POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close 15 follows : For Christchurch and North at xo a.m. 4 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 Ashton, Walcrton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.m. daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m. For Temuka, Timaru, and South at 10. IS a.m. and 3 p.m daily. For Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily.

UNCLAIMED LETTERS.

The following letters are advertised at the Post Office, as having been received from places beyond the Colony, during the month of July, and remaining unclaimed on the Ist September 1878 : Anderson, James Clough, Robinson Doherty, Henry James Fergusson, J. 11. (2) Gooch, W. Kelly, Cornelius Moyna, Joseph O’Donnell, Patrick Palmer, William Rilly, James Sweetman, Michael (2) Spencer, W. Wallace, John Letters originating in New Zealand are not now advertised, but are sent to the Dead Letter Office, after having lain for two clear months.

ASHBURTON TRADE DIRECTORY.

A ICOUNTANTS AND COMMISSION AGENTS— Charles Braddell, Montgomery’s Buildings H. J. Bristo, Prospect Buildings, East-st. W. R. Boyle, Moore-street. A ICHITECT AND CIVIL ENGINEER— S. W. Brown, East-street S. Farr, Montgomery’s Buildings B. Mountfort, East Street A JCTIONEERS — Bullock and Co., East-street Saunders Bros., Ashburton B IRRISTERS AND SOLICITORS — Mr. Branson, East-street Mr. E. G. Crisp, Montgomery’s Buildings B'»kers, Confectioners, Etc.— Thomas Hicks, Tancred-street Thomas Taylor, East-street,

B vnks — Bank of New Zealand, East-street Union Bank of Australia, East-street Bdarding House Keepers— J. G. Anstee, East-street Eagle’s Dining Rooms, Havelock Street . Builders, Contractors, Etc.— James Baker, Havelock-street Geo. St. Hill, Burnett-street West G. Parkin, Steam Saw Mills, Moor-street Matthew Smith, Moor-street Thos. Williams, Tinwald G. Compton, Builder, Moore-street. B XIKSELLERS AND STATIONERS— A. Weston, Prospect Buildings, East-street Furness and Dixon, Stationers’ Hall, East street South

Bootmakers — J. Chambers, Prospect Buildings, East-street M. Nealas, East-street Brewers — Wood and Co., Cameron-street Cabinetmakers and Undertakers— James Baker, Havelock-street G. Parkin, Moor-street Thomas Williams, 'J inwald

Carrier— G. F. Scott, Cameron-street

Chemist and Druggist— 1 J. M. Cambridge, Montgomery’s Buildings Coal and Firewood Merchants— G. Parker and Co., near Railway Station A. Hayes, Firewood and Timber, near Rail way Station F. P. Leßreton, Burnett-street. Drapers and Clothiers— Aitlcen and Co., Havelock-street Orr arc Co., East-street John Fowler, Tancred-street Firth, Pass, and Co., Old Bank Store, East street W. Gavin, East-street T. Quinn & Co., Moor-street Engineers and Founders— Edwards and Lee, Engineers, Smiths, etc., Burnett-street W. J. Hessey, Central Foundry, Peters-st Furniture Warerooms— A. Spillard, Tancred Street Grocers, General Dealers, Etc.— Aitken and Co., Havelock-street Orr and Co,, East-street Firth, Pass, and Co., East-street John Fowler, Tancred-street K. Sando, East-street

Greengrocers— W. Birtwell, East-street J. Mooar & Co., East-street Hairdressers— E. A. Garnett, East-street A. Pearse,' Moore-street Hotels— Quill’s Commercial Hotel, near Railway Station Shearman’s Somerset Hotel, East-street Ironmongers- Orr and Co., East-street Aitken and Co., Havelock-street S. Hardley, East-street Ladies’ Clothing Establishment— Mrs. Morey, Tancred Street. Painter, Ac.— J. R. Chapman, Tancred-street Printers and Publishers— Furness and Dixon, East-street Plumbers, Gasfitters, Tinsmiths, Etc.— J. C. Dolman, Tancred-street Joseph Hyde, Tancred-street S. Hardley, East-stieet Saddlers— Thomas Dndson, Burnett-street Surveyors— C. E. Fooks and Son, East-street Tailors— Aitken and Co., Havelock-street Tentmakers— K. Sando, East-street Tobacconists— A. Pearse, Moor-street 'i E, A. Garnett, East-street A. Weston, E»s^stres,t

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. Sept. 13 —Rotorua, s.s., from South. Sept. 13 —Tararua, s.s., from South. SAILED. Sept. 13 —Rotorua, s.s. for North. Sept. 13 —Tararua, s.s., for North. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. From London Crusader, Lutterworth, Waimate, Waimea, Waitangi, Langstone, Pal ala. From New York Star, Southnnnster, Olmstee. From Foo Chow —Rio Lodge. From Calcutta —Aries. Hokitika, Thursday. Arrived Alhambra, s.s. She’ left Mel bourne on Sept. 5, and experienced strong head winds and heavy seas throughout the passage.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Evening Echo. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1878.

By the patronage accorded to the public library or libraries of a rown, a pretty good estimate can be formed of the general intelligence of its inhabi tants, and the community of any size which does not possess, or endeavor to possess, an institution of that character, lays itself open to the charge of being a community of dullards. Books are in dispensable to civilisation, and the greater facilities men have of access to them the better chance is there for the cultivation of intellect, the increase of general knowledge and information, and elevation of the whole moral and intel lectual tone of the community. In these colonies, it will be at once con ceded, the people’s chances of access to books are not so great, by a long way, as those of the people of the mother country. Not only is literature more costly on this side of the Line, through the fact of necessary importa tion and for other reasons, but there are more agencies at work here to come between young men and the acquire ment or gratification of a taste for litera ture than exist at home, and we are sure every right-thinking colonist will commend the Bill now before Parlia ment, and introduced by Colonel Whitmore in the Upper House, to place in the hands of local governing bodies power to establish free public libraries, and to levy rates for such establishments and their subsequent main-tenance. The Bill is called “The Literary Institutions Bill, 1878,” and repeals the public libraries measures of 1875 and 1877. Its object is to en courage the establishment of mechanics’ institutes, athemeums, &c., and to foster these after they are instituted ; but the part of it which provides for the plant ing of free public libraries is, we think, of the most importance to the people. The measure is intended to be permis sive ; so that before the Ashburton Borough Council, for instance, could institute a free library under the provi sions of Colonel Whitmore’s Bill, it would be necessary to take the vote of the people. That vote taken, and a majority of the ratepayers found to favor the adoption of the Act, a levy of not more than one penny in the pound could be imposed, and the rates thus raised would be supplemented pound for pound by the Government. The machinery supplied by this Bill for edu cating the people is simple indeed, but no one can doubt its efficiency, and we presume there are few ratepayers who would object to be rated to the small extent of a penny in the pound if, by that means, every person in the town could have free access by right of resi dence to such a boon and blessing as a good library. The general adoption over the colony of this Act—if it be comes an Act—will placeevey “borough, town, place, or district ” in New Zea land in possession of a repository of knowledge available to every person. The Bill also provides that “aided” institutions shall receive assistance to the extent of a quarter of one half of their revenue from private subscriptions. The advantages are therefore in favor of rated-for free libraries. The free library law has been in existence at

home for some years, and, though there are communities who have strenuously and successfully rebelled against these libraries, or rather the rate per pound their establishment entails, the public of numerous towns have had thrown open to them such splendid collections of books as could not be massed to gether under any other agency than the Free Libraries Act.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Timber Sale. At Mr Alpheus Hayes’ timber sale, yesterday, about 100,000 leet in all of timber was sold .at fair prices, and a thorough clearance of all the timber put up was made. The sale was conducted. by the firm of G. R. Freeman and Co., auctioneers. R. M. Court. —To-day, before Mr A. Le Grand Campbell, Michael Hig gins forfeited bail for non-appearance to a charge of drunkenness and ob scenity. Matthew Trumble was fined ios for being drunk. A. case of alleged drunkenness and abusive language was dismissed. John Walsh, drunk at the railway station, did not appear and for feited his bail. Charles Lake was fined £2, with ns 6d costs, for trespassing on the railway line. For assaulting Thomas Toppin, of the Royal Hotel, George Howard was fined ss, and had to pay medical and other costs equal to a sum of £2 2s. The civil cases were neither numerous nor important.. The Ashburton Hotel license was transferred from B. Williamson to James Mutch ; H. M. Jones obtained judgment against Riley and Allen for the unpaid hire of a piano used at a recent entertainment; Mr J. C. Bell claimed of one Weddel for damage to a horse, harness, and buggy, through the alleged negli gence of defendants. Judgment was given for £2 2s and costs. Temperance Lecture. —Yester- day evening Mr. J. W. Jago, of Dun edin, the G. W. Chief Templar of New Zealand South, delivered an address on temperance in the Templar Flail, Glou cester street, Christchurch. Mr. Jago left for Dunedin by the early train this morning. Nominated Immigration. —The number of nominations for passages from the United Kingdom made at the Christchurch office during the past month has been 112 souls, equal to 104J4 statute adults. •

The Jackson’s Bay settlement has cost the Government £2 1,000, and the special settlers are indebted to the Government which, it is considered, may at once be written off. A Person named Matthews, who had been confined in the Sydney gaol for a debt of thirty-five shillings, died in the early part of last month. Gold in Fiji.—The Fiji Times , of a recent date, states that gold has been found in the aolomon Islands. It says the finder, who is an experienced Aus tralian digger, and the prospector of the Palmer diggings, visited these islands with the intention of thoroughly examin ing them with the object of discovering payable ground, either alluvial or in reef. Overtaken by that pest of these Islands, fever and ague, immediately on his arrival, he was prostrated for some time, but on recovering he, nothing daunted, pursued his researches,' and ultimately, with most flattering success, has struck on a reef, which proves to contain the precious metal in consider able abundance. Having given the reef a practical trial, he has taken a quantity of stone to the colonies to have it properly tested, and to make arrange ments. for the successful working of this valuable property.

Garden Hints. —A contributor to the Gardener's Magazine supplies the following seasonable information for country readers:—“ It is to me a matter of great surprise that inquires are made for means of preventing the des truction of newly sown seed by mice and sparrows, when from time immemo rial—so it appears—a few simple me thods have been known to serve as preventatives, and have never failed. That people go messing with paraffin and tar, and other such muck, is still more surprising and lamentable, for it makes it appear a vain task to commu nicate information cheaply for the general good of mankind. We never lose a seed of any kind from the attacks of mice and sparrows, and now the rows of peas are as perfect as can be desired, the sparrows having not only avoided seed but the young plant also, our simple mode of precedure being com pletely effectual. In sowing seeds that are likely to tempt these small ma rauders, the rule is first to sprinkle them with water, and then shake it a few times with a little dry red lead until the seed is slightly colored. It is then sown, and it remains untouched by vermin to grow and take its chance with sunshine and storm, as events may happen, What more simple { The cost is nothing.

COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting, resolved upon at last ordinary meeting of the Council, to deal with notices then given, was held to-day. Present: Messrs. Walker (Chairman), Wright, Reed, and Coster. The Chairman said those notices were the only business for the Council’s consideration, and the following figures extracted from the rolls and- valuation lists of the county would help the dis cussion :

In regard to the last item, he spoke from memory, but was certain he was within the mark.

Mr. Coster said the figures for South Rakaia, read by the Chairman, were from the old roll, and an increase had taken place since that was drawn up. He was sure the number of ratepayers was 290. Mr. Wright held that the Council would be justified in accepting the Chairman’s figures, as owing to the rapid growth of the district none of the rolls could be absolutely correct. But the special matter immediately belore the Council was the motions given notice of, the first of which stood in his name, viz. : —“ That a special meeting be called for Friday, 13th September, to adopt the following resolution : ‘That the Rakaia Riding be divided into two ridings having the same boun daries as the proposed new Road Board districts of South Rakaia and Mount Hutt, and each riding to return a member.’ ” He wished to know from Mr. Coster if a counter-petition had been or was likely to be forwarded to the Governor on the question. Mr. Coster said he believed such a petition would be sent within the pre scribed time.

Mr. Wright said that a month had elapsed since the first notice of the intended,, change had been given, and thus plerity ot time had been allowed to intending opponents. In the ab sence of any counter petition before the Council, he would move that the prayer of the petitioners’ for division be given effect to, as it would materially localise the elections, and asked leave to add the boundaries given in the Gazette to his motion. This addition was agreed to. Mr Reed, for Mr Saunders, seconded the motion. He believed the people in the district interested knew their own affairs best.

Mr Coster thought the matter should be postponed. There were several in fluential people whom he knew objected to the boundaries even, letting alone the question of any division, and the people who were to be left had an equal voice and interest in the matter with those who desired to separate. He was sure dissatisfaction would re sult from the division, and he was also sure a counter petition would be pre sented.

The Chairman said no harm could be done by adopting the resolution to day, as there was time left still for any opposition to giving effect to it. Mr Wright thought the absence of any counter petition was an evidence that the one before the Council was a fair expression of the district’s feeling, and he Avould be glad to see the principle carried out in every case of dividing all ridings returning two members; this would localise the elections. .

Mr Wright’s motion being put was carried.

Regarding Mr Coster’s motion, also given notice of for this meeting, to con sider the advisability of joining a por tion of the Wakanui district, Upper Ashburton, to the South Rakaia riding, and giving an additional member to the riding, Mr. Wright presented two peti tions from Ashburton ratepayers, pray ing for the vote of the people to be taken before any alteration took place. A petition from Upper Ashburton rate payers was to the same effect. Mr Coster seeing opposition thus offered asked leave to postpone but not withdraw his motion, as he was aware petitions in support of the charge were in course of preparation, and it seemed the best course to follow to postpone consideration of the matter till these were before the Council. He moved and Mr Reed seconded “ That the no tice motion standing in his name with reference to the additions proposed to be made in the South Rakaia riding be considered at a special meeting of the Council held immediately after next ordinary meeting. This being carried, and the Council by-laws sealed, the meeting adjourned.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[By Submarine Cable.]

London, Sept. 11

Sir Arthur Gordon and Mr King, of Siam, have been created Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. The Austrians are likely to occupy Albania.

The Island of Pelago will probably be ceded to England. Serious opposition to the Austrian occupation continues in old Bosnia. It is improbable that the campaign will be concluded this ' season. Thirty-six thousand insurgents, with forty guns are collected for the defence of the country. Five of the Australian cricketers subscribed towards the Princess Alice Fund.

The attendance at the wool sales falls off with the progress of the sales. The prices show a general decline on previ ous’quotations. The fall is most strongly marked in scoured and inferior greasy. London, Sept. 12.

There has been a fearful colliery accident at Redow Vale: 300 killed, and only eighty rescued. Fourteen horses ran for the St. Leger. The race was won by four lengths. Berlin, Sept. n.

The Imperial Department of Justice is showing more toleration towards the Socialists.

London, Sept. 12. The seat of the Duke of Abercorn, South Wales, has been injured by fire.

All officers and men on leave of ab sence have been recalled as a precau tionary measure.

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, Sept. 12

The steamship City of Newcastle, bound to Sydney from Newcastle, stranded near Newcastle this morning. The weather was fine, but there was a dense fog. No lives were lost. The vessel is expected to become a total wreck.

The cargo of the City of Newcastle has been removed. It is intended to pump her out and ascertain the proba bility of removal. Arrived —Wolverine, from New Cale donia. She reports that the revolters unsuccessfully attacked troops and friendly Natives. Subsequently the troops attacked and completely de feated the enemy, whose total loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was 130. The rebel leaders Attia and Batiste were killed.

Melbourne, Sept. 12.

Melita is still favorite for the Cup at 100 to 10. Calamia and Chester, are backed at 100 to 6; Vulcan and His Lordship, 100 to 5. Le Loup is im proving, but it is doubtful if Trump Card’s legs will stand the training. Brisbane, September 12.

Mr. Chester, the Government Agent, telegraphs that he has crossed New Guinea, and found six rivers and a number of villages. The people are cannibals, but friendly. The country is fertile, and he discovered what he believed to be ebony.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per Press- Agency.]

New Plymouth, Thursday.

There is no doubt now that the Kaiuma is lost. There were seven men on board when she was at Waitara, Cap tain Maule, his son, and Frank Siepman, better known as the “ professor.” He was the first man who introduced the rope tying trick in Auckland, 14 years ago, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, and was brought down to Taranaki by Mr. Sandridge, now of the Northern Advocate\ Mitchell was a boy going to sea, his friends are at Kaipara. Soren sen was the son of a German living here. The mate and seaman’s name are not yet known. Captain Maule has two sons, little children. His life was in sured, but as he was not married to the woman he was living with, she and the children are left destitute. He is said to be related to Captain Grubb, late of the Merlin schooner, wrecked some time ago. The survey of a line of railway be tween Stratford and Normanby have been started. Wellington, Thursday. The total number of bales of wool exported from the Port of Welling ton for the season 1877-8, was 47,842; weight, value, ,£689,416. For 1876-7 the figures were —42,503 bales, value £689,838. Invercargill, Thursday.

At the Waste Lands Board. to-day a number of applications for land were granted. A letter from Macassev and Reason, on behalf of Messrs Watters and J. Puncfn, was read, SSfdng

their claims to a large block of land pur chased from the natives in 1838. The block is adjacent to the Matura River, and follows it for 20 miles. It com prises the Waimanuera district. The petitioners requested that the Board would conserve the land till the ques tion of title was settled, and also re quested.that a copy of their letter should be forwarded to the Minister of Lands. The Board considered the descrip tion of the land unintelligible, and for warded the letter to the Minister of Lands.

THE ELECTRIC PEN.

From the Auckland Herald of 31st August,

Yesterday was exhibited, for the first time in Auckland, the working of the “ electric pen,” the invention of Mr. T. A. Edison, of New York. One of these curious, and at the same time useful, inventions has been imported by Messrs. Upton and Co. It consists of various parts. The galvanic battery consists of two Bunsen cells, which provide the electric current, which is conveyed by insulated wires to a double magnet fixed at the top of the so-called pen. The magnets are so arranged as to produce continuous circular motion. The pen is a pointed hollow tube, in which is fixed vertically a small needle. This needle has a rapid vertical motion given to it by cams upon the revolving shaft, and the needle, upon each depression, produces a small puncture in the sheet of paper, against which the point is placed. The pen is guided by the hand, and a chain of perforations is produced over the track followed by the pen point. When the writing has been completed, the perforated sheet is fixed in the jointed frame of the print ing press, • and held in position by a series of spring clamps. The back of the perforated sheet is then covered thickly with thinned printing ink, and is then ready for the operation of print ing. The sheet of paper intended to be printed is placed upon a smooth metal surface beneath the frame con taining the perforated sheet, the frame and sheet are folded down on it, the back of the sheet pressed by a felt ink roller, and the printing is complete. It is found that the slight pressure causes sufficient ink to pass through the perforations as to leave a fac simile of what has been traced it. By repeating the printing process, as many as froiii five to fifteen copies can be made per minute, and as many as 5000 copies can be taken from the one perforated sheet before it becomes use less. It may also be kept for- many years, and be used whenever it is desired to do so. The pen is largely used in the United States in the Go vernment offices, by lawyers, bankers, railroad companies, business firms, architects (for architectural and mecha nical drawings), &c. the cost of these machines complete in Auckland ranges from ;£io 10s. to 10s., according to the size of the printing press.

An Earthquake at Ismid. Effect on the English Fleet. —Writing from Constantinople, the correspon dent of the Times thus describes the effect produced on the English Fleet at Ismid, by a recent earthquake:— A great scare was occasioned a few nights ago by a very severe shock of earth quake. Nothing less than Russian torpedoes exploding under the bottoms, it was thought, could have produced such an effect upon the ironclads. The heavy masses of floating iron were lifted and shaken about like the merest tops. The oscillation was so great that articles of considerable weight were thrown about, and the general effect of the earthquake was exactly what might be expected from the explosion of a large torpedo. The first and most violent of the shocks occurred about 9 p.m., just when most of the blue jackets were sound asleep. The alarm was great, and though there was no general “ beating to quarters,” lights were flashing about everywhere, and bugles sounding, calling the men to repair any mischief that might have been occasioned. Mr. Layard, our Ambassador, was there at the time, having gone down with a party of friends in the Helicon on a visit to the Admiral on the previous Wednesday. The effect upon that vessel was exactly as if she had been run into stem on by some craft at full speed, and. every one hastened on deck under the impression that the vessel was about to founder. On shore the sound of falling houses and the screams of frightened inhabi tants soon explained the nature of the accident. At Ismid about fifteen houses fell, as well as the tops of several minarets, but no lives were lost. At Borussa and Sabanjab, further inland, the damage w*i nrnch greater, and

The Evening Echo, Friday, September 13, 1878,



ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST. fT. d. s. d. Butter, inferior to best, If? lb I 6 to I 8 Eggs, if? dozen - r 3 to X 6 Bacon, prime smoked, t? lb o 10 to 0 0 Hams in cloth, $ lb - i 0 to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, I? ft o 9 to 0 10 Flour in bags, if? iooft 12 6 to H 0 Oatmeal, if? iooft - 26 0 to 0 0 Lard, If? lb - - O .9 to 0 0



Ratepayers. Value. d. £ s. South Rakaia 158 33>°8i 4 5 Upper Ashburton 245 22,536 12 6 Ashburton 460 53,354 9 9 Mount Somers 159 say 30,000 0 0



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, or they will be inserted till counter manded, 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.



Charles Morgan, the great New York ship owner, who lately died at the age of 84, has left property to the amount of thirteen million dollars, the bulk of lyhich goes to hia wife and two married lighters,