CHRISTCHURCH.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3322, 15 August 1879, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

Last night.

Several deputations hate waited on Mr J. E. Brown begging him to stand fc r Ashley, and in reply, Brown said that domestic affairs had caused him to make, up bis mind to retire altogether from Parliament, and that he could not stand, being bound by promise not to. He was then told that he would be nominated, and probably elected whether lie liked it or not, upon which he Said, if his friends would release him from his promise, he would consent to set re once more. Some of the candidates for Ashley are now expected to withdraw^ . > A meeting of Conservatives is being held to-night to secure the return of the three present members. There seems to be a vagueness about Moorhouse which is not easily understood, his name is bracketed with Stevens and Bichardson in the Conservative interest, but arequisition has been sent him from Ashley by a number of people, and it is authoritatively said he will stand for that district. It is alao rumored that he is to be asked to stand for Geraldine. Mr Moorhouse has made no sign yet. Ivess is not going to stand for Coleridge, and the Hon. J. Hall announces himself for Selwyn. Both Wright and Hart, the Coleridge candidates, are antiGrey ites. ■,',-•• Sailed?. Tararua for Wellington. Good milling wheat is in excellent demand at 4s 3d to 4s 4d; seed wheat Is wanted,' and a considerable advance can be made for good samples. Oats and barley are unchanged. Flour £10 to £11. Grafs seeds show signs of life at 4s 6d to 5s for well dressed samples, inferior 3s to 4s. In ordinary business 1 there is a sign of improvement, and good investment for money are difficult to find. Many lines of merchandise are becoming scarce, especially sugar, the finest to fine white crystal and counters sale of Thursday'! cargo did not supply the demand. , •> At a conservative meeting to-night, Mr Moorhotise said definitely he would withdraw from Christchurch, in order to,give Sir George Grey a ohance of standing, this is understood to mean that he has resolved to stand for Ashley. A section of people up north took up his candidature unfavorably; v they would prefer a local man. At a meeting to-night, although supposed be a one sided one, it contained a good many liberals, as the speakers (amongst whom were Bichardson, Stevens, and Moorhouse,) were frequently interrupted by cries of what about land sharking" and similar queries. Two com* mitteet were appointed to further the interests of the party and to canvas for votes for the two men.

On Monday some men engaged in fencing on Big Island, Kakaia, unearthed the skeleton of a man which appeared to hare been burned for a considerable time. From the position of the remains it is likely the body was washed on the Island daring a flood and buried with silt. The Kaiapoi Volunteer Corps has been disbanded through the last returns not reaching the limit to entitle them to receive capitation. It had been in existence (OTer twenty years.

The Duke of Manchester has given one hundred pounds towards the erection of a parsonage and Church near his property at Waikato. :