SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. April 30 —Taupo, s.s., from North. b AILED. April 30 —Easby, s.s., for North. . THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL. Wellington, Tuesday. The Zealandia, with the London mails of 29th March, left San Francisco for Auckland on the 15th April—contract date. The City of Sydney, from Auckland on April 3, arrived at San Francisco on the 26th inst. This is a day late by the time table, but she was a day behind time in leaving Auckland.

POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close as follows : For Christchurch and North at 10.20 a. m.» 4 p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10.20 a.m. daily. For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m., and 4 p.m. daily. For Ashburton South, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine at 10.30 a.m. daily.

The next English mail, via Suez, will close in Christchurch on the 4th May.

The Evening Echo. TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1878.

The Ashburton County Conncil holds its usual meeting to-morrow.

The lecture on the Eastern Question, by Mr. J. Andrews, will be given to-morrow in the Library Hall. The evening will be varied by national songs, &c., which Mr. Horace A. Gates will accompany on the piano. : ' ; '* 4

We are glad to notice that, under; the care of Drs. Trevor and Kesteven, and with careful mjrsing, Mr. Revell, blacksmith at Ashburton Forks, who sustained a fracture of one of his legs by a fall from his horse on the 29th of March, is now able to be about, and will soon be able to resume duty at his forge. Last week we published a Press Agency telegram announcing that henceiorth Civil Service cadets’ time would begin to count for length of service when they were in -receipt of £ioo per annum. The Wellington Post denies this statement, and says that the Ministry have in no way interfered with thej regulation aftect ing cadets, and have no intention of doing so. An interesting programme is promised by the Wesleyan Theological Class, at an entertain ment to be given by them this evening, in the Cameron Street Church. The Rev. W. B. Marten will deliver a short, humorous lecture on "Billy Bray,” and other members -of the cfass will give readings, one of which—“ The Leek Seed Chapel ” —we are given to under stand, will excite the risibilities of the audience* The lecture and readings will be interspersed with vocal and instrumental music by. first-fclass amateurs > who have volunteered their services. No charge will be made for admission, but a collection wiil be made to defray expenses, any surplus being devoted to clearing off the debt on the Church. .1

By a telegram from Wellington we learn that the Zealandia, carrying the English mail of 29th March,! left San Francisco for Auckland on the 15th April. We may, therefore, expect her arrival at Auckland about the Bth of May. Thq same telegram states the City of Sydney, which left Auckland on the 3rd of April with the mails Home, reached San Francisco on the 26th inst. Her mails are due in London on the 14th May* . The following will doubtless be of interest to; Ashburton astronomers:—The transit of Mercury occurs on the morning of the 7th May. The planet will have passed the centre of the sun at sunrise, and will leave the sun about 15 minutes past ten. Mercury will perchance be visible to the naked eye, but any telescope will show it easily. Observers should look for any change of shape as the planet approaches the sun’s edge, fer any light around Mercury, for any spot of light upon it, or any change of colour in the disc. The transit is not of any value, except as practice for Venus-transit. The Rev. Dr. Somerville held his concluding service yesterday in the new Theatre Royal, Christchurch, when nearly 2coo people were present, and many were unable to gain admis sion. The rev. gentleman’s subject was the “ Fiery Furnace,” the foundation being the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In dealing with the trial of the young men, Dr. Somerville displayed an intimate acquaintance with Oriental customs, and described the nature of the trial with great power, following up with a telling injunction to young men to dare to be like the young Hebrews when temptation came. An appeal was made for funds in aid of the Christchurch Young Men’s Christian Asso ciation, and was responded to handsomely,: being contributed. Dr. Somerville’s next place for a service will be at Timaru to-morrow.

\Ve were interviewed last night, about twelve o’clock, by an injured husband, who owned to being in liquor, but not drunk—no, not drunk. In fact, it was his private opinion, publicly expressed, that a man could not be said to be drunk who could speak intelligibly, or write readably, or whose legs could carry him. His grievance was this—that his wife had so far for gotten the respect due to her husband as to march into the public house where he was com fortably ensconced with some boon companions, and delicately insinuating her pair of fives in his shaggy wool, walked him out of the house, which, undei the circumstances, he left as meekly as a lamb. The husband wishes us to give his wife a word of advice or caution. It’s more than we dare venture with our own, and therefore it is not likely we are going to risk it with the wife of another. We might get “ wooled ” ourselves. No, there is only one thing for it. If that husband wants any hair left on the top his head, he will have to for swear pubs and stay at home. Wanganui Chronicle.

“ How many of you are there ?” said a voice from an upper window to a serenading party. “ Four,” was the reply. “ Divide that amongst you,” said the voice, as a bucket of slops fell, “ like the gentle dews of heaven,” on those beneath.

A Dutchman in Canada was relating his marvellous escape from drowning, when thirteen of his companions were lost by the upsetting of a boat, and he alone was saved. “ And how did you escape from their fate ?” asked one of his hearers. “Itidnotco in te same pote,” was the Dutchman’s placid answer. The American Chemist says that a Western farmer discovered many years ago that wood could be made to last longer than iron in the ground. Time and weather, he says, seem to have no effect on it. The posts can be prepared for less than two cents a-piece. This is the recipe :—Take boiled linseed oil and stir it in pulverised charcoal to the consistency of paint. Put a coat of this over the timber, and, he adds, there is not a man who will live to see it rot.

“A Country Solicitor” writes to The Times : —“We hear much complaint, and with truth, against the evil effects of drink; but I know one instance of its use. An old woman has |ust died at Ashcott,.Somerset, aged 104 years and 8 months, who has for the last forty years been found in gin by a client of mine, at an aggre gate expense of more than £2OO. It was given her to add to her comforts, and under the super vision of the squire of the parish, who testifies to its beneficial effects.”

Two dogs have been buried twith Christian rites in the old cinque port of Winchelsea. They belonged to the English rector, and had been -sentenced to death by hanging for sheep-worrying. Coffins were made for them, and they were laid out decently and in order; a day was fixed for their interment, and the children of the National schools were summon ed to appear at the rectory. The coffins were brought out, covered with cloths, and borne by men to the graveyard, the children following and singing Sunday-school hymns. The re mains were interred on the boundaries of the cemetery, and slabs are to be erected in mem ory of the two'dogs.

DETECTION OF THIEVES.

An American paper says : —‘ A story that reads like a mediaeval romance comes from New York. In refitting the old post office buildings the car penters have discovered that the upper floors are double, and are arranged so that detectives can watch the opera tions of. those in the different rooms, who suppose themselves to be alone. The whole building was furnished with secret passages, sliding panels, hidden trap doors, and mysterious chambers, whose existence the post officials had no knowledge of with the exception of the postmaster and assistant. When the workmen had removed the flooring it was ascertained that the concealed space was from 4tt. to deep, af fording ample room for men to move about in. Passages led entirely around the building. At very short intervals were found small circular holes, in which were inverted lenses. Through these a view of the room below was ob tained. Back of and above these lenses were reflectors, which brought before the eye of the observer the ut most recesses of the Post Office. If a detective saw any stealing or any im proper action committed by a clerk, or by a person not employed in the office, the speaking tube by his side conveyed a warning at once to the attic room, and the guilty person was met at the door, or tapped on the shoulder in the interior of the office by another detec tive. The apertures through which tire detective overlooked the rooms are in most places so small as to be hardly visible from . the apartments below. Some of themf however, look boldly down from the casement, but as the planks in which they were seen were obtained from very old timber, the holes would readily be taken knot holes.

RECOGNITION.

How shall I know thee, in the sphere which keeps The disembodied spirits of the dead, When all of thee that time could wither sleeps And perishes amongst the dust we tread.

For I shall feel the sting of ceaseless pain, If there I meet thy gentle presence not; Nor hear the voice I love, nor read again In thy serenest eyes the tender thought.

Will not thy own meek heart demand me there ? That heart whose fondest throbs to me were given. My name on earth was ever in thy prayer, And wilt thou never utter it in heaven ?

The love that lived through all the stormy past, And meekly with my harsher nature bore, And deeper grew and tender to the last, Shall it expire with life and be no more ?

Shall thou not teach me in that calmer home, The wisdom that I learned so ill in this— The wisdom which is love —till I become Thy fit companion in that land of bliss ?

TIMARU

[from our own correspondent.]

April 30,

The week just elapsed can only be said to have terminated very satisfac torily for Timaru inhabitants, for the news so anxiously waited for has at last come to hand, namely, the entire ap proval of the plans for a Timaru break water placed by Mr. Goodall, Engineer to our Harbor Board, before the Com missioners appointed by the Government to inspect and report on the same. It is true that when Sir John Code passed through here some short time ago a spirit of opposition was raised by a few of the inhabitants, one of whom, fortu nately for himself, displayed one re deeming trait, namely, acknowledged that he knew nothing of marine engineering. These gentlemen wished to set the Board and the Commission at loggerheads by forcing upon the latter gentlemen the report of Sir John Coode on the site for the proposed breakwater, when that first tendered by Sir John had been rejected in favor of a locally-designed plan. Perhaps the Commissioner in so doing evinced a strongly antagonistic spirit to the Wishes of some of our residents, but they, I am certain, acted as they thought best, and fortunately for Timaru their action caused the public to become aware of the ridiculous light in which the few gentlemen who had banded together to oppose their scheme had placed them selves. Of course, all Timaru is in a state of supreme happiness, knowing as it does that no objection can now be placed against their dearest wish —a breakwater, and our Milford friends may do their best to obtain a harbor at their lagoon. All that we now want is that the breakwater should be started as soon as possible. Our local Fire Brigade will celebrate their ninth anniversary this evening by a banquet, and well they deserve it, and I am glad to learn that the majority of our citizens came forward and answered the call made on them for assistance. I learn that a portion of the Insurance Companies also subscribed towards obtaining the necessaries.

Dr. Somerville will hold one of his revival services in town to night, which will, doubtless, be well attended. It was at first thought that he intended to pass us by without a call, but I am glad to state that he will not do so.

Gossip has it that we are to be favored with another breach of promise case at the next Supreme Court sittings which take place in June. The plaintiff is a young and tender female not yet out of her teens, and the defendant is— well, it has not yet transpired, although the public are all agog to see the ogre. On Saturday a young girl in the em ploy of Mr. M. Jones was charged with the larceny of a quantity of linen, etc., belonging to her employer, valued at 30s. Mr. Jones explained to the Bench that he did not wish to press for a heavy sentence, and the prisoner, who admitted the theft, was sentenced to 48 hours’ imprisonment. There was a clean sheet yesterday at our R.M.’s Court, which is a thing quite to be wondered ah

SINGING PIGEONS.

A very interesting exhibition was made, on the sth February, at a meeting of the National Peristeronic Society in London. Mr. Betty, a member of the society, produced a pair of singing pigeons. The Live Stock Journal, in speaking of the birds, says :—“ We do not think that we err in stating that most of the members present thought that they were about to see a clever au tomaton, or some such contrivance, the idea of any pigeon being able to ‘sing’ being to them hardly credible. How ever, having requested absolute silence, Mr. Betty unlocked a small box, and produced a little dark-coloured pigeon. In size of body she (for the hen was penned first) was little larger than an African owl, the colour dark slaty blue chequer, with blue rump, rather long tail and flights, dove-shaped head, and clean legs. Then came out her little mate, a trifle larger, but otherwise exactly similar. Directly he was placed in the pen he began to jerk his body and wings, beating time with his feet, blew out his crop, and began to sing / The notes were very soft, between coo ing and drumming, clear, audible throughout the room, and were con tinued for about half a minute, when somebody spoke, and so stopped the performance. For he is a most puncti lious little gentleman, and should any one interrupt his song he stops it at once. One of his curious peculiarities is that not only can he sing, but he will as often as required. He has only to be removed from the pen, held under the table or under one’s coat for a moment or two—anywhere where he cannot see the hen—then immediately he is return ed to his little wife he begins a song of gladness, to which she often, but not invariably, sing an accompaniment in a a lower key.” The birds were not a trained pair, nor isolated specimens possessing an un common peculiarity, but of a breed known as “ Laughers,” one not very frequently met with in the old country, but still a distinct breed. In the Cottage Gardener of March 2, 1854, there is an account of Laughers being imported from Arabia. They are des cribed as being rather under the average size, with clean legs, and beak rather hooked, varying in colour, being mostly blue, red, and white, blue pied, or mottled, their various cries being extra ordinary : some of the notes are those of a loud coarse laugh, but when much alarmed, more like a hoarse clamour. The writer considers them to stand our climate tolerably well, and from their risibility if disturbed at night, being almost as good as a house dog.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[By Submarine Cable.]

The Eastern Sihiation.

[Per Press Agency.]

The Roumelian Insurgents at Work—General Todlebento be Russian Commander-in- Chief—A Croak from Berlin —Russian 'Privateers to be Treated as Pirates—-A Rus sian Survey Expedition to Egypt.

The New Bishop of Lichfield.

London, April 27. Commercial.—Bank minimum un changed. Consols are quoted at Wool sales closed on iSth, embracing 310,000 bales. The William Duthie, Argyle, and Rakaia arrived too late. It is understood that the British Go vernment proposes that the terms of the treaty of Paris be considered in relation to the treaty of San Stefano. As a protection against threatened Russian privateers, the British Govern are prepared to employ a hundred fast armed vessels, and will treat privateers as pirates.

THE EVENING ECHO, TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1878.