CHRISTCHURCH.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2908, 11 June 1878, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

Monday. The following appears in the Press this morning :■—" The directors of the Press Company lay before their subscribers and the public generally the following facts : The Government had been in the habit of inser hg public notifications in both the morning papers published in Christchurch unt:'. the 17th of April last; since that date no orders for advertising have been given to the Press newspaper from the Colcjial Secretary's Office, or the Public Works Department, whilst such nolices have regularly and to a large extent been advertised in the Lyttelton Times. In consequence of this change the directors of the Press Company deemed it advis-. able to make inquiries at head-quarters, and one of them visited Wellington for that purpose, and had interviews with the Government on the subject. Generally it was ascertained that in future such advertisements would ba given only to the Lyttelton Times and the Timaru Herald in Canterbury. It was represented to the Governmenment that so partial a distribution of advertising would not only place the excluded journals at a disadvantage, but would also be injurious.to the public interest, as tending to lessen publicity. The Government stated that economy in advertising was necessary, and that other things being equal, it was not surprising if they gave their advertisements to their supporters. The directors of the Press Company replied that if such was the intention or the Goveiament, tb9 Press, to prevent the;? subscribers being plr.ee 1 at a disadvantage, have determined to publish without charge all Gove;ument notices appearing in the Lytt jlton Timea, hv.': withheld from the Press. la makiug this" preliminary sacrifice, the Pre.~s Company feel they will.heve public sympathy, and that public opinion will justify their pre sent action in resisting any attempt on the part of the Government to use Government advertising as a mean" of souring political support." i»The notice is followed by upwards of a column of Government advertisements copied from the Lyttelton Times.

This dpy. The Jockey Club have arranged the programme of the spring meeting. The only alteration from last y< ur is the addition of a Flying Handicap of ICD soys. on the third day. The tolal amount of added money will be £22C>. A ballot was taken at Ak..ro.i yes'erday to ascertain whether the ratepayers were favorable to borrow £8000 for-municipal works. The result. was C 7 for and 70 against. Ycterday 45 informations Wfre laid against persons for driving or riding round certain street corners, whereas it is provided by bye-laws that horses should only walk. One of the 45 wea diving the Governor at'the time the breach was committed, while another is Councillor Briggs, one of the most active amongst those to hare the bye-laws enforcad.