POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close 1; follows :

For Christchurch and North at 10 a.m. \ p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10 a.m. daily. For Rakaia at 10 a,m., and 4 p.m. daily. For Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily. For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.m. daily. For Temuka, Timaru, and South at 10.15 p.m. and 3 p.m daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m.

W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST.

The Evening Echo. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1878.

The backbone of New Zealand’s great ness is her agricultural and pastoral inte rests, and it is pleasing to see that the leading men in those interests are alive to the benefits to be derived from the forma tion of a national society whose object shall be “the promotion of agricultural interests by holding, in various parts of the colony, periodical exhibitions of live stock, produce, and various manufactures connected with agriculture, and by dis seminating information on subjects of practical farming in the colony.” Such was a resolution, amongst others, passed by delegates from the various Agricultural Societies, who met at Oamaru on Saturday last to establish such a colo nial association as we have above referred to. We cannot but hail this .step, on the part of the agriculturists of the Middle Island, as one taken in the right direction from which great benefits are bound to flow, and which cannot fail to be attended with advantages to the farmers of the colony generally which they do not at present possess and which could never be secured by them through the agency of their local associations however well these may be conducted. Granted the great good done to the districts where they exist by local agricultural and pastoral associations, it bears on the face of it that ja national institution will bring together to its meetings the best intellect and expe rience in the agricultural division of our population, and at those meetings we may safely predict information of the very highest and best kind on all matters affecting the farmer will be exchanged and disseminated over the colony. Not withstanding that there are men who have from ruddy youth to grey age tilled the soil of this country, the colony’s agricul ture, compared with what it can yet be, is still in ite infancy. There is still wide experience to be gained and much valua e knowledge to be secured, and though here and there in the membership of local asso ciations there may be found able men qualified to give precious information, and whose experience is a source of guidance to their neighbors, it is patent to even the most superficial thinker that if all such men can be brought together in one national association, where they may, before the best intellects and the most comprehensive and exact knowledge in the colony on agricidtural matters, lay down that information and experience to be reviewd for the colony’s good, the benefit such men are to the agriculturists around them must be greatly enhanced. i 1 Transactions” of the National Associa tion will be published, and these from year to year will be stored with every new fjpp Jenriwd in agriculture, every word of

advice given by men of wisdom who have brought well-trained minds to the study of the subject. Results of experiments will be obtained and published, obtaining a publicity that otherwise would have been limited to the district where they were made ; and these as being the sub jects of deliberation by the highest agri cultural authorities in the land will com mand attention they would not have been able before to secure. A national exhibi tion of stock, too, will better show the progress of the whole colony in the matter of breeding, and where, as in New Zea land, the cultivation of wool is of para mount importance, the value of such a meeting cannot be over-estimated. The details of the society’s working are a secondary matter, and these will be left in the hands of the best men from each local association; men who have gained practical experience in such work, and are conversant with all the minor but not less essential minutiae. It has been decided to make the shows and the business meetings of the Association peripatetic, so that in time each district will have the scene of the society’s - operations laid ,at its doors, and brought within reach of those who are intended should most profit by its laburs. As time rolls on, and as the colony’s progress rolls on with it, when communication has been made more easy with every part of the colony, and the difficulty of the separation of the North and South Islands surmounted in in as great a measure as possible, the former division of the colony will be included in the society’s field, but mean while it is not intended that the area of operations ahould cross the Straits. Pro bably, too, by the time the more northerly provinces of our own island are ripe for a visit of the association, Mr. Macandrew’s railway scheme will have been well matured, and the almost inac cessible provinces of Nelson and Marl borough will have had an avenue opened for the society’s entrance ; but meanwhile, the main theatre of its work must be in Canterbury and the South ; but that all the colony must inevitably reap the bene fit of the institution, there is no room for doubt. We, therefore, heartily wish suc cess to the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealann. ”

San Franciso Mail. —The next out going mail for England via San Francisco will close at Christchurch on Friday, Dec. 6. The mail is due in London on January 21st.

Racing Club. —A meeting of the com mittee of the Racing Club was held at the Somerset Hotel last evening; present— Messrs. Crisp, Bristo, Wilkie, Friedlander, and Saunders. Accounts amounting to £llß 7s. lid. were passed for payment, and the treasurer submitted an interim statement showing £l6l 15s. 7d. to the credit of the Club. After some discussion it Avas resolved, on the motion of Mr. Friedlander, seconded by Mr. Bristo, that the moneys owing by the 1877 Race Com mittee to Messrs. Compton, Parkin, and Saunders Brothers be paid. Messrs. Bristo and Shury were appointed auditors, and the meeting adjourned until Monday, Dec. 9.

A Big Obstruction. —To-day, Mr George Parkin, contractor for the removal of Messrs Fooks and Sons office to the Wakanui corner and the erection of Messrs Hallenstein’s shop on the vacant site, essayed the removal of the old build ing, and dragged it out to the road, where for some time it stood while arrangements were organising for its transit. The bulky house presented an uncommon spectacle in the middle of the street. Signs of Harvest. —To-day, quite a formidable array of trucks occupied the sidings of the railway in front of East street. These were loaded with innumer able boxes of machinery, for Messrs. Orr and Co, and Friedlander Brothers, com prising reapers and binders, imported by those firms for the farmers in the district, and representing many thousand of pounds value. It is to be hoped that a change will come over the weather soon, so that those splendid aids to agriculture may find heavy work in the harvest field. New Paper. —A new journal is pro jected, to be published three times a week at Lyttelton. Some old West Coasters are the proprietors. Thr Floods Relief Fund. —About £I2OO has been distributed by the Floods Relief Committee, and £IOOO is still in hand. The O. D. f ‘ Times ” says the latter sum might very well be devoted to the relief of the sufferers by the Waimate bush fires.

Wbestling Match. —A wrestling match is to take place at the Caledonian grounds, Dunedin, on Thursday next, between Dagg, a Crpmwell man, and Thomas, from Victoria. The stakes are £2OO a side, and the men, both as regards height and weight, seem fairly matched. Dagg, the Cromwell man, is 6ft. Of in. high, and weighs 13st, 21b, ; the Victorian cham pion, Thomas, is sft, llin. high, his weight being 12st. 71b,

A Hint. —An advertisement in the “ Lake Mail,” announcing an entertain ment in aid of the hospital, winds up with the following unique hint:—Purchasers of tickets are reminded that their presence as well as their money is required to render the entertainment a complete suc cess.

The Value of Land. —A great fuss was recently made (says the “Timarn Herald”) about a quarter-acre section with trifling improvements, in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, being sold for £IO,OOO. We are informed on the best authority that first £BOOO and then £IO,OOO has been offered for a quarter-acre section in Timaru, but that the owner stands out for £15,000, and is likely to get it. It is impossible to say what the value of land is in a fpym or neighborhood progressing as Timarii is OT; .

OPENING OF MESSRS. BULLOCK AND CO.’S NEW STORES.

The extensive addition to the already large business premises of Messrs. Bul lock and Co., which addition has been in course of erection for some time back, being now finished, was opened to-day, the event being marked by a luncheon well attended by the leading men of the town and district. The building is of iron, and covers the largest floor room of any in Ashburton. Its dimensions are G 5 feet by 52 feet, with an 18 feet stud, and the whole premises of the firm now cover an area of a quarter of an acre. Two years ago Mr. Thomas Bullock, Mayor of Ashburton, opened . the store fronting East Street, and at that time the step was looked upon by many as premature, but the proceedings of to-day show how far that opinion was well grounded. A year after the opening of that building, the horse bazaar came into existence at the instance of the firm, and now the commodious store has been completed, the opening of which was celebrated this forenoon. It may be added that on an average the firm employs 42 men, and pays over £l5O per week in wages, show ing that its existence' ill our midst is a rib of Ashburton’s body that could ill be spare. The contractor for the work was Mr. Geo. St. Hill, builder. The luncheon was laid in the new store, and was purveyed by Mr. J. Broom, of the Central Temperance Hotel, in a man ner that did credit to his own ability and the establishment under his care, espe cially when the short notice given to him is considered. After luncheon, the Mayor, who presided, proposed the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, and then asked all present to charge then glasses to the toast of “ The Agricultural and Pastoral Interests of Canterbury,” coupling with the toast the names of Messrs. J. Carter and C. P. Cox. In proposing this toast the Mayor said the agricultural interest was the mainstay of the auctioneers, and the presence of so many farmers at that table gave him pride. Since the squatters had begun to give place to the farmers land had risen 75 per cent. in value.

Messrs. Carter and Cox responded, the latter saying that squatting was to a great extent a thing of the past, but the pastoral interest would continue, though second to the agricultural. Recently there had been some large shows in Canterbury, and a movement was on foot to form a national association.

Mr. Gundry, Vice-Chairman, proposed the “Mercantile Interests,” coupling with it the names of Messrs. Beswick, E. Saun ders, and R. Friedlander. Mr. Beswick thought a mistake had been made in asking him to respond to such a toast, he being a comparative stranger. The agricultural and mercan tile interests he thought worked well enough together. He (Mr. B.) was a cockatoo, and if the blessing of rain should be poured down on the country he would increase his holding to 50 acres and become a farmer. Mr. Edward Saunders recollected making a journey to this district six years ago in Mr. Bullock’s company. The great south line then stopped at Rakaia, and a howling nor’-wester was in full blast. The prospect was the reverse of inviting, but Mr. Bullock with his usual good spirits was not disheartened, but said then that Ashburton would soon be a place of body and importance. The Rev. W. E. Paige gave the toast, “Our Host.” It was only two years since many of those present had assisted at the opening of the first portion of the building in which they then sat. Mr. Bullock was then thought to be slightly out of his mind for starting such an un dertaking. Last year they had assisted in opening the horse bazaar, and now the present occasion proved their host’s full possession of his senses. No doubt all present had aided in making Ashburton what it was, but there was no one had taken a larger share in the work than Mr. Bullock. If he had done well for himself, he had also done well for others. He proposed the toast with pleasure, and asked for “ three times three. ”

Mr. Bullock, in responding, said some five years ago he had been induced to come to Ashburton, which he then thought a bare place, but he thought there was arable land sufficient to support a large population. He commenced business in a very small place, and had to stick closely to business to keep up with the times. He had been gradually compelled to build and increase his room till they saw what was before them. It formed part of his business to erect houses and cottages for those requiring them, and he was proud to say that out of all his trans actions there was only one man dissatis fied with his bargain. This man had bought a section for £lO and quitted it for £B. He would advise the farmers to hold on to their land at all cost. No doubt the nor’-westers would hurt the crops this year, but land in this district would be very valuable. Mr. Cox gave the toast of the firm “ Bullock & Co.” He would propose the health of the individual members of the firm Messrs. Gundry and Edmiston, who responded. The Chairman gave the “Builder,” Mr. St. Hill, who responded. The toast list closed with “ the Press,” and the proceedings terminated.

Land Under Crop. —As affording an idea of the extent to which cultivation is now carried on upon the large estates of Otago, it might be mentioned that upon four of them, lying pretty close together, there are this season 4115 acres of grain, viz. : —Totara, 15,000 acres wh§at, gOO do. oats; Moeraki, 15 acres wheat, 200 do, oats; Toipo Hill, 150 acres wheat, 400 do, oats, 150 do. barley; JCauro Hill, 600 acres Fheat, 540 do, oats, 00 do, barley,

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[By Submarine Cable.]

London, Nov. 22. Alimusjeed has been captured. The British are advancing. The Alice Davies, bound to Adelaide, came into collision with the steamer Mer sey, and sank. The pilot and four of the crew were lost.

Nov. 23.

The money market is easier. Discount rates in open market sre considerably below the Bank minimum. The accu mulation of gold in the Bank of England continues.

Stock markets have recovered a firm tone. Consols 96^. The tone of the wool market is fitful, prices irregular, and the langour of demand has led to the withdrawal of 5000 bales. The depreciation of value, as compared with the last series, is estimated at the average of eight or ten per cent. The corn market is easier. New Zea fand 'wheat ex store, according to quality, forty-one to forty-five.

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, Nov. 25.

Arrived—City of New York. The cricketers received a most enthusiastic welcome.

Efforts are being made to settle the strike dispute.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per Press Agency and Exchanges.]

Auckland, Monday. Father Henneberry’s mission was at tended by 3500 persons. It is understood that Messrs. Conyers and Lawson reported in favour of the inland route of the Kaipara line. This gives general satisfaction to the settlers. Captain Cholmondeley Smith, school teacher, obtained a verdict against the Board of Education for £IOO damages for wrongful dismissal, in discharging him without consulting the local committee. New Plymouth, Monday.

The Native Minister went to Waitara yesterday, and saw Rewi, who gave him a very friendly reception. At about 5 p.m. Rewi, his wife, and children were driven into town from Wai tara, and afterwards Taouni, one of the principal chiefs of the tribe, with his wife, was driven in by Mr. Walker, of Auck land. They put up at Cottier’s Masonic Hotel, and Mr. Sheehan invited the Mayor of the place to meet him there. On assembling, Mr. Sheehan asked Mr. Parris to drink the health of Rewi, which he did, and Rewi replied that he could not speak out his thoughts on the impulse of the moment. He had only just arrived in town, and could not collect his thoughts to make a speech at any length, but would drink to their health. Mr. Standish, the Mayor, then proposed Rewi’s health, and welcomed him to New Plymouth. Rewi and Taouni and their families go to the Star Pantomime Company to-night, and leave by train for Waitara in the morning. Mr. Sheehan is likely to be here till Fri day. Rewi and the other natives were invited by Mr. Standish to his house to tea, where they went, and from there pro ceeded to the Theatre.

A large and influential deputation waited on the Native Minister this morn ing with reference to the holding of the sale of the Waimate Plains at New Ply mouth. Mr. Sheehan ssid he would com municate the wishes of the deputation to the department, but thought that the sale might be held in Wellington. The deputation also asked that 1000 immi grants might be- sent to Taranaki, as well as 250 single girls as servants, as there was a great scarcity of all kinds of labor in Taranaki. To this Mr. Sheehan said he would attend, and as it was feared there would not .be labor enough to get in the harvest, he thought that some men might be sent here from Otago and the West Coast.

Wellington, Monday. The “ Evening Chronicle ” appears to night in an enlarged form. In the Divorce Court, the adjourned case Digby v. Digby and Alexander, Mr. Chapman applied for a rule nisi. The case was recently heard at Christchurch before Mr. Justice Johnston and a jury. The decree was granted. Dunedin, Monday. At the conclusion of the sitting in bank ruptcy this morning, Mr. Registrar Ward directed the attention of the profession to the provisions of the Debtors and Credi tors Act Amendment Act, 1878, now in force, and pointed out that no meeting of creditors could take place until an affi davit had been filed setting forth that the provisions of the Amendment Apt had been complied with. The clause to which he referred was the tenth clause of the new Amendment Act,

The survey of the Strath-Taieri line of railway has now extended to 15 miles from the junction with the main south line at Wangatui, and it is now ascer tained that no great difficulty will be ex perienced in the work of construction. Balclutha, Monday. The Hons. J. Macandrew and J. Fisher, accompanied by Captain Fraser, Mr. Thomson, M.H.R., Mr. Blair, Engineer for the Midle Island, and others yisited Balclutha, to-day. The Minister received a deputation from the Borough Council and County Councils of Bruce and Clutha, the Rjver Bank Protection Committee and Athenaeum Committee. They inspected the township, and fully expressed much sympathy with the sufferers through the flood, From what transpired at the inter*

view, it is believed that Government will carry out river protection works, and the Counties of Bruce and Clutha will unite to erect a bridge, Government giving the money on loan for five years without in terest. Nothing will be decided on witli regard to Inch Cultha till the engineer re ports. Luncheon was provided in the Crown Hotel at the expense of the Cor poration, when the usual toasts were pro posed and responded to. Mr. Macandrew and party left per special train for Dune din at 3.30. Mr. Fisher has gone to Invercargill.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS.

London, Nov. 25:

Kaufman has been directed to prepare for contingencies in central Asia and Cabool. Count Schouvaloff proposes an international commission in lieu of Turkey to carry out the Berlin treaty.

War is imminent between .the British and Zulus.

Additional troops have been sent to the Cape.

New York; Nov. 24. The Marquis and Marchioness of Lome have arrived at Halifax. . : ,

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Wellington,

The report which has been circulated that the Hon. Colonel Whitmore is about to resign his seat in the Cabinet and go home is entirely without foundation. It is understood that Henry Bunny, M.H.R., lias been appointed a member of the Jackson’s Bay Commission. : A Grey town man, giving the name of James Murphy, has been arrested here, charged with having last night committed a violent rape on a little girl named Cow per, at Moroa, near Greytown. The child is about nine years of age. An examination into the question of a steam service between England and the colony, as proposed by Mr. Macandrew, shows the cost would be about £60,000 per annum. Orders have been given for negotiations to purchase land from natives on Kapiti and Stevens Islands for lighthouses. The following were the prices of colonial stock in the London market on 11th Sept, and Bth Oct.: —New Zealand 5 per cent, consols,. in Sept., 940 ct., 92£. Five per cent 10-40’s, Sept., 98|; Oct., 98|. Queensland 4 per cent., Sept., 90 ; Oct., 89w; New South Wales 4 per cent., Sept., 97 ; Oct , 97*. " . '. '

THE LOST TRIBES.

['From the Otago Witness)

The discovery of the Lost Tribes of Israel is a subject of thrilling interest at the presant moment, and it is satisfactory to learn that Dunedin realises its duty in the matter, and to its various organisa tions, social, commercial, philanthropic, and scientific, has added one for the elucidation of this peculiar question. Nobody can tell how soon the Tribes may be wanted, for the occupation of Cyprus is but a step to the annexation of Pales tine, and it will be melancholy thing if the proper people are not ready to go in and possess the land. There will be no lack of would be colonists, and comer lots at Jerusalem will be rapidly at a premium, but it will be an entire repudi ation of the claims of prophecy, if they are rushed by a lot of uncircumcised land sharks, who will demand exorbitant profits when the rightful occupants show front. In these circumstances it is the duty of all right thinking men to seek the rightful owners, and by advertisements in the public Press, and all other legitimate means, every effort should be used to discover the wanderers. It is not clear in what way the local society is to contri bute its share to the furtherance of the search, whether by examining the cre dentials of claimants, personal, historical, genealogical, or otherwise, but if there is any one in the Provincial District of Otago, who has among his family heir looms, a bit of the old ark of the covenant, a chip of the stone tables, a bud off Aaron’s rod, a flask of Egyptian darkness, or any other interesting memento he should show himself. It is not every day that such opportunities present them selves, and doubtless priority of applica tion will fix the choice of allotments. Whether steamers are to be laid on for Jaffa, or the lost exiles ai'e to go by the Orient line, or Money Wigram’s is not definitely fixed, but .whatever is to be done should be done quickly, and any of the tribes who are knocking about, we respect fully refer them to Mr. J. Adams, senior, at the Temperance Hall. He will tell them all about it.

The Agricultural and . Pastoral Wealth of New Zealand,— -Mr. M. Holmes on Saturday, at the delegates’ meeting at Oamaru, re a National Agri cultural Society for the Colony, in speak ing of the Colony’s importance as an agri cultural and pastoral country said :—With out going deeply into statistics, I may state broadly that we have now in the Colony 13,06!),338 sheep, 578,430 cattle, and 137,768 horses ; and beside the natural pasture, we have 3,523,277 acres of Eng lisli sown grasses upon w r hiclx to feed them, There are 26,205 holdings in the Colony, and the land cultivated extended in 1877 to 226,354 acres of wheat, 204,354 acres of oats, 21,795 acres of barley, and 3-8,875 acres of potatoes. The crops for. the present year promise well, and indicate a return of about 14,000,000 bushels.

The Rainfall in Wellington during October was 6 -880 inches, as compared with 4-547 inches in the same month of the preyious year, The number of days of rain, however, were identically the same in each pwty , •:

TUESDAY, November 26, 1878.]

THE EVENING ECHO.



s. d. s. d. 6 utter, inferior to best, If? lb 0 0 to 0 0 Eggs, $ dozen I 2 to I 0 Bacon, prime smoked, $ lb 0 10 to 0 0 Hams in cloth, lb I O to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, 1? lb o 9 to 0 10 Flour in bags, ioolb 12 6 to 14 0 Oatmeal, $ ioolb 26 0 to 0 0 Lard, # lb - O 9 to 0 0



Iromongery. LEAMINGTON RANGES AMERICAN STOVES, REGISTERED GRATES COLONIAL OVENS. A fine assortment of the abo v';. Builders should inspect oui stock. GARDEN TOOLS.I Steel Rakes „ Spades „ Forks Rakes and Hoes Combined Weeders Orr & Co., IMPORTERS OF HARDWARE.



Fruiterers. FRUIT IMPORTED DIRECT FROM SYDNEY. J. M 00 A R AND CO., WHOLESALE AND RETAIL GREENGROCERS & FRUITERERS, REMOVED to EAST STREET, (Shop lately occupied by Mr. Cambridge. JUST ARRIVED A LARGE STOCK OF Oranges, Pine Apples Lemons, Bananas Apples, Vegetables Confectionery &c., &c. Delivered to all paits of Ashburton. W. T. DAVISON, GREENGROCER AND FRUITERER, Wholesale and Retail. Fresh from Christ church daily, from one of the Largest Growers. MOORE STEET, Ashburton. 47 Bakers’ Notices. BAKER’S NOTICE. TAYLOR AND LILL BEG to inform their numerous cus tomers, and the public generally, that on and after the first day of Novem ber, and until further notice, they will BUPP BREAD at 6d. per 41b LOAF, Made from the Best Flour in Canterbury, and by a First-class Practical Baker. js&“lnspection invited. TAYLOR & LILL, Bakers, Confectioners, & Pastrycooks, East Street, Ashburton. BREAD. BREAD. BREAD. 6d. per 4lb. Loaf. THOMAS HICKS, Baker and Con fectioner, Tancred Street, is now supplying First-class Bread, at 6d. per 41b Loaf, delivered to all parts of the District, or at the Shop, jSKPlease note— THOMAS HICKS, THE PIONEER BAKERY, Tancred Street, Ashburton



Business Notice. HOW TO PROCURE A SEWING MACHINE EASILY. 'pHE GREAT ADVANTAGE OFFERED by ORR AND CO. By the TIME PAYMENT SYSTEM places the SINGER HOUSEHOLD and HOWE MACHINES within easy reach of all. Payments—Weekly or Monthly. ~ ORR & CO., Sole Agent* for the above Machines Ashburton,



NOTICE. Advertisements for the evening Echo must be sent in not later than 3 p.m. with'the number of insertions written plainly on the copy, otherwise they will be inserted till countermanded, and charged accordingly. Special notices can be received up to 3.30 p.m. for insertion over the Leader, but will be charged double scale. Subscriptions—Quarterlv in advance, 6s. ; posted, Bs. 6d. ; per annum, in advance, 225. 6d. ; posted, 355. d. ,• weekly, paid to ruuners, 6d. Delivered to any part of the town, and at any of the Railway Stations



ENCOURAGE LOCAL INDUSTRIES. AO. AITKEN & CO. have much plea • sure in informing the Gentlemen of Ashburton that they are prepared to take orders for New Spring and Summer Suits. A Perfect Fit Guaranteed, and at Christchurch Prices. A. O. AITKEN & CO., TAILORS, ASHBURTON CHOIR UNION. THE usual Practice will he held THIS EVENING, at 7.30., in the Wes leyan Church, Cameron Street, in conse quence of the Young Men’s Christian Association Lecture on Wednesday, at which the members are invited to assist. Persons who have not received invita tions, desirous of joining, invited to attend. Every member must have a knowledge of music. H. J. WEEKS, 75 Conductor.