COMMERCIAL.

pip : Christchurch Corn Exchange. —— ... ' The following ia tho report of the Corn Exchange for the week . !-Xending Friday evening, the 9tli inßt.: — There is little or no alteration to note in llpfValuea during the week. A good enquiry Efor feed grains still exists, but prices are not materially affected. Wheat. —Good milling samples are in request at from 3s. 6d. to 3s. 7d. in Christ church ; second rate 3s. 2d. to 3s. 4d. per bushel; chick wheat, Is. 9d. to 2s. 4d. ipff .Oat*.—The low prices which have ruled §fp throughout the season have caused a ’IP." demand for this cereal, and prices are ■ I roved. Good short milling sd. to Is. 6d. per bushel ; Is. 3d. to Is. 4d. rood malting quality is sale -28. 9d. to 3s. 3d. per bushel ; ,' 2s. 4d. to 2s. 6d.; feed, . Bd. per bushel. -The outside demand is well th few orders coming to hand. The* lock! market does not show any sign r improvement. Rates may therefore be ||? *: quoted the same as last week, viz., 225. 6d. : to 255.. per t ton, with a limited business Ibeing done. Recent advices from Sydney ' do not show much encouragement for ship ment, for forward deliveries 355. to 375. 6d. is the quotation. Ifep Grass- Seed—There is little or no J ; ■' demand,-prices nominal. Cheese and Butter, 4d. to 4£d. for the i£ ; ", former; ; 9d. to lOd. for the latter.

MAIL NOTICES.

fe Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, ? as follows :

The next mails for the United Kingdom, gflppsg; via San Francisco, will close at Ash burton on 16th July, and will be due in liondon on 31st August.

ffiSll'T For Christchurch and North at 6 a. m. .9. a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. P«jj|l|For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. w'l ? F° r Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, §§|f Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, ££ and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily. P?>?c..For Temuka, Timaru, and South at a.m. and 10.15 a.m. daily. §g|P'For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, IK Mount Somers, and. Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. y For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at als p.m. daily. 'Fer Wakanui, and Seafield, on Tues days and Fridays, at 6 a. m. / Mails arrive at the Ashburton Pest Office— From Christchurch at 10.35 a. m., 4.55 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. > From Chertsey, Rakaia, &c. at 10.35 aim. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.25 p.m. daily. '£"..V From Temuka and Timaru at 9.25 a.m. and 5.25 p.m. daily. sjj? From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m. pf' From Ashton, Waterton, and Long-' |beach at 10 a. m. 1 daily.

From Wakanui and Seafield on Tues days and Fridays at 2.30 p.m.

W. St. G. Douglas,

Postmaster.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With Which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1880.

Trees. —Messrs. Edmiaton, Gundry, & Co. announce an extensive sale of trees and shrub 3, to take place to-morrow, at their stores. Central Temperance Hotel. —Mr. George Watts has become proprietor of this well-known hotel, notice of which appears in another column. The Borough Election. —Messrs. Harrison and Quill are the only persons who hare been nominated to fill the vacancy in the Borough Council, caused by the resignation of Mr. Edward Saunders. A poll will be taken on Wed nesday, 21st July.

R.M. Court, Rakaia. —Owing to the absence of the Resident Magistrate the Coujt at Rakaia was adjournol till Thursday next 15th inst.

Cattle Stealing. —The now notorious Graham Flowers, accused of cattle steal ing, was tried before the Supreme Court, Christchurch, on Thursday, and was found “ Guilty.” His Honor sentenced the pri soner to penal servitude for three years, saying the case was one of the most flagrant instances of cattle stealing he had ever met with. The Alford Forest Sheep Stealing Case. —The charge of alleged sheep-steal ing made against Benjamin Corry, manager for Dennis Hoare, runholder, Alford Forest, was heard before the Su preme Court on Thursday. The evidence given before the R.M. was repeated. Mr. L. E. Corsbie stated that Corry had told him a deliberate 'untruth, in that Corry had promised to do nothing in mustering without giving notice, but had given no notice whatever, and had marked all the strong lambs of the Alford run, when he mustered. The other evidence was sub stantially the same, and the jury, after an absence of thirty minutes, returned a ver dict of “Not guilty.”

The Charge of Manslaughter.—J. Walsh appeared before the Court this morning, on remand, charged with the manslaughter of liis wife Anne Walsh, but Sergeant Felton stated that after the result of the inquest lie would not pro ceed with the case. Walsh was accord ingly dismissed from custody.—A boy of about four years of the son of Walsh, was brought before his Worship under the Neglected and Criminal Children’s Act, but as Walsh stated he was prepared to see that the child was attended to and well looked after, his Worship dismissed the case, but instructed the police to visit Walsh’s house occasionally, and if the boy was not cared for, as promised, to again bring him before the Court, when he would be sent to Burnham. The Other Side. —At the R.M. Court on Tuesday last Sergeant Felton stated that a man named Addison had gone to the police station the night previous with a most pitiful tale regarding his inability to obtain work, and his consequent desti tute state. Addison appeared before the Bench under no specific charge, and the Sergeant asked that the man might be remanded so that inquiries could be made as to his character. This morning Addi son was again brought up, when Sergeant Felton stated that the accused was well known to the police at Temuka, who had reported that Addison had recently spent LlO at an hotel there, the amount of a remittance he. had received from home. He was known as a confirmed drunkard, and spent most of his time loafing about hotels. Upon such evidence his Worship sentenced the , accused to fourteen days imprisonment.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(By cable from Reuter's Agency. ) London, July 7. Preparing for War. Turkey and Greece are both arming in view of possible hostilities resulting from the carrying out of the decisions of the Conference. The Markets. Three per cent, consols, 98$ ; Adelaide wheat, per 4961b5, ex warehouse, 48s. 6d.; flour, per 2801bs. ex warehouse, 375. Commerce. The Board of Trade returns of imports for the past month amount L 30,437,500, showing an increase of L 2,625,000 as com pared with last year. The exports amount to L 18,437,500, showing an . increase of L 1.875.500 as compared with the same period last year. Arrival. The Merchant Shipping and Under writers’ Association report the arrival of the; Ben Nevis, from Lyttelton ; sailed April 6. The French Press and England’s Position. Paris, July 7. The French press, in its remarks on the decisions of the recent Berlin Conference, generally agree in saying that England has bound herself to act with the other Powers in enforcing a strict fulfilment by Turkey of the decisions of the Conference. The Communists. July S. The Chamber of Deputies have adopted a compromise, agreeing to an amnesty being granted to all those whom M. Grdvy pardons before July 14. Afghanistan. Calcutta, July 7.

The latest news from A fghanistan is to the effect that desultory fighting still con* tinues between the British troops and bodies of the disaffected tribes.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Reuter's Agency. ) The Cup. Melbourne, July 8. Mata has been backed for the Melbourne Cup to win LIO,OOO, at 100 to 4. Shipping.

Arrived—Rlngaroorria, from the Bluff. Duty on Wool Imposed. Sydney, July 9. In the Legislative Assembly last night, the House went into Committee on the Wool, Coal, and Stock Taxes Bill. After the debate, a division was taken on the clause fixing the export duty as one farthing per pound on greasy, and one halfpenny on washed and scoured wools, when the eyes and noes were foudd to be equal. The Chairman, however, gave his casting vote with the ayes, and the clause passed. Sir Henry Parkes, Premier, then ntoved that progress be reported, and the Chairman leave the chair. The motion was carried, and the House adjourned. Shipping. Sailed—Wakatipu, for Wellington.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) A Good Claim. Dunedin, July 9. A private telegram to the Star, says : “ Heavy nuggets of gold have been struck in limes’ claim, Long Valley, Panama Creek range, from one to four ounces.

The Horse-whipping Case. Wellington. July 8,

At the Magistrates Court this morning, Robt. Atkinson, formerly Customs officer at the Thames, and a well known petitioner to the Houso of Represen tatives, was charged with horsewhipping Mr. McKeilar, collector of Customs here, in the Custom house this morning. The supposed cause is through some evidence given before the select committee and with a view to bring whole, matters re garding accused before the public. Wellington, July 9.

At the Magistrate’s Court, this morn ing, Robert Atkinson, charged with horse whipping the Collector of Customs, was sentenced to six weeks’ hard labor. Pri soner pleaded, extenuating, circumstances,, and said that when the enquiry was held after his dismissal from the Customs, McKeilar suppressed ce”tain evidence in favor of him.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Wk do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by oiir correspondents;

THE TOWN HALL.

To the Editor. Sir,— On Saturday evening last I saw at least one representative of the press in the dress-circle at the .Christy entertain ment, and I am somewhat surprised to observe that no notice whatever has been taken of the fact, that at least a dozen men wore sitting in the hall below smoking. The smoke rose up very offen sively to the dress-circle, where a number of ladies wore sitting, and some of them complained to me about it. Placard-s, saying, “Smoking strictly prohibited,” are hung up all over the hall, but the larrikins smoked all the same, and nobody found fault with them., Who is to blame ? —I am, &c.,

Counter-Blast.

THE VACANCY IN THE COUNCIL.

To the Editor.

Sib —Two gentlemen are before the burgesses as candidates for Mr. Edward Saunders’ vacant seat. Are they going to address us 1 Because I would to know their views on this subject—We have a borough income of about L 1,200. We pay away in salaries—clerk, Llso ; en gineer, Ll5O : > solicitor, LIOO ; foreman, LI 30 ; valuator, LiJS- collector, LIS - LSBO ! ! for spending L 1,200 ! ! We have a gas account of LIBO to pay besides this, which brings the total departmental slice out of our rates up to L 760. Supposing our income to be L 2,000 a year, L 760 is a big sum to get rid off in this way,, and I would like the candidates just to say in public meeting.if they think the figures I have given are what they ought to be, when works that are useful and necessary, cannot be done for want of funds.—l am, &c.,

Clod-Hopeing Ratepayer

Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Friday, July 9. (Before Mr. F. Guinness, Rtt.) civil c/ses.

Orr and Co. v. Bullen—- Judgment summons for Lll Iss. lOd. and costs. Mr. Orr gave evidence that the defendant was in employment'—as a constable in Christchurch. Defendant ordered to pay L2 a month, in default seven days im prisonment. Alexander r. Alexander.—Mr. Ireland for plaintiff. On Constable Smart calling on the parties, he stated that they were outside the Court, but refused to appear as they were settling the matter amicably. ' THE WRESTLING CASE. Edward Thomas* defended by Mr. Purnell, was charged with being drunk and creating a disturbance in a licensed house on the 12th July last. Accused pled not guilty. Joseph Baldwin deposed that accused and Mr Hodgson, who. was in Court last week, were wrestling in ' liis ; hotel on the date mentioned. Witness told the men to go outside and leave off wrestling. Both men were worse for liquor. One dr two blows were struck by Hodgson. The two men went out, after some persuasion, and I then closed the doors. The police were sent for. This occurred about 10’30 p.m. Mr. Thomas had been in the house for some time ; but Hodgson had only been there for about twenty minutes. Some noise was made by the men wrestling. The first time I saw the men wrestling was in the passage. By Mr. Purnell—The passage is at the back of the house j it is not private, but comparatively so. It i 3 open to the public. The two men were “larking”—merely a trial of strength. Accused has never created a disturbance in my house before. I have known him for eighteen months, and always known him as a respectable man.

Wm. Bayliss, sworn—l remember being outside Baldwin’s Hotel on the date men tioned. Thomas . and Hodgson were wrestling. Could not swear that blows were struck. There was a deal of noise ; the men who were standing round made more noise than the accused and Hodgson. Heard Baldwin tell; the men to go out side and stop their wrestling. Both men were a little the worse.for liquor. By ,Mr. Purnell— r About a dozen men were in the passage. The passage is about 15 xlO feet. I thought the accused and Hodgson were “larking.” Sergeant Felton, sworn—Know the accused very well. He was fined LI on Ist October, 1879; for creating a dis turbance in a licensed house. He was also fined 10s. the same day for resisting the arresting constable.

By Mr. Purnell—The two convictions both arose out of the same offence. The relations between the police and accused are of a friendly character. Do not know that the police have expressed a desire to tackle Thomas. Mr. Purnell submitted that the evi dence did not prove the charge. The two principal witnesses had stated that the men were only larking, and had gone out when asked by Mr. Baldwin to do so. His Worship expressed his opinion that botk the charges had been substantiated. Accused would be fined L 5.

A second charge was preferred against the accused for a continuation of the dis turbance outside the hotel. Mr. Purnell submitted that the ac cused had been convicted of the charge within the last five minutes. After evidence had been taken, the case was dismissed.

Mr. Purnell drew his Worship’s atfcen-

tion to the fact that the penalty which he had given in the previous case was in ex cess of his power, and stated that he should appeal. Hi 3 Worship said he had the power to amend the conviction if he found a mis take had been made. On referring to the Act, he found that, as the previous con viction .was not within the last three months, a larger penalty had been in flicted than the Act allowed. The penalty would altered to LI. UNREGISTERED DOGS. George Hydes and W. T. Smith, for having in their possession an unregistered dog, were each fined 20s. THE GUN AFFAIR. John MoArthur was charged with lar ceny as a bailee, having borrowed a gun, valued at L 3 10s., and failed to return it. The gun, with flask and shot-bag, were the property of Jesse llancox, laborer, and had been borrowed from him by prisoner, who then sold them for L 3 17s. to Phillip Harper. Sergeant Felton, after the evi dence had been heard, said the accused had evidently got into this difficulty through drink. His Worship sentenced McArthur to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labor.

INQUEST ON MRS. WALSH.

THE VERDICT. After we went to press yesterday, the jury returned the following verdict:— “ That the deceased died from excessivo drinking, and that her death was ac celerated by the neglect of her husband, John Walsh, and Michael Murphy.” The foreman, in explanation, stated that the jury considered that the neglect was not intentional or criminal, but arose more from stupidity or ignorance than from anything else.

, A rider was attached to the verdict to the following effect :—“ That the jury are of opinion the parties are much to blame who supplied Walsh with such quantities of liquor. Mr. Parkin said it had come out in evi dence who sold the liquor—Messrs. Ed miston, Gundry, and Co.—but it was not recorded.

The Coroner explained that there was no necessity for recording the fact of who sold the liquor, as it did not bear upon the case.

Mi*. Quill wished to state that the pub licans of Ashburton, in accordance with instructions from the police, had refrained from supplying either the deceased or her husband with liquor for the last twelve months. v-

The Coroner (after requesting the re presentatives of the press to take notß of Mr. Quill’s statement) called upon the witness Murphy, and severely censured him for his conduct throughout the pain ful affair, a course of action which showed that his (Murphy’s) conscience was in a very bad state, especially when he fetched liquor for the deceased and her husband, knowing that it was killing them. Re ferring to Murphy’s own drinking habits, the Coroner advised him to at once re linquish them, or ere long he would be committing a greater crime—that of sui cide. The Coroner, addressing Walsh, said that the remarks which had been made to Murphy would also apply to him self, but anything further he Would re frain from saying, as Walsh would come before the Magistrate the next day. Dr. Trevor instructed Sergeant Felton to notify to the hotelkeepers and others that they were on no account to supply Murphy or Walsh with intoxicating liquors.

Mr. Purnell’s Contempt pf Court.

(From the Timaru Evening Telegraph.)

Contempt of 'Court is either an offence committed against the dignity of justice herself or the saying or doing of some thing which amounts to a refusal to comply with the prescribed rules of form and order. Contempt of Court is to be classified under two heads, direct and consequential. Direct contempt is an open insult to the Judge himself, or re sistance to him, or others, officially em ployed, and the' law provides heavy punishment to meet any such cases. Consequential contempt is the persist ence in acts or speech which tend to obstruct the business in hand, or in directly detract from the assumption of dignity with which justice enrobes her Judges while in their official capacity. It is absolutely necessary that the pro ceedings of our law courts should be conducted in such a manner that any disrespect or insolent behaviour, on the part of either counsel or witnesses, should be promptly suppressed, and, if advisable, punished. Tq ensure this, power, almost unlimited, is 'permitted to our Judges and Magistrates to deal with cases of the kind at v ill. This provision is certainly a wise one, but one that calls for the exercise of great discretion in its application. For a judge to use his prerogative hastily, and’ perhaps when under the influence Of excitement, attendant upcn the usual circumstances in which he is placed, must as surely tend to lessen his dignity as' the supposed contempt he seeks to. punish. We are led to these remarks on reading an account of the “scene in Court” at Ashburton the other - day, when Mr. Purnell was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment for alleged contempt of Court. Mr. Purnell, from what we can gather, was interupted, while con ducting his case, by the opposite coun sel, to which he properly objected. We know little of law courts’ routine, but we certainly consider that one side of an argument at a time is necessary to en able the presiding authority to arrive at a just and equitable decision. Both at once, and Judge, counsel and. witnesses altogether, can only lead to confusion and a total subversion of dignity and fair play, and is liable to cause the pro ceedings to be esteemed only in the light of a farce, and the court to become a favorite resort of the omnium gatherum. The contempt of which Mr. Purnell appears to have been guilty consisted in his respectfully declining to sit down, in the middle of his case, leaving the advantage to the opposite side. We are inclined to commend him for this, provided he acted becomingly, and with all the respect and obeisance due *o the immaculate Bench. For refusing to sit down when ordered, he was adjudged guilty of contempt and for answering back to the Magistrate’s querulous offer of half an-hour to consider the matter that “he did not want any time for consideration,” he was awarded seven days. To most people it will be obvious that the offer of conciliation was misplaced. If Mr. Pur

noli had rendered himself liable to the censure of the Court, it certainly 3avors of weakness and undecidedness, that he should have been offered-?, parley when in the custody of the constable, and half-way out of the room. It looks as if the Magistrate had repented of his somewhat hasty ruling the moment it was given, and desired to compromise. Seven days’ imprisonment inflicted on a barrister of the Supreme Court, in a lower Court, i 3 a heavy sentence, and v e fail to see that Mr. Purnell merited such an extreme stretch of judicial We have no knowledge of Mr. Purnell, we do not remember to have heard of him before, and our arguments are deducted from the aspect of this case as we see it. Whether or not he was guilty of con tempt of court, the arbitrary and irrit ablo exercise of a power that at all times should only be resorted to in grave cases, cannot tend to uphold the con sequences and dignity of our Halls of Justice. In accepting Mr. Purnell’s statement, we cannot term it apology, the Magistrate showed clearly enough that, on his side, he was onty too whi ling to grasp at any excuse that opened the way for mature reflection to retrieve the error of rash and petulant com mission, and we hardly know who comes out of this paltry affair the best, the Ma gistrate, the Lawyer, or the Policeman. For our part, if we had given a man seven days, we should have taken precious good care that he got it, especially after we had signed the -warrant for his committal. Or, had it been our lot to have stood in Mr. Purnell’s shoes, w r e would have taken the seven days, knowing that we could fall back on a sufficient remedy for the ap parent injustice and 3tigma cast upon us. As the case stands at present-, the lawyer has achieved a splendid advertisement for nothing, the easily aroused dignity of a minor court of justice has been mollified at a loss of self-respect, and—the constable is minus his prisoner; perhaps, after all, the most desirable consummation to which this unpremeditated farce in three acts cuuld have been brought.

Books and Reading.

The following is the original paper read by the Rev. W. Keall, at the entertain ment.

Southey tells the story of a certain Quaker who took a MS. to Franklin to print and publish. Franklin looked over it, and said to the author that it was somewhat deficient in arrangement. “ It’s no matter,” said the Quaker, “Put any part thou pieasest first. ” The reader of this paper almost fears lest he should seem by the broken charac ter of his subject, to lay himself open to a similar criticism.

We are frequently told that ours is a reading age, and truly many things indi cate that it so. And this is to our credit, for by reading books we educate our thoughts, enlarge our'stock of information, obtain ideas, and secure evergreens ana flowers, as well as luscious fruit to the soul.

It is essential to read if we would ac quire and maintain mental vigor. If we do not read we can never make good our claim to be intelligent. Without reading, our knowdedge will be superficial and vain. Some men live almost exclusively on what is spoken by their fellow men— they become mere hangers on at public meetings, frothy lectures, and political orations, until in the long run their men tal and moral life is destroyed by spon taneous combustion. To young people, especiallj T , it is a reproach not to like reading. A disposition to spend our spare time in reading good, solid, and pro fitable books is one to covet, and such a reader is a blessing to the community.

Some one has said that “hooks are windows through which the soul looks out.” A house without books is like a room without windows. Though books are not made for house furniture,, nothing can more completely furnish a house. The plainest row of books, on the plainest shelf, is more significant than the most elaborately carved sideboard. Men are not accustomed to buy books unless they need them, and the man who con tents himself w r ith cheap and plain fare that he maj T be able to buy books, com mands esteem. He who throws aside the questionable luxuries of pipe, beer, and such things, for the purpose of adding a few volumes yearly to liis bookshelves is to be congratulated, for “ he is prudent and dealeth with wisdom.”

A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life. If it is possible for us to purchase books, it is our duty to possess them. To bring up children without sur rounding them with books is a sin to them. They learn to read by being in the presence of books. The love of knowledge comes with reading, and grows upon it, and this love in a young mind is almost a warrant against the inferior excitement of passions and vices. But do not be a book worm. That is, a character not to be coveted. Some of you may have seen a picture of one in “The Cottager and Artizan” for 1872. He sits at his study table, on which several books are piled. He is intently reading one. Over his eyes he wears a shade to protect them from the glare of liis lamp. His locks are frizzy, as if accidentally singed with the flame of a candle. A pen is behind his ear for the purpose of taking notes. He has one elbow on the table, and the hand propping the chin, while the other hand holds on his eyeglasses. His face is shrunken and shrivelled, and he looks the very picture of selfishness, captiousness, and cynicism. He keeps his knowledge to himself, and is a mere cold critic— keenly watchful for the slips of speech or pen that others make, and appears as if he will die of indigestion. So, be no mere bookworm. And, now, having said this much on books and reading, let me add a little on reading aloud.

For sociality, pleasure, and improvement, reading aloud is a good practice, and ought to be far more general than it is. There would then be less idle talking, and many precious evening hours that are now wasted in sheer gossip by circles of acquaintances would be well spent if one in the company would take a useful book and read aloud for the good of the rest. That there is so little reading aloud is perhaps partly due to the selfishness of readers. This sin sadly besets many of them. Who 1 hat sees the head of a family indulging in his newspaper at breakfast, and commanding the profoundest silence from all at the table, so that he may the better keep his news to himself, but feels what a lump of selfishness that domestic lord is ?

When a book or paper worm lolls back in his easy chair, with his slippered feet

on hob or fender, and a new serial in his V hand, he is not just then accustomed to experience that “boundless charity divine,” which makes him exert himself for f he instruction and happiness of those A in the parlor with him, by offering to read aloud to them. As the miser counts his pelf, as the glutton snatches the choicest food on the table, so is that swinish joy, which in company devours the intellectual dainties in selfish silence. Whose conscience now says, “Thou art ; - the man?” O, ye mental epicures,.' whether bachelor chums, husbands, or fathers, when will ye in this particular A. learn to “ love your neighbor as your selves ? ’ No longer withhold good from -• them to whom it is due, seeing that it iB < in the power of thine hand to do it, • for • this very good reason among others, that v in reading aloud “giving does not im- ' poverish you, neither doth withholding enrich you.” You can impart knowledge ’ without impairing your own stock. The \ light by which one now reads enables all ’ A to see, for it fills the place. The reader does not see less clearly because the light which shines on him shines on the - audience also. “As we list to the song •/’ of the lark as she flies,” her strains are not the less delightful to us because they thrill - other ears besides our own. As in read ing aloud, the pleasure and instruction; which the reader derives i 3 not diminished because his hearers share the same. Another reason w.e have so little read ing aloud, is the fact that but few persons 7 i feel they possess tlie necessary qualifica tions for imparting pleasure to others by .. r this practice. And being unable to read properly is a very serious objection, but it 13 not necessarily a fatal one. Yery few persons can so read as to make an • audience spell-bound, while theirwords go forth with power to . the understanding .. and heart. The sins of elocution are many, and easily beset. One person has an indistinct utterance, a second whines, a third drones, a fourth has a nasal twang, and a fifth hesitates. Does not every evening party testify to these faults if any thing is required to be read!? What with weak lungs, squeaking voices,. choking fits, tendency to hoarseness,.' . nursery singsong, a waggon-wheel rumble, ( ■ -. ora monotone, it is quickly discovered, that no body can read. ! .

Still let us not be hindered from read ing aloud. Attempt a thing so beneficial. If beaten in the beginning of such prac tice it need be no disgrace. “Put a cheerful courage ori,” let your audience ■ bear what you are reading, mind your stops, and don’t go on for ever. _• While reading pleases, but no longer : read. —Armstrong.

Another Greyite Job.

[By Telegraph.]

(From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 8. _ Sir George Grey’s bribe of L3OO to Mr. Rees, and Mr. Sheehan’s LBOO illegally paid to another friend and advocate of his Government, are now both before the Public Accounts Committee, and in a few days another little irregularity of the date Government will probably be laid before the same tribunal, almost equally dis graceful to that Government and more , alarming to the country, as it shows that they had a means of- paying publib money A A to their friends, not only without the con sent but without the knowledge of Parlia ment. A few days before he left office, Mr. Macandrew handed a bonus of LSOO to his friend Mr. Conyers, in addition to f - his salary. This has been known for a long time past, but members supposed that they had in some way voted the money without seeing it. It now turns out that they had not even been tricked -■ into any such vote, but the sum was taken ” from a lump sum of L 69,000 voted for' railways, and the auditor seem 3 to have allowed the sum to pas 3 without, calling the attention of the House to the matter. Mr. Saunders (who has quietly heard all the attacks the enraged Civil Servants can' make or procure on the Civil Service re port) has now given notice of a motion for Monday evening that will give him an opportunity to give his version of the Civil Service matter, when it is expected that he will put an end to the brief triumph of Mr. Conyers and his abettors.' '

Upper Ashburton Local Board of Health.

This Board held their annual meeting on Tuesday 6th inst. Present—Messrs Donald McLean (Chairman), Stitt,. Sargent, and Poole. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The Board’s official reported as to the general very satisfactory state of jthe health of the district, and the absence of anything in the shape of contagious diseases. A few cases of chicken-pox had occurred, but he was happy to say that this complaint had entirely disappeared. The Board re quested him to fill up the form required, and forward the same to the Central Board. The Board then adjourned.

A negro, after gazing at the Chinese exclaimed, “If de white folks is dark as dat out dere, I wonder what’s de colour ob de niggers?”

When a man falls down liis temp er generally gets up before he does.

The Robbery at the Somerset Hotel.

At the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Charles Petersen and Karl Brun wex-e in dicted for having on the .27tli May as-, saulted one Hugh Hewitt and robbed him of the sum of L 6.

The prisoners, who were defended by Mr. Stringer, pleaded “Not Guilty*” The facts, as alleged by tlie prosecution, were that having - fallen in the street went into the washhouse of the Somerset Hotel and removed Borne por tion of his apparel. Whilst doing so, the prisoners came in and assaulted the prose cutor, ultimately rifling his clothes and taking away the money he had in his pockets.

The evidence given before Mr. Guin ness in the R.M. Court was repeated in substance by Joseph Gale, Hugh Hewitt, Robert Shearman, James Ould, and. the evidence having been given of the given of the men spending money at the hotel at Tinwald, Mr. Stringer submitted that there was no evidence to go to the juiy of the cor pus delicti being traced to the prisoners. His Honor said that there was the evi dence of the witness Gale who saw the* obbery. This was; evidence enough urely, to go tcr the jury.

THE ASHBURTON HERALD.; FRIDAY, JULY 9 , iBBo.



Amusements. |e*__ TO-NIGHT. V v V. H OWN HALL FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, JULY 9th and 10th. ; ■ .AVJ R. ON FRIDAY, C. BOURK It Will take a BENEFIT, ’'■MY-”" I ■' . When will be produced, with grand and .1 startling effects, that magnificent V. , - Spectacular Drama, |‘ The Lost Ship.” [V ' ; A Full particulars in Handbills. sfSfl . IfwTADMISSION—Dress Circle, 35.; Front ?' Seats, 2s. 6d.; Middle do., 25.; Back do., Is. | Doors open at 7 ; commence at 7.30. Carriages may be ordered for 10 p.m. -tv. - :< i3o »• 7. PRIMITIVE METHODIST. / ' GRAND OPTICAL t Entertainment, CONSISTING of a large number of in. 1 teresting and DISSOLVING VIEWS, \y . by LIMELIGHT, both LOCAL | and FOREIGN, On the - > 20th JULY, 1880, in the TOWN HALL, ASHBURTON. \: In Aid of the Church Funds. G43c Miscellaneous. \ A DVERTISEMENTS, inserted under the Shilling rate, must be [prepaid. Booked, Is. 6d. will be charged. 625 c GOOD PIANO on hire, by the tA evening. H. M. Jones, Stationery and. Fancy Goods Depot, East Street and tßlanng Square. _ fTTANTED KNOWN—That C. Haw ' VV 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. 800a —417 c WANTED —A General SERVANT at ,'once. Apply to Mrs. Gbokge Pabkin, Moore Street, Ashburton. 642 c PIANOFORTE FOR SALE. ■ GOOD Strong Cottage Pianoforte for Sale, second hand, price L 35 »ah.T Apply office of this paper. 641 c



Miscellaneous TO LET—The finest Premises in Ash burton. For particulars apply Everett Bros. , Havelock street. 627 c WESLEYAN CHOIR. "VYO PRACTICE This Evening, in con sequence of the United Teachers’ Tea Meeting to be held in the church. H. J. WEEKS, 647 c Organist. NOTICE. ON SUNDAY EVENING NEXT, July 11th, the Rev. W. Keall, Circuit Minister, will preach in the Tinwald School, at half past six o’clock. A collection will be made on behalf of the Siistentation Fund of the Wesleyan Church. W. KEALL, 640 c Circuit Minister. SUNDAY N EXT, AT THE TOWN HALL, ASHBURTON. CELEBRATION OF THE CENTEN ARY OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS. ON Sunday next, July 11th, 1880, at 2.30 p.m., a Public Meeting of the Teachers and Children connected with the respective Sunday Schools, Ashburton, will be held in the Town Hall to cele brate the Centenary of Sunday Schools. Addresses will be given by the Revs. Beattie, Keall, and Smith. President—Mr. Gavin. Interesting pieces will be rendered by the children. Mr. H. J. Weeks to preside at the harmonium. Sunday School Children are requested to bring their Hymn Books. All are cordially invited. 632 c ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. EXTRAORDINARY VACANCY. i " THE following Gentlemen have been duly nominated to fill the vacancy in the Ashburton Borough Council, caused by the resignation of Councillor Edward Saunders, viz., Messrs. Alfred Hardison And Thomas Quill. I hereby give notice that a poll will be taken for the election of one of the above on WEDNESDAY, the 21st day of July instant, at the Borough Council Chambers, commencing at 9 a.m. and closing at 6 P ' m ’ CHARLES BRADDELL. Returning Officer. Borough Council Offices, - Ashburton, Bth July, 1880. 645 c



TO THOS. QUILL, ESQ. TYfE, the undersigned, ratepayers of W the Borough of Ashburton, request that you will allow yourself to be Nomi nated for the Seat in the Borough Coun cil now vacant through the retirement of Edward Saunders, Esq., and we hereby promise to you our undivided support. Signed— Donald Williamson G. D. Branson C. W. Ireland Joseph Baldwin Joseph Dolman Henry Britton Charles Reed Wm. Power James Scott Mutch and McKenzie James Wilkie Ered. Duncan Thomas Hicks John G. Anstee And 35 others. To Donald Williamson, Esq., and other gentlemen signing the above requisition:— ENTLEMEN,—I have much pleasure in acceding to your kind request to be nominated for the vacant seat in the Borough Council. If elected, I will use my best endeavors to further the interests of the Borough, and I shall feel proud to be “RUN IN ” at the top of the poll. I remain, gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, THOMAS QUILL. NEW PROPRIETOR. CENTRAL TEMPERANCE HOTEL, Havelock Street. THE undersigned having taken the above Hotel, hopes by strict atten tion to business to merit a fair share of Public patronage. Board and Lodging, LI per week; Meals and Beds, Is. GEORGE WATTS, Proprietor. 644 c THE Friends of Mr. Walsh are re spectfully informed that the Funeral of his late Wife will leave Quill’s Hotel TO-MORROW (Saturday), at 10.30. THOS. A. GATES, 646 c Undertaker.