SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. March 15 —Ilinemoa, s.s,, from Wellington. Marcli 15— Star of the South, s.s., from Southern ports. March 15 —Malay, barque, from Newcastle.

POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close as follows : For Christchurch and North at 10.20 a.m., .4 p. ni., and 7.30 p.in., 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, Minds, ‘Coldstream, Rangitala, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine at 10.30 a.m. daily. For Ashton, Watcrton, and Longbcach at 2.45 p.m. daily. For Greenstreel, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10,30 a.m. For Tcmifka, Timarn and South at 10.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.

The Evening Echo. FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1878. Sir George Grey’s Visit to Ashburton.

'THE 'RECEPTION AT THE RAILWAY STATION. At two o’clock this this afternoon, 'the'time-specified in a tdlegram received here ibis morning, Sir George Grey and suite arrived per special train at the Ashburton Railway Station. The engine •was decorated with evergreens and flowers, While along its side ran an in •scription “ Welcome, Sir George,” and in front was hung a design of the Royal 1 Arms. A goodly crowd of the inhabit ants assembled to witness the arrival, but the proceedings were of the quiet ■est character. Sir George and party were met by Mr Walker, the Chairman, and some members of County Council, who accompanied them in a drive round the town, after which the party drove to the Somerset Hotel, where Sir George held a brief interview with the •County Council on the chief questions of interest to the Ashburton district. Amongst those were the Resident Ma gistrate arrangements and the funds of the county. THE "BANQUET. About fifty of die leading citizens of Ashburton and residents in the sur 'rounding district sat down to an ex cellent luncheon in the Somerset Hotel.

Mr. Walker, the Chairman of the 'County Council, occupied the chair, and proposed the toast of the Queen, which was drunk with honors.

Mr Alfred Saunders rose to propose the health of the oldest politician in New Zealand. There were few states men in New Zealand who had such a history as Sir George Grey. Time would not permit him to go into Sir George Grey’s political history. It was one such as few men had ever been able to compile for themselves in a life time. Differences of opinion were bound to exist, but there were many in New Zealand who, though opposed to Sir George Grey in many things were inclined to support his Ministry, because whenever he had been in power before had always used it well. Adelaide was even now grateful for his kind offices in extricating her financial arrangements from confusion in the far past, and now his experience in the same way was going to benefit our colony. Sir George Grey had been helpful to New Zealand at a time when the natives were more numerous than the Europeans, and now when no danger was apprehended in that direction, he was sure matters

placed in Sir George’s care would be in safe hands. (Cheers.) The toast was received with cheers. Sir George Grey, in reply, thanked them for their reception of the toast. The prosperity of New Zealand was very dear to him, and it would ever be his aim to secure its increase. He was fortunate that in his colleagues youth, energy, and talent were represented in the Cabinet, and so long as they thought with the people the people would go with them. Differences of opinion had been men tioned. These must exist; but the opinions he held at the present time were those he had always entertained. The old constitution was considered to be the most liberal in the world and he saw no reason to change that opinion. When in the old country Mr. Gladstone had done his best to prevent him ob taining a seat in the House of Com mons, because his (Sir George’s) views were more liberal than his own, but since then he found Mr. Lowe and other Liberal leaders advocating the same opinions. He would never at tempt to force upon the people of New Zealand opinions repugnant to their feelings, and he had no wish for domi nation over his fellow-colonists. He had never done so, and would never do so, but trusted that when the people and he were of one mind they would go with him. Sir George proposed “ Prosperity to the County of Ashburton,” coupled with the name of Mr Walker. New Zealand looked upon the welfare of Ashburton as her own. Mr Fisher jvas not present just then, but he as sured them Mr Fisher was continually advocating their interests at Welling ton, so that the people of Ashburton might look upon themselves as possess a friend in Court. (Applause.) Mr Walker had the honor of being the first Chairman of the Ashburton County, and it was their duty to aid him as far as tney could, and Government would also help. (Applause.) The toast was enthusiastically drunk. Mr. Walker returned thanks, hoping the bright future set before them would be fulfilled. The present trip of Ministers was the best step to promote prosperity. If the few Ministers left at Wellington studied the best resources of the country as the travelling ones were doing then New Zealand was very lucky. (Cheers.) Sir George Grey and party left at four o’clock.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The interest of the crowd at the rail way station this afternoon was divided between the arrival of Sir George Grey and the inspection of -a new locomotive engine of imposing appearance and gigantic dimensions, which came in this morning. It is of American con struction, and its parts are characterised by all the lightness and simplicity for which transatlantic machinery is famous. There was the cow-catcher, never absent from the American engines, and a weather-box like a parlor is fitted up for the comfort of the drivers. The engine is said to be capable of a speed which those of English manufacture cannot reach, and with the “ Lincoln ” in front a train is now said to be able to do the distance between Timaru and Christ church in four hours.

Our sporting readers and many others interested in the introduction of British game will be pleased to hear that the hares liberated in Ashburton during last winter appear to be thriving: Be sides several of the original stock, a few young ones have been seen, and we may fairly hope that they are now established in the district.

From a recent number of the English Live Stock Journal , we learn that at a trial of Reapers, which took place at Cape Town in November last, Mr. Walter A. Wood’s new reaper was awarded the first prize of Ten English and American machine manu facturers competed. A young woman of about 18 or 19 years of age was found drowned in the Avon, at Christchurch, last night. A young man, walking along the river opposite the Church of England Ceme tery, observed the body and gave notice to the police. The deceased had been of pleasing appearance, with round features, and dark brown hair. The body was clad in a yellow-shaded print, with black spots, trimmed with black braid and velvet buttons. A pink rib bon was round the neck, and on the head a white Tuscan hat, trimmed with white, and a large grey and woolen shawl enveioved the whole person. The body was found in only two feet of water. Up to late last night she had not been identified

The Gazette contains a despatch from the Earl of Carnarvon announcing Her Majesty’s pleasure that Judges Gresson and Chapman be permitted to bear the title “ Honorable ” for life, within the colony, and to take prece dence next after the puisne Judges of the Supreme Court. The trial by jury of George Jones for a libel on Mr. F. Whitaker will com mence on Monday.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

TELEGRAPHIC NE WS

[Per Press Agency.] WAR REGARDED AS INEVITABLE. RUSSIANS MARCHING ON CON STANTINOPLE. RESIGNATION OF THE ITALIAN MINISTRY. London, March 1 1. The Australian January mails, via Brindisi, were delivered to-day. London, March 12. It is semi - officially stated from Vienna that war is regarded as inevi table unless Russia submits for com sideration to the European Congress the whole conditions of peace with Turkey. [SPECIAL TO MELBOURNE “ ARGUS.”] London, March 12. The Italian Ministry have resigned. Carols, new President of the Chamber, is trying to form a Cabinet. Andrassy repudiates the occupation action scheme. It is probable that England and France will take joint action respecting Egypt The Western Powers support the admission of Greece to the Congress. The Hungarian delegation agreed to grant sixty million florins for war pur poses. Russian troops are moving towards Constantinople. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to a question, stated that the Government had received no informa tion that Russian troops were fortifying Bulair, but that they were still distant twelve miles from it. The Tangare arrived at Galle on the 12th March.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Westport, March 15. Tenders are called for constructing railway and self-acting incline for the Coalbrookdale Coal Company, Mount Rochfort. This will be an extension of the Wellington Company’s line, and will open up some of the best coal in the district.

THE HEIGHT OF AMBITION.

My father was a Justice of the Peace, and I supposed he possessed the power of life and death over all men and could hang anybody that offended him. This was distinction enough for me as a general thing 3 but the desire to be a steamboatman kept intruding, never theless. I first wanted to be a cabin boy, so that I could come out with a white apron on and shake a table-cloth over the side, where all my companions could see me 3 latei I thought I would rather be the deck-hand who stood on the end of the stage-plank with the coil of rope in his hand, because he was particularly conspicuous. But these were only day-dreams—they were too heavenly to be contemplated as real possibilities. By-and-bye one of our boys went away. He was not heard of for a long time. At last he turned up as apprentice engineer or “ striker ” on •a steamboat. This thing shook the bottom out of all my Sunday-school teachings. That boy had been no toriously worldly, and I just the re verse 3 yet he was exalted to eminence, and I left in obscurity and misery. There was nothing generous about this fellow in his greatness. He would always manage to have a rusty bolt to scrub while his boat tarried at our town, and he would sit on the inside guard and scrub it—where we could all see him and envy him and loathe him. And whenever his boat was laid up he would come home and swell around the town in his blackest and greasiest clothes, so that no body could help re membering that he was a steamboat man 3 and he used all sorts of steam boat technicalities in his talk, as if he were so used to them that he forgot common people could not understand them.. He would speak of the “ lab board side of a horse in an easy natural way that would make one wish he was dead. And he was always talking about “St. Looy” like an old citizen 3 he would refer casually to occasions when he “ was coming down Fourth street,” or when he was “pass ing by the Planter’s House,” or when there was a fire and he took a turn on the breaKS of “ the old Big Missouri 3 ” and then he would go on and lie about how many towns the size of ours were burned down there that day. Two or three of the boys had long been persons of consideration among us because they had been to St. Louis once, and had a vague general knowledge of its wonders, but the day of their glory was over now. They lapsed into a humble silence, and learned to disappear when the ruthless ‘ cub ’ engineer approached. This fellow had money, too, and hair oil. Also an ignorant silver watch and a showy brass watch chain. He wore a leather belt and used no suspenders. If ever a youth was cordially admired and hated by his comrades, this one was. No girl could withstand his charms. He “ cut out ” every boy in the village. When his boat blew up at last, it diffused a tranquil contentment among us such as we had not known for months. But when he came home the next week, alive, renowned, and appeared in church all battered up and bandaged, a shining hero, stared at and wondered over by everybody, it seemed to us that the partiality of Providence for an undeserving reptile had reached a point where it was open to criticism.— Mark Twain.

The Victorian political deadlock shows no signs of solution, and last night’s telegrams say all hope of a com promise has vanished. The Assem bly will be adjourned till the first week in July.

THE EVENING ECHO, FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1878.