Highness, on being informed that a proposition for assistance by Parlia ment would sign the death-warrant of any Ministry audacious enough to pre sent it, disclosed this information at once to the only person in a position to render such proposition necessary. The Royal personage to whom he was fain to make confession of the embarrassed position in which he stood, at first re fused point-blank to render any assist ance whatever, alleging the obligations incurred by the numerous extent of her own family, and the daily increasing multiplication of the little families of that very large one, whereon an es trangement took place between the Royal parties—the Princess of Wales always ready to soothe and conciliate, being busily engaged for some time dealing out comfort and consolation to both.

But time grew pressing, creditors clamorous, until at last the implicated party, in a last desperate effort, de clared that unless relief were afforded, he should be compelled to make an appeal, not to Parliament, but to the nation itself. The explanation of his difficulties, which he was determined to give, would satisfy the public mind that his debts were not incurred bv discreditable extravagance, such as was the case with the last personage who bore the title he now assumes, and to whom the Parliament of his day wil lingly lent assistance to double the amount now required. The obliga tions forced upon him by receiving foreign potentates, giving State dinners and receptions, and presiding at public works, had so curtailed his income that debt and embarrassment had followed as a natural result. The warning, al though conveved in too mild and gen lemanly a manner to be regarded as a threat, had sufficient power, neverthe less, to excite such terror in the mind of the loftv personage alluded to, that an offer of compliance with the condi tions was immediately tendered. Tt was then that the interview at Osborne was arranged by the Princess of Wales, whose 'kindness and good sense had suggested the idea of taking her chil dren there in order that they might be within sight and sound. The plan was successful, as all such gentle efforts of the pious peacemaker must alwavs be : and after much negotiation and long consideration of the condition, which at first appeared hard, but which have been accepted by slow degrees, and after due consideration of each, the sum of is said by gossip to have been paid over to the submissive suitor.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Bv Submarine Cable.]

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

The Eastern Situation.

[Per Press Agency.]

The Budget Proposed In crease in Taxation—Russia and Roumania.

London, April 4,

The expenditure, as shown in the budget amounts to 1,000,000, leav ing an ordinary deficit of 1,500,000, and an extraordinary one of 5,300,000, whereof 2,000,000 are passed over to next financial year. It is proposed to have an increase of 2d. on the income tax, qd. per lb. on tobacco, and a dog tax of 23. 6d. Official despatches show that Russia is treating Roumania imperiously, and refuses to discuss in Congress the Bes saraba question.

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, Fridav.

Case brandy is unchnneed ; quarters, 9s. 3d., scarce. Kerosene is un changed. Rice, £2s 1 os. to New Zealand wheat is unchanged. New Zealand oats, 4s. Tobacco, sugar, and candles, unchanged. Adelaide, Friday. Flour, £l2 ios. to 10s. Wheat, ss. i id.

INTERPROVINCIAL

Auckland. Friday.

Sir George Arney, writing to a friend in Auckland, denies a rumour of his marriage.

The discovery of a bed of clay— supposed to be meerschaum —is an nounced from the North.

A cable message reports the arrival of the ship City of Auckland on April 3rd. The Lretitia, from New Caledonia, reports that the Pacific Slope, from New Zealand, had put in in conse quence of her cargo of timber shifting in a gale.

Five hundred French Communists arrived per Higgenson, to work in the copper mines by contract for twenty years at at ten cents per head a day. Noumea suffered from unprecedented head, sunstrokes being numerous. Great distress prevails through the failure of banks. A Government inquiry is pro ceeding. A reform in the bankruptcy law is advocated. Six New Hebrides workmen at tempted to escape. One was killed, and another wounded.

Rich gold has been discovered. Grahamstown, Friday.

The Borough population is 2SBO males and 2575 females; the Thames County population is 4960 ; Piako County, 447 ; total population Thames district, 10,423. In 1874, including Coromandel, the population was 2272. The Coromandel returns are not yet completed.

Wellington, Friday.

In consequence of the rapidly dimin ishing quantity of water in the reservoir, the water for the city will from to morrow be again cut off, otherwise it is said that in less than a week the supply would be exhausted.

Carterton, Saturday.

A large sawmill at the Taratahi, owned by Stewart Bros., was destroyed by fire at an early hour this morning. Supposed to have caught five accident ally. The loss is estimated at three thousand pounds.

Nelson, Fridav.

The census returns for the City of Nelson are—Males 3380, females 3482; total, 6562. In 1874 the total was 5860.

Hokitika, Friday.

In Rvan’s trial for murder, the jury after being locked up all night could uot agree to a verdict. They were equally divided on the issue. The jury were discharged, and the Court ad journed till the 20th April. Dunedin, Friday. Sir John Goode is expected to arrive in Dunedin to-morrow night. Miss Fiddler, of the Dunedin Cookery School, has gone to Invercargill to com mence a series of lessons there.

A special meeting is to be held on the 23rd instant to consider the advisa bility of winding up the Albion Brewery Company.

(Special to the Press.) Timaru, Friday. Sir John Coode will inspect the Mil rord lagoon ten davs hence. A lad named Musker, who was em ployed in shunting trucks of grain at Timaru railway station this morning, was severely crushed about the bowels between two trucks, and now lies in a precarious state. The result of the election for the Board of Education 01 South Canterbury is generally considered highly satisfac tory.

PIECE-MEAL.

The Georgia negro has no more faith in banks. He lays all his money out in clothes and hair-oil, and the news of a bank suspension causes him to exclaim, “ Bust away wid ye, but you can’t hurt dese lavendar pants.”

A bad little boy in Aberdeen rubbed cayenne pepper dust all over the back of his jacket. The schoolmaster thrashed him briskly, but dismissed the school immediately to run to the nearest chemist for eve-water.

A bashful young clergyman, recently rising to preach for the first time made a terrible mix of it, and announced his text this wise—“ And immediately the cock wept, and Peter went out and crew bitterly.”

A newsboy seated on the post-office steps yesterday, counted his pennies over and remarked—“ Seventeen cents in all. That’s five for the circus, three for pea-nuts, four for a sinking fund, four I owe to Jack, and there’s one left to support a widowed mother until Saturday night. One winter’s night a man who lives some distance from town was kept by business until a very late hour, and his wife knowing how cold he would be when he got home, put an iron on the stove, and when she heard him open the gate she jumped up, and hurriedly wrapping the iron in a piece of flannel chncked it in bed for him to warm his great feet by. The man was cold and taciturn and cross. He crawled into bed with a growl, and shudderod with cold as he stretched himself out. Then he gave a yell that shook the roof, and jammed his head through the head board, and screamed fire, and waltzed out on the floor and round the room in the dark. When his wife lighted a lamp, they discovered a beautiful pho tograph of a band-iron on that man’s foot, and it was found that the flannel had somehow got off the foot warmer. The man says that hereafter, if he must sleep with a hardware store, he wants it put in cold.

THE EVENING ECHO, SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 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. W Ati TED, the Public to come and in spect A. O. AITKEN & Co’s New Stock of Autumn and Winter Drapery.



WILLIAM GAVIN, DRAPER, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON, 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, 12U1 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. \y ESL EY A N BAZA AR. LIBRARY HALL. TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY, April i6th and 17TH. L 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. LOTTO, Draughts and Draught Hoards, 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 M’JSIC, French, German, and Drawing, at MISS STEANE’S, Oxlord Villa, Burnett Street. t < nMI E EVE N ING EC II O.” Town Agent, MR. A. W ESTON, Tancred-street. Al 7 R E STAU RA NL REMOVAL To the premises lately occupied by Mr. Quinton. TANCRED STREET, On the Bth April. Increased Accommodation - . C. TRUCKLE, PROPRIETOR. A I.I’IIABET CARDS and Boxes, Mayor's -Cv 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, Cox Street, Ashburton. Alt orders executed with neatness and w 'th 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 ! W. R. HOYLE, pSTATE AND GENERAL AGENT, MOORE STREET, ASHBURTON. TOL E T . A SHOP IN EAST STREET, next door to Mr. San do’s. Enquire at the ECHO Office. STATUARY ! S TATUARY 1~~ 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 j the Display. j FURNESS ani> DIXON, i STATION HRS’ HALE, EAST STREET.



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