POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close n; follows : .

For Christchurch and North at io 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, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.ir. 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 10.15 a.m. and 3 p.m daily. For Tinvvald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream.. Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily.

UNCLAIMED LETTERS.

The following letters are advertised at the Pos. Office, as having been received from places beyond the Co'or>y, during the month of July, and remaining unclaimed on the ist September 1878 : Anderson, James Clough, Robinson Doherty, Henry James Fergusson, J. H. (2) Gooch, W. Kelly, Correbus Moyna, Joseph > O’Donnell, Patrick Palmer, William RiPy, 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 JCOUNTANTS AND COMMISSION AGENTS— j, Cbar'es Braddell, Montgomery’s Buildings I i H. J. Bris.o, Prospect Buildings, East-st. SiW. R. Boyle, Moore-street. A tCHITECT AND CIVIL ENGINEER— S. W. Brown, East-street S. Farr, Montgomery’s Buildings B. Mountfort, East Stree. A jctioneers— Bullock and Co., East-street Saunders Bros., Ashburton B VRRISTERS AND SOLICITORS— Mr. Branson, East-street Mr. E. G. Crisp, Montgomery’s Buildings B iKERS, Confectioners, Etc.— Thomas Hicks, Tancred-street Thomas Taylor, Easi-street, B tNKS'— Bank of New Zealand, East-street Un ; on Bank of Austraba, East-street Bdarding House Keepers— J. G. Anstee, East-street Eagle’s Diring Rooms, Havelock Street Builders, Contractors, Etc.— James Baker, Have Jock-street Geo. St. Hill. Burneti-street West

G. Parlcn Steam Saw Mills, Moor-street Mat hew Snrtb, Moor-stieet Thos. W : U : ams, Tmwald G. Comp.or. Builder, Moore-street. Booksellers and Stationers— A. Weston, Prosoect Bu'ldlngs, East-street Furress and Dk:on Stat’oners’ Hall, East street South

Bootmakers— J. Chrmbers. 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 1 homas Williams, J inwald Carrier— G. F. Scott, Cameron-street Chemist and Druggist—

J. M. Cambridge, Montgomery’s Buildings Coal and Firewood Merchants— G. Parker and Co., rear Railway Station A. H-yes, Firewood and Timber, near Rail way Station F. P. Leßreton, Bumett-strect. Drapers and Clothiers— Akken and Co., Havelock-street Orr and Co., East-street

John Fowler, Tancred-street Firth, Pass, and Co., Old Eank Store, East ' street W. Gavin, East-street T. Qu;nn & Co., Moor-street Engineers and Founders— Edwards and Lee, Engineers, Smiths, etc., Burnett-street W. /. Hessey, Central Foundry, Peters-st Furniture Warerooms— A. Spillard, Tancred Street Grocers, General Dealers, Etc.— A?then and Co., Havelock-strcet Orr and Co„ East-street Firth, Pass, and Co., East-street John Fowler, Tancred-street K. Sando, East-street Greengrocers— W. E : rtwe!l, East-street J. Mooar & Co., East-street Hairdressers— E. A. Garnett, East-street A. Pearse, Moore-sireet Hotels— Quill’s Commercial Hotel, near Railway Station Shearman’s Somerset Hotel, East-street Ironmongers— and Co., East-street Aitken and Co., Havelock-street S. Hardley, East-street Ladies’ Clothing Establishment— Mrs. Morey, Tancred Street. Painter, &c. — - J. R. Chapman, Tancred-street Printers and Publ'ishers — Futcss and Dixon, East-street Plumbers, Gasfitters, Tinsmiths, Etc.— J. C. Dolman, Tancred-street 1 Joseph Hyde, Tancred-street j|S. Hardley, East-stieet Saddlers— Thomas Dudson, 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 E. A. Garnett, East-street A. Weston ( East-street

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF LYTTELTON.

ARRIVED. Sept. B—Rotorua, s.s., from Sydney via North. Sept. 9 —Taupo, s.s., from South. Sept. 9 —Albion, s.s., from Wellington. Sept. 9 —Easby, s.s., from South.

SAILED. Sept. 9 —Taupe, s.s. for Noith. Sept. 9 —Easby, s.s., for North. Sept. 9—Rotorua, s.s., for South. Sept. 9 —Albion, s.s. for South and Mel bourne. expected arrivals. From London Crusader, Lutterworth, Waimate, Waimea, Waitangi, Langstone, Palala. From New York Star, ■ Southminster, Olmstee. From Foo Chow—Rio Lodge. From Calcutta —Aries, Akbar. From Sydney via Auckland —Rotorua.

Port Chalmers, Saturday.

Arrived —Barque Harrington, 109 days from London, with two passengers, 1000 tons cargo, and 5c d tons powder.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Evening Echo. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1878.

The Colonial Treasurer, we fear, has made a mistake in asking the House to sanction the beer-tax. A great number of matter-of-fact members think, to use a common expression, “the game not worth the candle,” and that when the machinery necessary to be put in motion for collecting the duty is to be managed and paid for, the result will not show a return such as the Govern ment expect. So confident are the brewers and publicans of this —so sure do they feel the measure will fail to receive the sanction of either House— that they have to a very large extent relaxed the efforts they have hitherto been making to oppose the Bill. When so wide awake men as compose what is known as “ the trade ” rest on their oars for a time, we may safely rest assured the tide is in their favor; for, as a rule, they do not permit them selves to be walked over without a tough struggle. Whatever may be thought of the increase of duty on beer, there can be no two thoughts about the advantage the country must derive from the proposed reduction to two shillings per gallon of the Australian wines duty, and we hope the sum pro posed by the Colonial Treasurer will not rest the minimum. Beyond hard and fast total abstainers, —and these, after all, are but a comparatively small proportion of the population,— every body drinks more or less of alcoholic liquor. It is one of the attendants of civilised society.' With the question of right or wrong in its use we are not now dealing; but the fact of its use is self-evident, as the fact af its abuse to a fearful extent is also self-evident. Be tween beer and the “ shorter" liquors the moderate user of alcohol has no choice except Continental wines, (and these are strongly “fortified” before a sea-borne journey) or the not always commendable and certainly not uni versally palatable makeshifts sold under the name of cordials. The latter are always suspicious to the teetotaller, and the man with no vow registered in heaven against the use of alcohol, pre ferring usually “to bear the ills he has than fly to others that he knows not of,” chooses to keep his system free from a beverage which may be hurtful, or may be harmless for aught he knows of its materiel , and “ looks to wards” the usages of society in a glass of beer or other orthodox alcoholic. Besides being the production of a sister colony, the wines of Australia are sim ply wines—not wine and brandy as most of, those imported from Europe are. They contain no more alcohol than the natural fermentation generates, are pleasant to the palate, almost harmless to the system, sufficiently stimulative to be used as a substitute for either of the Home-manufactured liquors, and infinitely preferable as a beverage to any of the suspicious de coctions we have referred to. With the vast evils before us arising from drunkenness would it not then

advisable to put the colony in a posi-. tion to bring this light wine from the Australian vineyards into more general use, by issuing licenses at a low figure for the sale of colonial wines, so that wherever lemonade and other liquors not exciseable are sold these wines could he obtained at about the. same price lemonade and its companions of the I-ity free list? In many places on the west Coast, Nelson-made cherry wine u es duty for port and claret, the jlkeepers charging for it the same price as for imported red wines, while six or seven shillings a gallon covers its original cost in Nelson. “ Sixpence a drink ” seems to be the orthodox charge in Ashburton hotels, and many others in New Zealand, and it is only natural to fuppose Australian wines would be charged at the same figure, while the quantity supplied for that sum would be no greater than that of Continental wine for the same amount. Did (sixpenn’orth of light and wholesome natuaal wine represent a draught as large as sixpenn’orth of beer, we believe many men who now confine their drinking wholiy to beer and spirits would step out of their usual habit, patronise the Australian vignetons, and profit greatly by the exchange. This idea of colonial wine licenses, and a still further reduction of the duty on these light wines, is being advocated in several places, and know ing the facts that drunkenness is less prevalent in countries where light natu ral wines are cheap and common than in those where they cost mo.e than beer, and that Australian wines possess all the good qualities of those imported from Europe, with far less inebriating power, the matter is worthy consideration by the Colonial Trea surer.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Borough Council held its first meeting to-day in the Town Hall. We give a report of its doings elsewhere.

The Weather. —To-day and yes terday have been miserable days of rain, but the shower will be an incal culable blessing to the gardeners.

San Francisco Mail. —The next outward mail, via San Francisco, will leave Lyttelton on or about Friday, 13th inst., and will therefore close here on the 12th.

Our Resident Magistrate. Mr. Campbell has found a champion thusly in the Times' Temuka’ corres pondent:—The remarks of Mr. Saun ders a, to our Resident Magistrate, in the - use of Representatives, meet with no concurrence here. The gentle man who holds that position is gener ally ‘vpected, not only, as I have hearu, by the Bar, but by the public generally. I am informed that the Clerk of the Bench at the Ashburton Court, where Mr. Campbell presides, is a son-in-law of Mr. Saunders. [What this relationship has to do with the matter we fail to see.]

Secular Education. —At a meet ing of the Wellington Education Board, Archbeacon Stock asserted, that he was quite sure the large majority of people in New Zealand were in favor of re ligion being taught in schools, and that it was only the newspapers that led to the contrary opinion being held. Mr Stock seems to forget that the press i only the mouthpiece of public opinion on this subject, and that it gives utter ance to the real notions of the majorit is clearly evinced by the fact that in the House, which represents the people, an overwhelming majority of the members are determined to exclude religious teaching from the State system of edu cation.

Using up the Sergeants.—Th e following curious advertisement appears in the Auckland Star :—“ Wanted, for the Thames, a police-sergeant, who must be possessed ot the docility of the African negro, without knowing too much. Previous experience not wanted. Apply Scotland Yard, Thames.” In the same paper a letter appears, stating that there have been no fewer than' five different sergeants on the Thames station during the last twelve months or so, adding that if the present demand keeps up, it is expected the Agent- General will have to be communicated with in order to provide a special sup ply from London. The writer says that the quarterly demand for a new sergeant on one station tells a sad tale of departmental petty tyranny, and adds —“ In a conversation I recently had with a constable, he told me that the Thames was a perfect Russian Siberia for a police-sergeant; and of the five mentioned, one sank into an early grave, another was nearly driven out of his wits, a third had his professional efficiency stultified, and of the other two I shall eny nothing at present.” Unless these are very much exagge rated aeems to be, if not grounds for ar, official inquiry, certainly ample gjfpupds dorgrunbling.

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The first meeting of the Borough Council was held to-day at noon, in the Town Hall. All the members were present except Messrs. Ivess and E. Saunders.

His Worship the Mayor presided, and said the business of the day would be .of a preliminary character, the lirst of which would be the signing of tie necessary declarations by council lors. Steps would also require to be taken at that meeting to secure to the borough its share of the funds now in the hands of the Rord Board, to initiate which he would advise the appointment of a committee to confer with the Board. The land endowment of the borough would also have to be seen to, a town clerk and a surveyor appointed, and a borough seal obtained. It would be advisable, he thought, to apply to Government for a return of all reserves within the borough and the purpose for which they are reserved. ■ The customary declarations by Coun cillors were then signed. . BOROUGH FUNDS. Mr. Friedlander moved that Messrs. Shearman, Campbell, and the Mayor, be appointed a committee to wait upon the Road Board at its next meeting re garding the share of fuuds to which the borough was entitled. The proposal being seconded by Mr. Orr, was carried. BY-LAWS. The Mayor stated that he was in possession of a copy of the by-laws of South Dunedin, and if a copy were ob tained of those in force in Christchurch, by striking out such laws as would not affect this borough and adding such as might be required but not contained in these copies, a set might be obtained for Ashburton with little trouble.

Mr Friedlander proposed that Messrs Ivess, Williamson, Roberts, Orr, and the Mayor form a committee to prepare by-laws and to report as soon as possible. Mr Campbell seconded and the motion was agreed to. MAP OF THE BOROUGH. Mr Williamson moved that tenders from licensed surveyors be. called for, for the preparation of a map of the borough showing the levels of the streets. Agreed to. On the motion of Mr Campbell seconded by Mr Orr, Messrs Parkin and Roberts were appointed a committee to draw up specifications for such map, obtain all information possible, and superintend the work of fixing levels. • VALUATION OF THE BOROUGH. The Mayor called attention to the pro vision of the' Act compelling the pre paration of a valuation roll against the striking of the rates on 31st March and said it was worth considering whether it would be possible to make the valua tion to be made now available for next March, with a few necessary additions, as it would be well into December be fore the first valuation would be ready.

Mr. Parkin moved that tenders be invited for the completion of a new valuation roll for the borough, to be completed by the ist November; ten ders to be sent in to the Town Clerk on or before noon of next meeting day. Mr. Shearman seconded, and the motion was carried. RESERVES WITHIN THE BOROUGH. It was resolved that the Clerk write to the Colonial Secretary for a return of all reserves within the borough, and for what purpose reserved. LAND ENDOWMENT. Some discussion took place on the question of the rural land endowment of the borough. It was ultimately resolved that application be made L. Government for 2000 acres reserve the Municipality was endded to. BOROUGH SEAL. Resolved that designs for a borough seal be obtained and submi ted at nex. meeting. RETIRING COUNCILLORS. The election of the Borough Council having'taken place last week, and the statutory term for electing others in the place of those who retire by the provi sions of the Act being the second Thursday of the month (Thursday first), it was resolved to wire to the Governor for an extension of time for one month. BOROUGH ROAD AND CHANNEL WORK

Mr. Roberts suggested employing a man permanently to keep the channels and culverts clear and look after the roads, &c. as, in the case of giving only temporary employment to a man when pressing occasions occurred, the Council will run the risk of being un able to get a man when work . was wanted to be done. A motion was carried in accordance with Councillor Roberts’ suggestion. TOWN CLERK. Mr. Williamson moved that the Town Clerk receive a salary of per annum, and that a suitable person be at once advertised for, applications to be sent in not later than noon of the 23rd inst., duties to be learned at the Town Clerk’s Office,

COUNCIL OFFICES, ETC It was decided to apply for a room in Montgomery’s buildings as an office for ihe.Council, and to fix Monday the 23rd inst., at 7 o’clock p.m., the next meeting day of the Council : the meet ings to be fortnightly hereaiter. GRAVEL RESERVE. A letter was read from Mr Wilkie suggesting to the Board to apply for an extension of a gravel reserve on the north town belt. Mr Roberts was averse to any more gravel being taken from the pit, and urged its being closed altogether. ~"r - After some further talk the Council adjourned.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

London, Sept. 5.

It is reported that Midhat Pasha is appointed Governor-General of Asia Minor.

The assassin of Warentzou, late In spector-General of Police at St. Peters burg, has been arrested.

Sept. 7. . Mr Smith is appointed Colonial Sec retary of the Straits settlements.

The Russian Minister at Teheran is promoting a railway between Tiflis and Teheran, with an extension to Herat in contemplation.

Sept. 8. A crisis has arisen in Europe over the Greek question. Gloucester was defeated by the Aus tralians by ten wickets.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Grahamstown, Saturday.

The County Council decline the Premier’s offer to remove men out of work to Christchurch, with the consent of the local authorities, the latter pre ferring to give them work at stone breaking.

Alexandra, Saturday.

A telegram from Rewi has been re ceived here, expressing his suprise and regret at the dismissal of Major Mair from the Government service. Rewi also says that he has telegraphed' to Sir G. Grey and the Native Minister about it. King Natives here generally regret Major Mair’s removal, as is shown by 113 of their names being attached to a petition to the Minister of Justice. A petition in favor of Major Mair was forwarded to-day having 384 signatures, including 113 from natives. Wellington, Saturday.

The Customs revenue received here during this week was exclusiye of beer tax.

Nelson, Saturday.

A cablegram from London last night announces the death of John Symons, principal of the Nelson firm of N. Ed wards and Co.

Ahaura, Saturday.

James Loonan; a miner, was killed at Nelson Creek by a fall of earth. He was frightfully bruised, and death was instantaneous. He will be buried there to-day. He was highly respected throughout the valley. Blenheim, Saturday.

Numerous telegrams have been re ceived at the Express office this morn ing from Havelock. One says the re port of gold found in the Mountain Camp Creek is greatly exaggerated. Mills, Riley, and Ragg each report that three miners brought down a hundred ounces from the Wakamarina last night, and deposited it in the Bank. The best half was obtained last week out of a t -rrace 60ft. above the level, half a mile f -om Ford's. The excitement is great and increasing. ■ ~y -y ; Dunedin, Saturday.

This afternoon an impressive and the Jews important, ceremony took place at the Synagogue, in the shape of the consecration of a scroll of the law, presented by Mr. Joel. The scroll was very elaborately written in the Hebrew character, and the velvet coverings were supplied and worked by members of the congregation. The Governor was to have beeri present, but the drizzling rain which began last evening and con tinued to-day, kept him away. Messrs Stout and J. E. Brown were amongst the visitors, and Mr. Well of Lyttelton. The attendance was not so large as was expected, and the collection, which last year reached this year fell a good deal short of that sum. En trance was by ticket, and a large num ber of ladies were there despite the rain. The Rev. Lichtenstein officiated at the ceremony, which was chiefly musical and in Hebrew. The door being opened, the minister and others entered' in procession with the several portions of the scroll in their arms, the choir singing meantime. The procession then passed up the Synagogue unde the canopy until the ark was reached, and the minister and choristers sang all the while. The Synagogue was encir cled seven times by the procession, and gffcF psalm? and prayers, the perils

were elevated, facing the points of the compass in succession, while the con gregation chanted. A prayer for the Queen and Royal Family was offered, and the ark being opened the Records of the Law were carefully deposited therein. The minister delivered, an address from the fourth of Deuteronomy, and a Hallelujah Chorus closed the service.

Monday. The Governor and nearly all the Northern visitors left for Christchurch by the seven o’clock train this morning.

¥he Evening Echo, Monday, September 9, 1878.



ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST. d. s. d. 3utter, inferior to best, I 6 to X 8 Eggs, # dozen - - I 3 to I 6 Bacon, ptime smobed, lb o 10 to 0 0 Hams in clo.h, Jb - I 0 to 0 0 Cheese, prime qur ,; iy, $ lb o 9 to 0 T 0 Flour in $ ioolb .2 6 to •4 0 Oatmeal, I? ioolb - 26 0 to 0 0 Lard, ft> - - - 0 9 to 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.



The Best Love.— -Home love is the best love. The love that you are born to is the sweetest you wili ever have on earth. You, who are so anxious to escape the home nest, pause a moment and remember that this is so. It is right that the hour should come when you, in'your turn,--should become a. wife and a mother and give the best love to others ; but that will be just it. Nobody—not a lover, not a husband —will ever be so tender or so true as a mother or father. Never again, after strangers have broken the beautiful bond, will there be anything so sweet as the little circle of mother, father and children, where you were cherished, praised, and kept from harm. You may not know it, but you will know it some day. Whomsoever you marry, true and good though he may be. after the love days are over, and the honeymoon has waned, will give you only what you deserved of love or sympathy—usually much less, never more. You must watch and be wary, lest you lose that love which is through the eyes because they thought you beautiful. But those who bore you, who loved you when you were the dreadful little object, a small baby, . and thought you exquisitely brilliant —they do not care for faces that are fairer than yours. You are their very own, and so, better to them always than others. To leave home should be a sad, not a glad thing. It should not be so easy to turn away from the old folks and forget them as it seems to be to too many. I have said it once, but I say it again: There is no love like the love you are born to, no home like the first home you knew, if you have good par ents, and that home is what itshould be. When you leave it you leave your best behind you. — New. York Observer Laudable Enterprise. The Sydney Mail offers four prizes of £,2s each to be competed for by young men who have served, or are serving, i under articles of apprenticeship to masters in . Australia, for the best specimen of deco rative art, the best cutting or carving in marble or stone, the best architectural model in plaster of Paris, and the best specimen of mechanical drawing. Advantages of Courteousness. —A. tradition is current ; in the family of the Rev. Dr. Humphrey (late President of Amherst College) that on one of his journeys: to .Boston in the stage coach of the day, the vehicle stopped at a village to take : up a lady. The rain was falling, and the coach was already filled. The driver, opening the door, asked if any passeneger would resign his seat for one on the “ deck ’’ in favor of a lady. No one moved for a moment. The next instant Dr. Humphrey was on the ground, and the lady in his place. Some time afterwards, when the village was canvassed for subscriptions to the College, the husband of the lady was called upon.' He looked at the subscription list, subscribed a . handsome sum, and resumed it, saying, “I don’t know much about the Amherst College, but I know the President is a gentleman.” Strangers coming to reside in Ashburton ire often at a loss to know which is the best Establishment to visit, for .-theypurchase of Drapery, Clothing, and House-furnishing Iron mongery, and General Stores. Orr & Co. offer jpec’al ad vantages to the public that can be met with nowhere else in Ashburton. They keep at all times the largest atid best-assorted Stock of every class of Goods, imported direct from the leading manufacturers at home, wh’ch beinv bought entirely upon cash terms, they are enabled. tcToffer goods of such sterling value as cannot lie equalled by any other house, in the trade. Every article in stock is marked at the lowest price, from which no abatement is made so that the most inexperienced buy their goods at the same prices as the best judges.—Advt.



SOMERSET LODGE. .. ■mSOKsb A Lodge of Instruction in connection with this Lodge will be held in the Lodge Rooms THIS EVENING at 7.30 p.m. CHARLES BRADDELL, Hon. Sec. FOR SALE—CHEAP. A FIVE ROOMED COTTAGE, quite Ci New, on the North Town Belt. Easy terms. 7- * • " Apply ECHO Office. Grand Secular Concert, Conducted by MR. JAMES' SPE NS LEY, of Christchurch, in the town Hall, ashburton, On TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, Commencing at 8 p.m. Songs, Duets, Glees, Instrumentations, &c., &c. Admission—Hall, 2s 6d ; Gallcr/; is fid, The Ashburton Brass Band will give SQltfr tians? during the evening, ggjgj