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Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 839, 11 January 1883, Page 2

Library Committee. — A meeting of the Library Committee takes place this evening, at Mr Ward’s office.

The San Francisco Mail. The Southern portion of the mad left Christchurch this afternoon by the ordinary train at a quarter past one. Alford Forest. —Considerable prospecting has been going on lately (says the Lyttelton Times correspondent), and one gentleman of mining experience, after three weeks spent among the hills, states there is.every inducement for capitalists to engage in mining pursuits. Although more than sanguine, he is, o: course, reticent as to kinds and localities. Should the Rakaia-Methven line be carried on through this district, as at first contemplated, it would open several new fields for labor.

Trying it on. —The following letter appeared in last night’s Dunedin Star ;— Sir, I have just received the enclesed letter, and think the best answer I can give my unknown correspondent is, with your permission, to publish it in your paper.— I am, etc., W. J. M. Larnach.—“ To W. J. M. Larnach, Esq. Sir, —I have a vote for the Peninsula District, and can command twenty or thirty more who do not intend to vote, but will if I ask th ?m. I do not intend voting for any of the candidates, but will canvass on their behalf, and throw in my vote as well, provided I receive a small sum as remuneration for my trouble. Should you not see your way to do this I will not vote for any. I may state, in conclusion, that this is not written for the purpose of prejudicing your election, rather the other way, arid as to any fear on your part from the late Act it is nil. Please address, in first instance, to X, Post Office, not later than Thursday afternoon."

Phrenology. —Professor Lio Medo delivered his first lecture in Ashburton last evening, in the Town Hall, before a fairly numerous audience. A long recitation from Shakespeare’s “Richard If.” commenced the programme, and was given intelligently, although the professor hss a tendency to raise his voice too high at times, probably on account of his not having yet gauged the acoustic properties of the hall. In the lecture that followed, which was delivered with a considerable amount of force, it was claimed that phrenology was the greatest of all sciences. The argument with which this position was supported would certainly not satisfy a logician, but the audience, to judge from the applause that was freely accorded whenever a point was made, were evidently convinced. Some ingenuity was displayed in criticising the “ bumps”—or, as the professor prefers to call them, the “faculties”—of the murderer Lefroy, and one or two other notable characters. But the most amusing part of the entertainment was at the conclusion, when a number of those present mounted the platform for the purpose of having their characters determined by the phrenologist. If the applause and laughter were any criterion, the p-ofessor made several happy hits, and the enunciation of the personal peculiarities of his victims appeared to afford infinite amusement. Mr Oraigheid was awarded a handsome album for being the possessor of the most intelligent head of those who submitted themselves , to _ examination, Another lecture will be'delivered shortly;

Racing Club. —At a meetibgof this Club,'held on Tuesday, it was decided tha tDr Rosa and MrR. Friedlander should arrange for a deputation to attend the general meeting of the New: Zealand Grand National Steeplechase; Club, to be-held at jTimaru on the 20 th' inst.' ’ The notice of motion given by . Dr Rosa, which is to the effect that the rule of the Canterbury Jockey Club re election of members be substituted in lieu of the local Club’s rule, thus doing away the present system of open voting, will be oonsidered at a general meeting of the Club to bo held on the 30th inst. After discussion, a motion brought forward by Mr Quill, that a meeting confined to local horses should take place on the next New Year’s Day, was withdrawn.

Sad Fatality. — A fatal accident is reported from Wellington as having occurred at Day’s Bay on Monday. It appears that George Frethey, a farmer at the Lower Hutt, proceeded to the Baywith a horse and cart, for the purpose of ciitting some undergrowth. He took with him a pistol and gun, in case he should come upon some wild pigs. Frethey not returning that night, search was instituted, the result being that the horse and dray were found but no sign of the missing man. Next dav, however, he was found lying on his back, with a bullet hole through the top of his head.. It is thought that in going through the bush the pistol went off accidentally, the bullet entering the forehead and escaping at the top of the head. Frethey was a young man, single, and had his life insured for L2OO in the Government office. At the inquest a verdict was returned of “ Accidental death.

0 bituauy. The Right Hon. Sir Samuel Martin, whose, death is reported in the cablegrams published to-day, was the son of the lata Samuel Martin, of Calmore, Londonderry. He wasboyn inlSOl, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, entered at Gray’s Inn in 1821, and afterwards at the Middle Temple ; practising: at first as a special pleader. After having been called to the bar by the latter society in 1830, he went the Northern circuit, and gained reputation in Liverpool and other towns by the ability he exhibited in the conduct of cases. He married a daughter of Sir Frederick Pollock, the Lord Chief Baron, in 1843, was made Q. 0., and at the general election in August, 1847, was elected, on Liberal principles, one of the members for Pontefract, which he represented till 1850, when he was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer, and shortly afterwards knighted. He resigned his judgeship at the close of the year 1873, and was sworn of the Privy Council. He rejoined the Bench of the Middle Temple in 1878. The Volunteers. —-A Press Association telegram from the Thames says : “ The various Volunteer companies here are endeavoring to reorganise themselves under ths new regulations. Much difficulty is experienced by some of them in doing so, as, with the small maximum strength allowed, and the number of stated parades which must be attended during the year, it will be impossible in some instances to earn the capitation grant by the minimum of men attending the parade. This arises from the nature of the men’s employment—as, for instance, miners, who require ■to work during the night time, thus preventing them attending drill. If the maximum was larger this could be got over, but Unless some concession in this respect is made, it is feared the splendid corps of the Navals, if not others, will be forced to disband. Some feeling is evinced among the men at not having had a definite reply from Wellington to their request for a concession of the nature indicated.” The Wellington Engineer Corps have decided not to serve under the now regulations, and the members will tender their resignations forthwith.

The Reception of Si a W. Jervois.A. large meeting of influential citizens was held in the Wellington Council Chambers yesterday afternoon for the purpose of completing arrangements for the reception of Sir William Jervqis, The matter has been taken up with great enthusiasm, and efforts are being made to render it one of the most successful that has yet been witnessed here. On arrival of the Wakatipu, she will be convoyed up the harbor by the yachting fleet of Wei-

lington. As he leaves the vessel, Sir William will be met by the Mayor and members of the City Council and representatives of other public bodies, who will present addresses of welcome. Two triumphal arches will be erected, one at the shore end of the wharf and the other at the entrance of Government House grounds It is expected that the whole of the Friendly Societies, Volunteers, Fire Brigades, : and Salvage Corps will take part in the procession. During the day the school children will, if the school masters can possibly arrange, also take part in the proceedings. In the evening there will be a torchlight procession through the town. A resolution was unanimously passed, expressing the thanks of the citizens of Wellington at the excellent manner in which Sir James Prendergast had fulfilled the duties of Administrator of the Government since the departure of Sir Arthur Gordon.

A Coming Emigration Agent. —Says a Wellington contemporary ;—Mr John James Jones, M.G.0., F.R.G.S., an exmember of the London School Hoard, has

recently left England, in the interests ef emigration to the colonies, and will most probably, in the course of his travels, visit New Zealand after touring through Canada. He has written on emigration, and here are his most recent opinions addressed to the English working classes. They may not be nov.d, but they are forcible :—“ I am not for that emigration which takes away a well-paid workman from a good employer, but 1 am for the emigration of all those who cannot find a well-spread table for their families here. I would lay great stress upon the fact that emigration is not for the ne’er-do-well, or the idle, or the dissolute—they would not do as well abroad as at home—but it is a splendid opportunity for the man with good health, energy and a determination to got on. I believe that industrial society has reached a new stage. New forces, new condrions and new opportunities now exist. Europe is crowded. Crowns, Feudalism, privileges, partial laws, and devouring armaments deprive the common people of subsistence or condemn them to perpetual precariousness. Hero in England we have surplus workers ; abroad there are unoccupied acres where a hundred millions of families may dwell in opulence and ownership. Here the Government offers to workmen only the lot of the soldier or the fate of the pauper. The sole deliverance is that of wedding the people to the prairies. The new cry of progress is—dispersion. If workmen are wise they will train no more children for mill or mine. Mechanics only minister to luxury they can, as a rule, never taste. Children should bo trained for tho field. Their eyes should be taught to look abroad. They should be familiarised with the literature of adventure, and fed with the inspiration of distant enterprise. No education is of any value to them which does not include that of the farm, and soil, and crops, and climat s. The steamships will cany them to lands of independence in ten days. I, for one, say to mechanics, beg no more for employment, higgle and supplicate no more for hopeless increase of wages—go away. The farmer does not want you, the manufacturer does not want you, the trades-man does not want you, the poorlaw guardians do not want you—go away. You have nothing to gain by violence; you ought not to seek anything from, pity.” .. .=

At La&f.—The Oity Bank; liquidation came to » ! closp on November j 21, and sit a meeting in Glasgow it was announced, in spite of a prediction to the contrary, that the B<*nk had, after all, pa|d 20s in the pound. The solvent shareholders had been called upon to pay L 2,750 per LIOO share. The Native Minister’s Ultimatum. — Mr Bryce received a few days ago a communication from Topotahi, a chief in the King Country, in which he stated that he had seen Mr Bryce’s letter to Wahanui. Topotahi says that it was Tawhaio who withhold his consent to proposals embodied in the letter. In his opinion the arrangement? with regard to roads and railways and other matters were in a satisfactory position. Topotahi further asks that a fair and liberal compensation should be given to the Natives. He thinks that people who have committed crimes in that district should be allowed to go at large, an amnesty being granted them. Tawhaio should be taken in charge and treated as one would a loving child. In conclusion the chief'mentions that the natives are favorable to the sitting of the Lands Court at Mokau t and to the survey ofj lands between Paraninihi and Mckau.— In replying to the chief Mr Bryce says ■ that his last words to Tawhaio Had gone to Wahanui, and they had been rejected. > The construction of roads and railways through the Maori country would be of immense benefit alike to natives and. Europeans. As regarded the reference to an amnesty being gr.mted, it was a question as to whether those who had: committed crimes were now acting pro-; perly, and if they are, or are not, likely to commit crimes in the future. The* proposal for the surveys was a good one, and it was hoped that before any; lengthened period the roads and railways! would be gone on with. ■ j

New Zealand Insurance Company.— j' At the half-yearly meeting of the New 1 Zealand Insurance Company, held at; Auckland yesterday, the Hon. James Williamson, Chairman of Directors, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said : ' Considering the severe competition we have, now to contend against, it is very gratifying to he able to recommend another dividend, and also to be able to carry forward a small amount of surplus to next year. Without any single fire or marine loss of serious magnitude we regret to have to report no less than 222 .fires during the half-year. Only five of these, however, exceed LI,OOO, and of 16 marine losses only six exceed L 2,000. It will be some satisfaction for you to know that, so far during the year now begun, our losses are re? duoed in number, and the prospect of business in that respect is, at least, more encouraging. I think it highly probable that the experience of insurance business of late will damp the ardour of those who have created new Companies, under the belief, I presume, that old Companies established in this country were making large profits. Your Directors have re. cently made arrangements fof taking over

the fire business of the Queensland Insurance Company. Mr Reader Wood seconded the motion, - which was unanimously carried; Messrs J. L. Wilson and Buddie were re-elected Messrs G. Fraser and W. S. Lawrie were re-appointed Auditors, and a vote of thanks to the Directors and officers was passed. Mr Thomas Bussell spoke in high terms of the management of the Company’s London Branch, . and some

amendments to the articles of Association, the effect of which ia to substitute :an annual for half-yearly meetings, and to authorise the Directors to declare interim dividends, were passed. - ....