OF A £1 NOTE. Samuel Curie was charged with stealing a LI note from David Murray. Mr. Branson appeared for the defence, and after evidence Had h e , en taken of a very weak nature, his Worship dismissed the case, f Sergeant Felton bore testimony to the very excellent character which Curie had

hitherto borne, and his Worship in dis charging accused from custody, added that he would leave the Court without the slightest imputation on his character. , CIVIL CASES. Borough Council v. Restel. Claim L 4 18s., Judgment by default for amount and costs. Branson and Purnell v. J. F. Francis. Claim LI Is. professional fee. Judgment by default for amount, and costs 18s. Meharry v. Wilson. . Mr. Branson; for plaintiff. Adjourned on the application of Mr. Crisp, for the defendant, until Friday, 27th inst., in order to allow time to obtain the attendance of a material wit ness, and to put in a set off. Wallace v. Walsh. Claim L 4 10s., which it was alleged defendant had be come responsible for on behalf of one Harvey. Mr. O’Reilly for plaintiff; Mr. Crisp for defendant. This was a case which had been heard on a previous day, and it was then argued by Mr. Crisp that a document which was tendered as evi dence was a promissory note, and as such required to be stamped to make it legal. The document was notstamed, and his Wor ship coinciding with Mr. Crisp, granted a nonsuit. At the rehearing yesterday, Mr. O’Reilly again put in the document as evidence, which purported to be a guaran tee from Walsh to Wallace to become re sponsible, for the sum of L 4 10s. due by G'eofge' Harvey to plaintiff. Mr. Crisp protested against the paper being put in, as it was unstamped. Mr. O’Reilly said the document was not a promissory note, but merely a guarantee to pay a certain sum, and was in fact a simple agreement. The amount which was guaranteed was under L2O, and thus did not require to be stamped. Mr. Crisp, in reply, argued that the document was a badly drawn pro missory note. The 50th clause of the Stamp Act referred to agreements being stamped with an adhesive stamp, and although no amount was specified in the clause, it was inferred that any agreement entered between two parties should be stamped before it was binding. The re ference to agreements under L2O made by Mr. O’Reilly was only inserted in the schedule to the Act, and the learned gentleman argued that no schedule to a statute could ' over-ride the clauses of the Act. His Worship ruled that the document was an agreement, and in the course of some observations, stated liis opinion to be that documents of less value than L2O did not require stamps. After hearing evidence on the merits of the case, his Worship gave judgment for plaintiff with costs, and expressed his regret that no appeal could be made against his decision, as it would be satis factory to have the doubtful matter set at rest as to whether agreements in which money to a less amount than L2O was in volved required a stamp to make them legal. Wakanui Road Board v. T. Rattray.— Claim 7s. 6d., unpaid rates. Mr. J. Wilkie appeared for the Board. Defendant denied ownership of the house and section for which he was rated. His Worship reminded Mr. Rattray that the proper time to have put in this plea was when the Assessment Court was sitting. De fendant’s name was on the roll, and the notice had been served, hence the Bench had no alternative but to-give julgment for the amount and costs, 7s. Same v. Peter Rattray.—Claim 155., unpaid rates. Defendant said he con tested the case on account of not having received the proper notice. When the demand for payment was made, he found the amount was in excess of what he had hitherto paid, and not having received a notice, he thought some error had been committed. Mr. Wilkie gave evidence that defendant’s name was on the roll, and Francis Wilkie, son of last witness, swore to leaving the legal notice at de fendant’s house. Judgment was given for the amount claimed and costs, 7s.

GENERAL, ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, August 19. The House met at 7.30. WEST CCAST SETTLEMENT BILL. •The Hon. J. Bryce moved the second reading of the West- Coast Settlement (North Island) Bill. The West Coast problem was one of much difficulty—one that had lasted for a considerable time, and had been steadily growing. It was one that the present Government was not responsible for. They found it ready made, and as that was the case, they had to deal with it. The Government were responsible for the appointment of the Commission, and better men could not have been found to do the work. It was the object of the Government first to satisfy the natives that their j'ust claims would be fully recognised, and, second, to convince the natives that the authority of the law must be established on the coast, The simple object of the Government was to deal wi+li the difficulty in such a way as that it w,ould not break out. again in future years, to .the prejudice of the body politic, There was only one. mo.de of settling the difficulty, namely, by setting apart land to satisfy the just claims of the Maoris, which should be recognised. At the same time, Government was fully de termined that they should be made to feel that they would be dealt with firmly. Government had opened the district by a road, and cut a number of tracks so as to intersect the district. These pro ceedings, he thought, had already had the effect of convincing the Maoris that it was the full intention of the Govern ment to settle the district and at the same time to give them and their claims ample justice. It was the intention of the Go vernment in a very short time to adver tise a considerable portion of the land for sale. They would, however, take care to cut out ample reserves, so as to re serve for the Maoris not only their cultivations, but likewise the land to which they attached special value. Government thought that the land regulations at present in force were sufficient to settle the district. Their great aim was to reserve a close settlement on the land. Government thought that the settlers must be defended, but they had rejected the proposal for planting the district with military . settlers. If the Maoris were so ill-advised as to interfere with the settlers, then they must be punished. A settler could not at the same time be a soldier. It' had also been suggested that the unemployed should be placed on the land. Government, how ever, rejected that proposal, as to some extent demoralising, These men would

roly on the Government, and not on what they could make off their land. Care would be taken not to irritate the Maoris. Although their direct acquiescence could not be secured, he thought, nevertheless, than an indirect acquiescence would be secured. In fact they had already to some extent secured that acquiescence. Govern ment was quite as unwilling to go to war as ho behe.yed the Maoris themselves were,. ... and anything in reason that would pre- • vent warfare ought to be done. He be-, lieved, however, that they would be able q to avoid warfare. If the natives had any desire for war it was not likely that they would allow their most warlike brethren to ;. ■apprehended. If they only managed a few first steps in peace and quietude he believed that the remainder of the work would be comparatively easy. It was pro posed to make a new land district, which v, would be placed directly under the con trol of the Government, instead of a Land Board. The reason was to avoid compli cations. It was an exceptional proposal, but then the circumstances were excep- : tional. It was necessary that the Go’'em inent should have very large power, as without such it would be absurd for any Government to undertake the work. -, :

Sir G. Grey said that the report of tha .vtr Commissioners was worthy of the colony- . 1 of New Zealand. It deserved all credit, and he fully admitted the trouble that •••' they had gene to. He was not equallydw satisfied with the Bill. Instead of being a permissive measure the Bill should have adopted the report as a whole, and en- ; joined the full carrying out of its just and .' righteous recommendations. In the pass age of the Bill through Committee hek.- would endeavor to get the Bill so amended as to convince the natives that the wholereport had been adopted, and that they would get all that the Commisioners A recommended. The Bill should be divided into two parts, the one adopting the re- =• port and recommendations, and the other embodying che penal clauses. - If the Go vernment acquiesced in that view, he would give them all the assistance lie could in passing a measure giving them all just and necessary powers. He felt great satis faction in the remarks made by the Na tive Minister. Ho had hoped, however, to hear him say that the men who had made the recommendations should be en trusted with the task of. carrying them out. A course of that kind would enable gentlemen in all respects worthy of tile colony to finish their career in a great and good work, and a work which must be of great importance to the colony in all time, coming.

Major Te Wheoro complained that the reserves had been selected in the interior and not on the Coast. He agreed with the Native Minister that there was no likelihood of the natives entering upon hos tilities. He said that he would oppose the Bill if it was to be understood that it was to apply to natives already in custody. Mr. Pyke criticised the Bill. He saw no hope ho long as a corrupt Government ■ had a servile majority at its back. ••' • The Speaker called upon Mr. Pyke to withdraw the latter portion of his speech ~ ; which was done. ; ; Mr. S tewart said that the one feature of the Bill in which lie agreed was that these persons -were to be brought before the ordinary tribunals of the country. Mr. Moss said that as a political measure the Bill was bad. He agreed with Sir ,G. Grey as to the Commission, and that the Commissioners ought to be entrusted with the power of working out the objects aimed at.

Mr. Macandrew protested against the Bill. It was a Bill unworthy of English men, and the future historian would refer to it as something similar to the doings of the Star Chamber or the Massacre of Glencoe.

Mr. Tainui did not agree with the Bill, and would endeavoi to have it amended in Committee. "• ■

Mr. Reader Wood also bore testimony to the skill, care, and knowledge shown by the two Commissioners, and the ex-.. haustive nature of the report and pro posals made by them. The Bill was not entirely founded on that report, but it was proposed to settle the disturbance on the recommendations' suggested 'in the report. The report did not recommend force, but s to go to - the ; natives themselves and . negotiate terms d with them. That course ought, to have. ; ‘ been adopted earlier. Had the natives .•; meant war they would have committed murders and rapine, and not ploughed land and allowed themselves to be appre hended. War would not be solely a loss to the natives, If driven to desperation the North Island oould be rendered almost unbearable to the Europeans. He agreed with the proposal of the member for the Thames, that they would do well ; to allow the administration of the Bill to \ rest in the hands of the Commissioners.

Mr. Ballance demurred to the proposal of allowing the Commissioners to ad-' minister the Bill. The responsibility ought to rest, with the Government of the • day. He asked why it was that military . ■ settlers occupying frontier settlements could not be established. By that means they would establish a sort of defensive peace between the natives and the general '"" settlers. It was not necessary that • they" should be military men, but men trained .•-• to arms, who could be called on to aid the Government in settling disturbances and , defending the. ordinary settlers. He did not think that much restriction should be 1 placed on the Government. He did not believe that the intention of Te Whiti was one of peace. When they were strong Te Whiti was remarkably humble, but so soon as they were weak, or seemed to bo weak, then he showed his teeth. The Government must be strong, and have power to enforce their authority, other wise he did not believe that the district could be settled with any degree of safety. The Hon. J. Hall said that it would be hopeless to thinlc they could solve the difficulty unless they could show the natives that while they meant to deal .. justly with them they were strong enough to enforce their authority. He bore testi mony to the ability shown by the Com-’ missioners, and the manner in which they had devpted themselves to the work. He did not think that the natives were b.ent on war • but, on the other hand, nothing . was farther from Te Whiti’s mind than to submit to the tribunals of the land. They wanted to set our tribunals at defiance, and the only hope of a satisfactory solution was to give the Government exceptional powers. It was, therefore, in the interests . of peace and the natives themselves that the Bill was brought down. The settlers |n these districts would, no doubt, bp, en rolled as voluptpers, therefore all the pur poses of a military settlement as had beeif • (

THE ASH BURTON / HERAT©; SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1880.



s. d. s. d. Butter, inferior to best $ lb io 0 to I 2 Eggs, dozen - - I 0 to ' 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, 1? lb o 6 to 0 8 Bacon, prime smoked, $ lb o 10 to I p Hams in cloth, $ lb - i 2 to 0 0 Flour in bags, $ ioolb < 13 0 to 0 0 Oatmeal, $ 251b - 4 0 to 0 0 Lard, lb - . • -. - 0 7. to 0 0



Amusements. rpowN . hall’,' abhbdr.xon. , MONDAY, AUGUST 23rd, 1880. MONSTER PANORAMA OF NEW f ZEALAND. Limelight Exhibition, amazing brilliancy and beauty. : The Principal . and most Charming. Sceneries of the Colony. Cities, Towns, Buildings, - Gorges, Waterfalls, Rocks, Landscapes, Harbors, Elays, Bridges, Rivers, Monuments, Hot springs, Boiling Lakes, Gold Mines. First land discovered by Captain Cook. Scene where Cook first unfurled the British flag and claimed New Zealand. _ ; Panorama of Christchurch in six views, &c., &c. SPECIAL SCENERIES OF AUSTRALIA. Vocal Music —Special attractions. See Posters. Circle, 25.; Body of. Hall, Is.; Children half price. Commence at 8 sharp, in order to get through the lengthy programme. Descriptive Lecture .... Mr. R. Bevan Manager Mr. T. Davies 774 c Christchurch. —i—ia—■H—aaMßiuMca Miscellaneous- PIANOFORTE FOR SALE. A GOOD Strong Cottage Pianoforte for Sale, second hand, price L 35 cash. Apply office of this paper. 641 c WANTED— A Good GENERAL SERVANT for a Private Family in town. Apply at once, Herald Registry. 773 c P'l fk 000 LEND, in sums to jUUvJ suit borrowers, at lowest rate of interest. F. P. O’Reilly, Solicitor, Ashburton. 424c-8350 fI^ENDERS. —Tenders are invited for 1 the BUILDING of a PULPIT in St. STEPHENS’ CHURCH, Ashburton. Plans may be seen at Messrs. Wood and Co. Ashburton Brewery, where further information may be obtained. 784 c BY ORDER OF THE R.M. COURT. r£!o BE SOLD by PUBLIC AUCTION, on TUESDAY, the 24th of AUGUST at Mutch and M‘Kenzie’s Hotel— -1 First-class HACK SADDLE and BRIDLE Sale at 12 o’clock sharp. A. M. PEARSON, Bailiff R.M. Court. 783 c