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Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 17, 4 November 1879, Page 4

The reports issued by the Treasury Department show that for the year ending June 30 the exports from the United States reached the value of $710,000,000, and the imports $445,000,000.

Five young men were playing poker at Asheville, N.C. One was detected hiding an extra card in his breast pocket. The dirk of another was instantly driven through the card and into the cheat’s heart.

Chinese Lotteries. —“ The “San Francisco Post ” says that there are nine osganised Chinese lottery companies, with 300 agents, in San Francisco. It also states that the head quarters are known to the police, and yet the business is allowed to be conducted without let or hindrance.

Maintenance of Roads. — We notice hat Mr Win. J. Silcock has commenced his contract for the maintenance of roads in the Wakanui district. The Wakanui road is the first he is operating on, and it promises to be considerably improved in appearance by his method of working it.

Since Sir George Grey’s exultation has been suddenly cut short by the defection from his ranks of the four Auckland members, and the recent further accession to the Government side of the Hon. Mr Richardson, who has supplanted the Knight of Kawau in the Christchurch seat, Sir George has been singing a very small song. The recent turning of the political tables has had the effect of, so to speak, shutting up the Opposition, and business has accordingly made rapid progress. It is significant of the extent to which the sting has been taken out of the Greyite party that no less than seven Bills relating to electoral matters were read a second time on Friday night.

Mr E. G. Wright’s engineering skill has been turned to good account in the House of Representatives. It will be remembered by those who read the items of political gossip telegraphed to us by our own correspondent that Mr Allwright, the member for Lyttelton, had been successful in greatly improving the ventilation of the building in which the “House” meets. A later telegram from our correspondent puts us right as to whom belongs the honor. The credit, it appears, was given wrongly to Mr Allwright, and the real genius was Mr Wright, the member for this district. We hope the House will benefit in more ways than one from the improved ventilation, and that this is only the beginning of many successful attempts on the part of Mr Wright to “clear the air ” of the august chamber of which he has the honor to be a member.