ever, persisted in being John Brackley, and so John Walsh, a South Street plumber, who has been creeping into the confidence of the medium, was called up to have a talk with John. Mr. Walsh walked to the aperture and then stooped a little to peer in. The curtain was between him and John Brackley. The lean-looking spiritual ists looked on with apparent enjoy ment. A number of gentlemen of sub stantial form, who were sprinkled through the audience, looked solemn and serious.

Suddenly Mr. Walsh sprang forward and grasped in his arms John Brackley, curtain and all. That little room be came a little pandemonium. The sub stantial-looking gentlemen each jumped to their feet, and each collared a pugi listically-disposed spiritualist. A young man in the rear struck a match, and lighted a plumber’s lamp, with which Mr. Walsh had provided him, and with this he lighted every burner in the room. The women mounted the chairs and screamed. The young lady who had seen the bogus spirit of her mother laughed until the tears came into her eyes. John Brackley, still behind the curtain, kicked and struggled in a most mortal manner, but never a word said he. A big spiritualist—the capturing party was not large enough to hold more than a portion of the audience in check—ran to John’s rescue, and struck Mr. Walsh in the eye. Mr. Walsh lost his grip, but as the spirit slipped through his arms he quickly put his arm through the aperture and lifted John Brackley’s scalp—a little skull cap of black silk. The spirit did not dematerialise, but ran to the other end of the curtain, and here it came in view of Dr. Henry C. Gor don, the medium, and was seen to stuff a black beard beneath its vest. Mr. Walsh, buried beneath the ruins of the foremost curtain, which his last clutch had brought to the ground, dis closing the fact that the rear curtain had been removed from its wire to make Helen’s dress—was beine packed with spiritualists’ umbrellas. Meanwhile, in front of the cabinet, a regular free fight was progressing be tween the spiritualists and the exposers. Daniel Snyder, a burly photographer, being attacked by Manager Stetson, picked the latter up, and threw him headforemost against the wall. Jona than Roberts, of Burlington, New Jer sey, caught Mr. Snyder by the arm, and was himself grasped by the throat, and thrown into a corner. Gordon having escaped from Walsh, ran quickly from the cabinet into the middle of the room, where he was caught by a young man, who threw him on his knees. Manager Stetson—this was immediately before he was thrown against the wall—pounced upon the young man. Gordon was again up, and running quickly through the fight ing audience, reached the door of an adjoining apartment. Here he was again laid hold of by another young gentleman, who threw him over a small stove. Spidam struck the gentleman in the eye, and Gordon, who had fallen upon his back, turned the stove over upon his assailant, and quickly rising, escaped from the room and down stairs.

Mr. Roberts and a few other spiritu alists were highly indignant over what they termed an outrage. Many of the spiritualists, however, laughed at their own folly, and quickly left the house, and, in fact, many of them who joined the exposing party had attended the seances for the purpose of investiga tion, but detected the humbug when the spirit was grabbed. After a vain attempt to recover their admission fees, the exposers left the house in triumphal procession, with John Brackley’s black silk wig in their possession.—Philadel phia Times.

FRENCH IMPIETY A CENTURY AGO.

THE MARRIAGE OF A PRIEST. (From the Spirit oj the Public Journals , 1797.) Of all the impieties that have been imputed to the French, the following, which appeared in one of the Paris papers, is perhaps the most abominable : Conversation between a Young Priest and an Old. The Young Priest: What are you doing, brother ? I am indignant!

The Old Priest : Against'whom ? Y : Against everybody and against you.

O : What have I done to offend you ? Y : You have married, and ask me this question! 0 : Love of morals and of my coun try induced me to marry.

Y : You are a Schismatic. 0 : That lam not; for I side with the great family of society. Y : You are unworthy of being a priest.

0 : Admitted. Ido not expect to be one long.

Y : And if each of us were to do as you do, who would pray for the faith ful!

O : Nobody ; which would induce the faithful to pray for themselves. Y : And who would sing the praises of the Lord ?

O : Those who wish to praise the Lord. Y : Who would confess ?

O : People would do as in the pri mitive times of Christianity—they would confess to one another.

Y : Who would marry ? O : The magistrate. * * * *

Y : Who would bury ? 0 : That the civil magistrate is to look to.

Y : To hear you, the people might do without priests. 0 : If the people think so, I have no objection. Y : You are an innovator.

0 : By no means, for my opinion was the same when we had Grand Almoners and Cardinals.

Y : God will punish you. O : He has the power, but I honor Him too much to be afraid that He will.

Y : What ? no more priests ? 0 : I did not say that we will have no more priests, i say only that we can do without them.

Y : Why, this is precisely what ought not to be said; for if the people believe that they can do without priests, they will do without them. 0 : So much the worse for the priests.

Y : You are an impious wretch, an Atheist; and you will repent the hand you have in contributing to make the French unhappy in the world to come. O : I will console myself with seeing them free and happy in this world.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[By Submarine Cable.]

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

The Eastern Situation.

[Per Press Agency.]

London, April 3. The situation is still uncertain.

The English Press has assumed a warlike tone, and warmly applauds the Marquis of Salisbury’s circular. Austria replied equally decisively. The Russian Press indicates that Russia is hesitating.

AUSTRALIAN.

Melbourne, Thursday.

A message from the Governor ac knowledging the Council’s address to the Queen was read, and the Council adjourned till Tuesday. The Assembly is debating an address to the Governor acknowledging his impartial constitutional action during the crisis.

The Railway Conference met and adjourned sine die without agreeing to the route for the line from Oakleigh to Melbourne.

INTERPROVINCIAL

Auckland, Thursday. An unexpected hitch has occurred in the Broomhall negotiations which will probably upset them. The Attor ney-General advises the Government that by the 29th clause of the Waste Lands Act all negotiations are invalid. It is contended that, though power is given to Government not to sell the lands of the Colony by private con tract, those lands under negotiation

were never the property of the Crown, the Native title not being extinguished. The Government have the matter under consideration.

The Governor proceeds to the East Coast on Monday. Mrs. Warren was found “ Not Guilty” of arson, but was sentenced to six months’ on the charge of larcrny. Russell, whose clothes were found on the shore of the harbour, was arrested to day on three charges of embezzle ment. He has been living on Hay’s farm.

The Hero for Sydney, took several passengers for New Guinea. Sir G. Grey is in bad health at the ICawau.

A fire in Fort street was extinguished by the promptitude of the Wolverine blue jackets. Mr. Sheehan received a telegram from Alexandra, reporting that Tawhiao was seriously ill, and had to send a special messenger to Alexandra for medical aid. New Plymouth, Friday. The census returns show the popula tion of Taranaki country to be 7305, having nearly doubled itself in four years. The town of New Plymouth has 2680 inhabitants, being an increase of 640 in four years. The Grey and Bell district four years ago had 1808 souls in it. The census returns show that it has now 3897. There are 1559 houses in the conntry, showing an in crease of 515. In New Plymouth there are 599, showing an increase of 10.

THE EVENING ECHO, FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1878.



WANTED, by a Young Lady, Board and Residence within ten minutes walk of the Post Office. Applv, stating particulars, to Alpha, Box No. 4, Ashburton. AN TED, the Public to come and in spect A. 0. AITKEN & Co’s New Stock of Autumn and Winter Drapery. WILLIAM GAVIN, DRAPER, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON, JRESPECTFULLY announces that he will CLOSE his present Shop (next the “ Echo ” Office) where he has had a Clearing Sale for some time, on FRIDAY NEXT, 12th APRIL, From encouragement received he has re solved to Commence Business permanently, WITH A FRESH STOCK in one of the Shops in Montgomery’s New Buildings, ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF MAY. It is his intention to confine himself exclu sively to the GENERAL DRAPERY DEPARTMENT. By strict attention to business, selling at the lowest possible price, and all due civility, he hopes to merit a share of the patronage of the inhabitants of Ashburton and surrounding district. BAZAAR. LIBRARY HALL. TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY, April i6th. and 12th. IBRARY HALL, ASHBURTON. TUESDAY, APRIL 9, IS7O. ONE NIGHT ONLY. MR. STEPHEN MASSETT’S celebrated Drawing-Room Entertainments. See bills, programmes, and opinions of press.



WANTED, a GENERAL SERVANT. Apply to A i Restaurant. WANTED, Immediately, a few Respect able YOUNG LADIES as APPREN TICES to the Dressmaking. Apply to ORR & CO. T OTTO, Draughts and Draught Boards, J—' Dominoes, Cards and Cribbage Boards, &c., at FURNESS AND DIXON’S, East-street, Ashburton. [A Card.] PRIVATE LESSONS TO YOUNG LADIES, Four times a Week in Music, French, German, and Drawing, at MISS STEANE’S, Oxford Villa, Burnett Street. < < 'pH E EVENING ECHO.” Town Agent, MR. A. WESTON, Tancred-street. Al. RESTAURANT. R E Nfo V A L To the premises lately occupied by Mr. Quinton. TANCRED STREET, On the Bth April. Increased Accommodation. C. TRUCKLE, PROPRIETOR. A LPHABET CARDS and Boxes, Mayor's -Ci. 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. MRS. E. PETERSON, DRESSMAKER, (Two doors from the Echo Office). All orders executed with neatness and with promptness. J. G. ANSTEE, BUILDER AND CONTRACTOR, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. Every description of Carpentering, and kinds of Jobbing Work, Shop Fittings, &c., done on the most reasonable terms. Pictures Mounted and Framed L W. R. BOYLE, STATE AND GENERAL AGENT, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. TO LET. A SHOP IN EAST STREET, next door to Mr. Sando’s. Enquire at the ECHO Office. STATUARY! STATUARY! A GRAND Display of some of the Finest Models extant. Casts from the works of the Best Masters. A Rare Chance for the Adornment of the Drawing-room, Portico, or the Garden. Visit our Shop To-night, and see the Display. FURNESS and DIXON, STATIONERS’ HALL, EAST STREET. HEALTH FOR ALL. HOLLOWAY’S PILLS AND OINTMENT THE PILLS Purify the Liood, correct all disorders of the Liver, Stomach, Kidneys and Bowels, and are invaluable in all com plaints incidental to Females. THE OINTMENT is the only reliable remedy for Bad Leg?, Old Wounds, Sores, and Ulcers. For Bronchitis, Diphtheria, Coughs, Colds, Gout, Rheumatism, and all Skin Diseases it has no equal. Sold by the Proprietor, Thomas Holloway, 533, Oxford Street, London, and by all Medicine Vendors throughout the World.