THE LATE DROWNING CASE IN THE AVON.

At the inquest on Saturday last, in the case of the young woman Owens, found drowned in the Avon, at Christ church, on Thursday last, the verdict returned was that of “ Found drowned.” Her employer, Mr. Robert Connell, gave evidence as to her good behaviour and generally excellent chaaracter. He •stated that he had observed nothing wrong in her conduct or appearance, or anything to raise a suspicion of ill health or despondency until Wednesday, when she declined to take her usual • evening out, and she then seemed in disposed ; he requested her to go home for a few days to her mother, until she should get well, but she refused. On Thursday morning he missed her, and did not see her again till he recognised her body on Friday in the morgue. He had no reason to believe she was on bad terms with anyone, and never saw anybody about his house after her. Robert Grant, living at Waltham, had known deceased for twelvemonths or more. Saw her last alive about four o’clock on Thursday, in Selwyn street, She was going towards her mother’s, but .she did not speak to him, because, he thought, two other men were working with him. He knew her to be ill some time ago, but did not think she was in a desponding mood. Dr.' Powell, who made the post mortem examination, spoke to the ab sence of all external signs whatever of injury to the body, which was perfectly healthy and well nourished. The usual signs of chastity were present, and the evidences of death were those of drown ing. He would expect to find marks of some kind had any violent struggle taken place, but none existed. The Coroner said that though the case was mysterious, the evidence fur nished did not warrant a conclusion that death had occurred through violence. The jury therefore returned the verdict stated.

The McCormick reaper and binder has gained another laurel at the Taieri, in a trial on Saturday under the auspices of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and before thirty judges appointed by the Society. The work was two acres of ground to each machine, and the “ Mac ” did it in an hour and thirteen minutes. The others were nowhere. The trial was con ducted in a heavy rain, and the crop was dirty and heavy.

The London Society of Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners have given their employers six months’ notice of their intention to demand an increase of id. per hour, and the masters have resolved to obtain a supply of foreign workmen. Lord Shaftesbury, Mr Miller, and a couple of other leading men have retired from the Society for Promoting Chris tian Knowledge, on the ground that two of its publications—“ Bonney’s Geology” and the Rev. Brownlow- Maitland’s “ Argument from Prophecy” are heterodox.

The promoters of the company to construct the Otatatu line of railway, with a branch to the Nightcap coal measures, held a meeting on Saturday afternoon at Invercargill, and resolved to apply to the Waste Lands Board for a prospecting site on the Government reserves at the Nightcap. A committee was appointed to examine the reserve, to ascertain the best boundaries for a mining lease. ,£175 was subscribed by the meeting, which was a large and influential one, for the preliminary ex penses of forming the company and sur veying the route. The company is to be formed under the District Railways Act.

THE WAR FORGES OF EUROPE.

We compile the following interesting items from various reliable sources : NAVAL. England has 152 active vessels and 350 in reserve, 60,000 sailors with 3000 officers, and 15,000 marines with 326 oficers, and 10 monster ironclads.

France has 115 active vessels and 78 in reserve, 48,000 sailors with 1800 officers, and 16,000 marines with 780 officers, 3 monster ironclads, and 9 smaller coast boats. Another report places 50 ironclads of all descriptions to the French fleet, with 10 building. Germany has 61 active vessels and 38 in reserve, 8000 sailors and marines with 500 officers, and 3 ironclads. Russia has 158 active vessels, mostly small, 60,000 sailors with 2000 officers, only one-third serving on board ship, and one monster iron-clad.

Austria has 68 active vessels, 7000 sailors with 500 officers. Italy has 65 active vessels, 12,000 sailors with 425 officers and 3000 marines, with 115 officers and 2 mon ster ironclads, the largest in existence, carrying 8 100-ton guns. Turkey has 57 active vessels, and 28 in reserve, 36,000 sailors and marines, with 1000 officers and 7 ironclads. Spain has 128 active vessels, 21,000 sailors and marines with officers, and 3 small ironclads. Greece has 21 active vessels, 7000 sailors and marines.

Denmark has 33 active vessels, 10,000 sailors and marines.

Holland, has 87 active vessels, 13,000 sailors and' marines.

The immense development of the Prussian navy of late years has aroused the attention of the smaller Northern Powers to their means of naval defence. The Danes are straining everv nerve to reinforce their fleet, which is practically their only effective means of warfare. Up to the last six ’or eight years they were able to hold their own in the Baltic and North Sea, but recent addi tions to the German navv have reduced them to a position of decided inferiority. The Swedish navy consists of four iron clad monitors and ten protected gun boats, one screw line-of-battle ship, one frigate, three corvettes, twelve gun boats, four sailing corvettes, and one sailing brig. Three additional cor vettes, the Saga, the Verandi, and the Skuld, are under construction. The Norwegian navy is very weak. If an alliance conld be cemented between the three Northern Powers regarding the employment of the na\y, Germany, in the event of hostilities, would meet no mean antagonist.

The Military Strength ofFrance. —The only colony m which France has any troops is Algeria; all other colonies are garrisoned by marine troops, which are under the administration of the Minister of Marine. The strength of the army is as follows : —Active army (five classes), 719,369; reserve of active army (four classes), 526,982; territorial army (five classes), 554,736; reserve of territorial army (six classes), 638,782; total, 2,453,866. The above figures include only trained men. More than 23,000 men are told off annually for auxiliary services, but do not serve dur ing peace. There are already about 50,000 of these men available, and when the law of T 872 has had time to take effect, the nine clases of the active army will give more than 180,000 men classified as auxiliaries. The following figures represent the strength of the Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineers, and Military Train, as provided for in 1878 in the annual Budget:—lnfantry, 282,122; Cavalry, 68,696; Artillery, 68,762; Engineers, 11,005; Military I Train, 9536. j

“I WANT A WIFE.”

Sid Macomber said he had everything in his store, “ from a jack-knife to a pulpit, and from a cambric needle to a clap o’ thunder.” But even Sid would have to acknowledge himself “just out of the article ” if a needy customer had called on him to furnish a wife. Here is an instance where a London mer chant outdid a Yankee tradesman :

An officer of the army who was going out to India to join his regiment re cently made all his purchases of a famed West End establishment, where the boast is that everything can be had there, cheap and of the best. The cus tomer was such a large buyer that the proprietor, contrary to usage, stepped forward to thank him, and to express a a hope that the officer was perfectly satisfied, and been able to find every thing he required. The captain thanked the proprietor, and answered : “ Nearly all.”

“Not all?” was the quiet query of the proprietor; “ not all ? I hope, sir, we could find you everything ? ” “ It is out of your line.” “ Out of our line ? Not at all, sir.” “ Oh, you are quite sure of that, are you ? ”

“ Quite certain, sir.” “ Well, then,” continued the captain, laughingly, “ I want a wife.” “ Step this way, sir ; ” and the as tonished military man followed. He went through strange Jabrynths and up and down stairs innumerable. En route , the proprietor communicated these facts : About three or four months prior, a beautiful, highly-edu cated girl, of good family, who had lost her parents, and with them all resources, applied to him for employment. He had, after listening to her story, been touched by her friendless situation, gave her employment, and he had found her a worthy and exemplary girl. The cap tain saw and admired. He bought of her and introduced himself. He came often, bought more, and upon inquiry found all particulars to have been faith fully stated. His manners and appear ance pleased the girl, and when he told her the story of how his last want had been mentioned to the proprietor of the establishment, it ended in a hearty laugh on both sides—but after the laugh they were married within three days, and they are now on their way to India.

THE EVENING ECHO, MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1878.



G . W. DUCKWORTH, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL GENERAL GROCER, HIGH STREET, CHRISTCHURCH, (Next Messrs. Strange’s Buildings.) WISHES to call attention to the PARTICULARLY LOW PRICES at which he is NOW SELLING ALL GOODS, which cannot be beaten by any House in the Province. WHOLESALE ORDERS DELIVERED, FREIGHT PAID, TO ANY STATION ON THE CANTERBURY RAILWAY.



VV. R. BOYLE E STATE AND GENERAL AGENT, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON.



[A Card.] T)RIVATE LESSONS TO YOUNG L LADIES, Four times a Week in Music, French, German, and Drawing, at MISS STEANE’S, Oxford Villa, Burnett Street. THE undersigned is a CASH BUYER OATS, BARLEY, GRASS SEED, of WHEAT, CHEESE, and OTHER FARM PRODUCE, At highest Matkrt Prices. Cornsacks supplied at ruling prices. 11. B. SORENSON. Christchurch. TO LET A FURNISHED, OCCA SIONAL ROOM, in a Central position. Can be had on application to ALPHA, “Echo” Office. TO L E T . A SHOP IN EAST S i’REET, next door to Mr. San do’s. Enquire at the ECHO Office. WANTED, by a respectable young man Board and Residence in a quiet family., Apply at the ECHO Office, East-street. •yy'ANTED SUBSCRIBERS AND ADVERTISERS FOR THE ECHO. Support a Genuine Publication ! A LPIIABET CARDS and Boxes, Mavor’s Spelling, Royal Readers, Slates, Pencils, Copy Books, Drawing Books, and other school Requisites to be obtained at our premises, East-street, Ashburton. FURNESS AND DIXON, Stationers’ Hall. J BUSINESS NOTICE. L . WILSON AUCTIONEER, VALUATOR & BROKER, Lichfield Street, Christchurch. WILL IMPORT for the NEXT SEASON REAPERS AND BINDERS. JOHN ANDERSON Canterbury Foundry , Having made arrangements for the ini portation of each description of eacl machine, viz : The WOOD, The McCORMICK, and The OSBORNE, With all the latest improvements fo next season’s harvest, begs respectful! to state that he will KEEP A STAFF OF EXPERTS In the district during harvest To Fit Up and Keep in Order, Which, with a supply of extras for eac machine, will be a guarantee againt stoppages. Early orders will oblige, to save dii appointment. W AN lED Runners for the Evening Echo. Good wages to smart hoys. RAILWAY FOUNDRY, CHRISTCHURCH. SCOTT BROS., ENGINEERS, &c„ BEG to inform their customers and the public generally that they have REMOVED To new and commodious premises in MANCHESTER STREET SOUTH, Near the new passenger station. Manufacturers of Railway Contractors’ Plant, Flax Dressing Machines and Presses, Wool Presses, Agricultural and all descriptions of Machinery. Plain and Ornamental Railing, Gates, and Tomb Fencing. Stoves and Cooking Apparatus. Drawings prepared, and estimates given for all kinds of Engineering and Machinery. Repairing done with expedition.