The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalbit. TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1886. Home Rule for Wales.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1323, 24 August 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalbit. TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1886. Home Rule for Wales.

We learn from the mail news published yesterday that circulars are being distributed in Wales demanding home rule, free education, abolition of landlordism, and disestablishment of the Church. It is impossible at this distance from the scene of the agitation, and with the very meagre information at our disposal, to say how far the matter of these circulars represents the feeling of the people, but we have before us a copy of a manifesto prepared early last month by the Committee of the Welsh Land Association

for issue to the electors, which may throw some light upon the pres ml movement. The document sets forth that it is clear that if the farmers, laborers, and servants are to be saved from ruin, rents must be reduced at least 50 per cent. Landlords have, with a few noble exceptions, been appealed to in vain to come to the rescue of tenants, asserting that supply and demand must govern allfarming Lansactions. “We claim” says the mani'esto, “ the abolition of those one-sided land laws, which are a disgrace to civilisalio 1 , and the enactment by Pailiameit of a statute which will grant equal justice to loyal Welsh farmers as already possessed by our Irishfibrethren.” As in Ireland, Welsh fr-fours have to deal with landlords or agents of other

nationalities, and out of sympathy with the people. “We have no hope of justice at the-hands of many landlords, and it is for you, by your votes, to say whether it shall be reform or ruin. Allow no question, however grave, to stand between you and the welfare of our country, by insisting on all candidates for Parliament that they shall if returned vote for the Welsh Land Bill when presented, which is intended to check the ravages of excessive renting which threatens to 'annihilate the best of all our industries. Working men of Great Britain, is for you to say whether our once happy homes shall be restored by converting our fields into their former activity by restoring to the land thousands of unwillingly idle men divorced from the soil by the rackrenting of the inheri'ance of the children I of men.” I

Last week we published some extracts taken from a report of ajsermon delivered in Belfast by the Rev. Dr Hanna, having special reference to the recent riots and bloodshed in that city, and we now t‘ke from the same source, the Belfast letlcr an extract from another sermon, delivered by the Archdeacon of Connor, referring to the same terrible occurrencer. The Archdeacon is reported to have said : —“ They had f< r some time prayed that the course of deliberation in the Parliament might be so ordered that civil and religious liberty might be preserved— hat their present connection with Kngluul might continue, and were bound to regard the issue of the struggle in Parliament as an answer to their prayer. And when they observed the means by which this Issue had been tffactsd, they were still more convinced that it was so, for men had been led to break ties of long-stand-ing, to refuse obedience to the parliamentary leader In whom they bad Jong;

confidence, and vote with those to whoae views on political matters they had been long opposed. It wai their duty then, to offer praise to Him to whom they had addressed prayer ; and still farther to continue their prayer, for the state matters could not be considered ns settled* Efforts would no doubt be again made to effect the object of separating the countries, and ether changes in the laws

would assuredly bo attempted. They could not trust men ; let them trust the Lord their God, and while they acted each day under his guidance, as far as they saw the light of truth, let them leave the Issue iu His hands, who alone was perfect in counsel, and to whom was committed all power." He then asked the congregation to stand up and join with him in repeating the thanksgiving for “ Peace and deliverance frbm our enemies,” wh'ch they did with much heartiness.

The San Francisco mail was delivered in Ashburton to-day.

An error occurred in the advertisement appearing in our last issue relative to the annual election of three Borough Councillors. Instead of " nominations close on Wednesday, August 31,” read “nominations close on Tuesday, August 31."

At the meeting of the Borough Council last evening Cr Roberts drew attention to B lake wbioh existed at the corner of Grigg and Cameron streets, and wbioh was a source of great inconvenience to pedestrians on dark nights. The Works Committee was instruo'ed to have the matter attended to.

Daring the passage of the s.s. Alameda from San Francisco to Auckland a Chinese fireman fell dead. His body was embalmed according to custom and landed at Honolulu, to be sent back to San Francisco, whence it will be returned to the Flowery Land. The Alameda refused cargo at San Francisco this trip. She took to Sydney 1000 tons of flour, wheat, and bacon.

A verdict of “ Accidental death ” was returned at the inquest on Peter Grant, who was killed on the railway at Feliohet Bay, near Dunedin. The evidence showed that he was standing on the platform of the carriage before starting from Peliohot Bay. No one saw him fall, but the body was afterwards discovered with the head nearly severed from the body. A young man named Wm. Porter was drowned in the Arawata River during the flood at Jackson’s body was found after four days search, and was buried at Jackson’s Bay. Ho had come over from Otago via Haaat Pass.

The recent fresh in the Ashburton river having damaged to a slight extent portion of the fence around one ol the Borough Council Reserves in the river bed, when the question of repairing came up at last night’s meeting of the Council Cr Sealy advocated using willow stakes as posts, which would take root and thus not be liable to be carried away by the river. The Council decid’d to act on Cr Sealy’s suggestion, if it be possible to obtain suitable willow posts. It is understooi that the agent of the New Zealand Government at San Francisco, Mr Charles R. Buckland, has sent a communication to Sir J. Vogel, pointing out that the San Francisco mail service can bo considerably shortened.

At the meeting of the Borough Council last evening, a letter was read from Mr W. C. Walker M.H.R. in which he regretted that a second attempt to secure the separation of Ashburton Borough and County from the North Canterbury district, for the purposes of charitable aid had failed. He added that several districts were in a similar position to Ashburton, and expressed his conviction that separation would be obtained next ses' sion; if not, the administration of the Aet would break down—The Council expressed its regret at the failure of the attempt to secure separation jbut also its recognition of the endeavors of the Ashburton Representatives to that end. A cordial vote of thanks to Mr Walker for his untiring efforts in the matter was unanimously accorded.

By a printers error which appeared in our last issue in the article on “Bible Beading in Schools ” contributed to us, the writer Is made to refer to our issue of August 7,188 G, whereas the correct date is August 7 1885.

Mr David Mackenzie, for many years secretary of the Geraldine Eaoing Club, died about three o’clock on Sunday morning. He has been in ill health for some time past.

Aljthe Divorce Court at Wellington yesterday, Ellen Jones, wife of William Michael Angelo Jones, music teacher, late of Oamaru and Dunedin, applied for a decree absolute, and also for an order for the custody of two children. The decree was granted. In the case Webb v Webb, the wife’s petition'for a decree absolute was granted. In the case Sawkins v Hawkins, the wife's petition for divorce on the ground of adultery on the part of the husband, a decree ni»/ was granted. Fred. Mayew, second schoolmaster of the New Plymouth Central School, was arrested on Saturday night on a warranf’from Blenheim, charged with embezzling £G6 of the capitation fund of the Spring Creek Eifles, Blenheim, of which corps ho was once captain. He was brought up at the Police Court yesterday morning, and remanded till Wednesday.

Several claims for damages on account o:

the recent Goods were received by the Dunedin City Council last night and referred to the Works Committee. More are expected.

The following fotball team has been chosen to play for Otago, against Canterbury Fullback, E. Austin; three-quarter-backs, O. Bee, W. Ross, A. Wedderspoon, half-backs, B. Fraser, J. B. Thomson; forwards, James Allan, W. Gibson, T. Henderson, A. W. Morris W. McFarlane, R. Mill, W. Strong, F. Twiname, H. Treseder. The team averages over twelve stone, and is thought to be a good one, though one or two players are omitted who it was concluded would be in the team.