SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF LYTTELTON.

ARRIVED. May 14 —Ringarooma, s.s., from North. May 14 —[ la we a, s.s., from North. May 14 —Ehenezer, three-masted schooner, from Mauritius. .Sailed. May 14 —Ringarooma, s.s., for South. May 14 —Hawea, s.s., for South. May 14 —Iris, barque, for Sydney.

POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office clos as follows :

For Christchurch and North at 10.20 a.m., 4 p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m., and 4 p.m. daily. For Chertsey at 10.20 a.m. daily. UNCLAIM ED LETTERS. The following letters are advertised at the Post Office, as having been received from places beyond the Colony, during the month of l'ebruary, and remaining unclaimed on the Ist May, 187 S ;

Gooch, George C, Gray, George Hayward, Win. Inkster, Wm. Judkins, Lucas

Letters originating in New Zealand are not now advertised, but are sent to the Dead Letter Ollice, after having lain for two clear months.

The Evening Echo. TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1878.

When Sir George Grey went out oi. what his opponents called a “ stumpin' tour” of the colony, lie earned for him self “ golden opinions from all sorts 01 people,” and roused the wrath of not ; few of those who have pinned then faith to the doctrine that New Zealam was discovered for them and settled t the extent it is that their fortunes maj be made and its resources laid out for them to batten on. The Premier said many things which were unpalatable to a particular section of the New Zealand population, and whenever he allowed his flow of powerful oratory to carry him into a highly-colored picture of the people’s wrongs, there were many voices raised to howl at him, and many politi cal owls hooted him. We have not pinned our faith to Sir George Grey, nor will we pin our faith to any one, but when we find opinions expressed by a public man that reforms are neeessar , and a policy laid down to bring aboi t these reforms, and when we find that public man in the Premier and that policy his, and when we endorse those opinions and accept that policy as the right course to redress the wrongs we see, then we are only following the path of rectitude if we contend for a fair field and no favor to the leader whose policy we approve. Sir George was howled at as a “foolish old man” when he said that a party in the British Parlia ment desired to tax colonial pockets for English naval and military expenditure ; but these howlers must now confess there was more truth in his assertion than they cared to allow. Australasia is daily expecting to hear that war has been, declared between England and Russia—a war that our mother country has sought, and which, there is but too much reason to fear, she will be allowed to carry on single-handed so far as help from her powerful Continental neigh bors is concerned. We have been trained as a colony in the belief that while that “flaunting flag of liberty” waved over our heads we could rest secure in the safety of its shadow, knowing that were the pollution of a hostile foot to touch our shores, swift and terrible vengeance would find the invader, at the cannon’s mouth of an English squadron. But now, on the brink of a war with a powerful and crafty enemy, our mother country dis covers that defence of the colonies by sea is utterly impracticable, and tells us to take such measures as we can for our own defence, against a foe who has not the best of characters for humanity. Now, Sir George Grey, believing that ot attempt the defence of New Zealand with, any hope of success against the appliances of modern warfare would ab sorb many millions of money, and

iware that the best defence in the absence of that absorption was our very weakness, resolutely declined the visit <‘f Sir YV. Jervoise and Col. Scratchely— to the disgust of our patrician Governor the Marquis of Normanoy, between whom and the Premier but little love seems to be cherished. The Marquis would not readiiy forgive Sir George for refusing the honor sought to be forced upon the colony of spending money in defences; and so when Tawhaio is re ceiving in the north the attention of the Premier, the Governor puts before the other members of the Cabinet the dan gerous state of affairs at Home, as shown by the daily telegrams, and heightened by one he himself has received fhe result is aplegde to in the purchase of cannon and the erec tion of batteries at four of the leading ports of the colony. Now, the lessons of the Russo- Turkish war were valuable. Fhey teach how gradually the bayonet is being replaced in warfare by the pick and shovel; how surely cavalry must drop down from their high position to the less brilliant but more useful one of being simply scourers of the country — a Bnlaklava is now impossible, not be cause blundering cannot occur, but. because cavalry charges are of the past, and can have no place in the future : how steadily the heavy gun is forging to the front as the arm of warfare, to vhich every other arm must give place. But the greatest lesson of all was the one taught by Hobart Pasha, who, rene gade and reprobate as he was to his country when he so far forgot his nature is to renounce his British self and claim nationality with the Turk, could not stoop to the cowardice of firing a single gin against a fortless and undefended own. Wherever he met a place de coded by troops and guns there his shells ran riot; but when he cruised into a defenceless harbor, that defence essness was the safety ol the port. Sii George may be the “ foolish old man,’ lis opponents call him, but he woulo iave strenuously opposed the expendi ire of 44.000 to give a Russian war ship a pretext for storming, almost with out effort, the best fortifications that could be erected for the money. Per manent fortifications mean permanent forces to man them ; and, we ask, is New Zealand, yet in her infancy, pre pared to incur the expense of a standing army, and forts on the headlands of four of her seaport towns as an invitation to the shell of a Russian privateer? We think not. It is all very well to talk of valor and preparedness for war, but the best defences we can possibly erect be fore war is upon us, if the a’armists are correct, wiL be but cockle shells in the hands of a well appointed foe ; and our surest defence is our weakness, for, were a war ship to open fire upon us with not a gun to reply, and carry fire and plunder into our towns with no re sistance offered—the execration of the world would follow the dastard who gave the command, and every nation claiming a place in civilisation would hoot the flag that lent its shadow to the coward!v deed.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The School Committee hold their usual meeting this evening. The Star of the East Lodge of Good Templars are actively preparing for their gala on the Queen’s birthday. The further prorogation of Parliament to 15th June is gazetted ; but it is gen erally understood that no meeting will take place till the middle of July. The Hooper Company’s entertain ment last night was a success. The prize distribution draws a considerable number of patrons, and the perform ances meet with a hearty reception. The cavalry mustered strongly last night, and this evening the entertain ment is under the patronage of that corps.

Before H. T. Winter, Esq., J.P., yesterday, on charges of drunkenness and disorderly conduct, William Hen derson, John Bradley, Walter Stafford, Chas. Murray, and James Nolen were dis missed after being repremanded ; and James Shalvey, for the same offence and resisting the constable, aggravated by previous convictions, was fined

The first number of The Christian Herald has been issued. It is a quar terly periodical, issued by the Wesleyan body in the Ashburton district, and is published for the proprietors by Messrs. Furness and Dixon. 'Twelve pages quarto, it has ample room for a large budget ol the Christian intelligence of the district, and of its space it certainly makes good use. There is also room found for much selected matter of a high character, and the editorial work is highly commendable. The platform it assumes, though denominational, is a very liberal one, and the co-operation of every sect of the Christian Church is asked for. As a piece of printing work, it will bear comparison with anything in the colony; new type and fine paper giving the printers every chance for a fair production. We wish our quarterly contemporary ever success.

The gale of Sunday seems to have been pretty general over the South Is land, but the Press Agency’s telegrams give no intimation of its being felt beyond Cook’s Straits. The telegraph lines between Ashburton and Christ church were blown down, and the wires had to be hung on short temporary posts, till the permanent uprights had been put again in position or replaced where rendered useless. Near the Sel wyn station the damage to the lines was most serious, but all along they more or less suffered. At Greymouth the wind held great riot, and chimneys, verandahs, &c., went down before it, but no lives were lost. Steamboat traffic with that port was suspended owing to the terrific sea. At Lawrence, in Otago, it com menced at 5 o’clock, following a heavy rainfall on the day previous. The same kind of damage is reported, as suffered it Greymouth, and it is added that sheets of iron were carried a great distance.

Tbe Cheviot election contest is being carried on with unabated vigor. Last night both candidates addressed the •Vaiau electors, Mr. Saunders receiving a unanimous vote of confidence, from the large meeting.

A serious charge was investigated lately at the Echuca Police Court. The local paper states that a Chinaman named Ah Tan appeared with his head bound up, to prosecute a woman named Mary Ah Kew, for injuring him. Ac cording to the evidence, the prisoner struck the celestial with a meat chopper cutting down upon his skull with the sharp edge. Fortunately, the weapon struck sideways and lifted the scalp in stead of coming directly to the bone ; but, as it was, an artery was severed, and the man lost a deal of blood. Prisoner appeared to have received no provocation but being ordered out of a Chinaman’s house for calling the in mates “ monkeys.” She has been before the Court before for assaulting her Chinese husband, and she was given into custody some time ago by him for burning his house down, but the charge was not proved. Since then Ah Kew has lived apart from her. The woman presented a pitiful example of female degradation, and of the vici ous influence of the Chinese upon Europeans. Mr. Leatham’s exposure in the British House of Commons of the scandals growing out of the sale of church livings has had its effect on the Peers. In the Upper House the Archbishop ot York has carried amotion for the ap pointment of a royal commission “to inquire into the law and existing practice as to the admission to and sale and exchange and resignation of ecclesiasti cal benefices, and to recommend reme dies'for abuses, if any are found to exist.” Recently offers to sell fifty and even a hundred church livings have appeared in a single newspaper. Just at this moment attention has been at tracted by the following advertisement which appeared in the London Times : “A clergyman, thirty-nine, five feet nine inches, considered good-looking, wishes to hear from any lady, with a view to marriage, who has from to £x 2,000 at command, and would be willing to invest about in the purchase of an advowson—that is, the freehold of a church, rectory-house, and grounds—in some beautiful locality, etc.” The definition here given for the benefit of the female mind of the mean ing of the word “ advowson ” is con sidered by the English papers especially neat.

LATEST CABLEGRAMS SUMMARISED.

The recent cable interruption has caused an accumulation of news beyond tire break, and the restoration of com munication has brought a flood of messages, of which the following is a summary :

From May 2nd to May Bth news is given, which includes information of the delivery of Brindisi mails, reports the money market unchanged, with consolsat 95 Y\i an d a quiet corn market. Fenian disturbances are brewing, and the equip ment of 5000 men offered by them for Russian service. An Irish raid threatens Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The House of Commons had re sumed after the Easter vacation, and Sir Stafford Northcote had to defend the employment without Parliamentary sanction of Indian troops, the Liberal party making the course matter of com plaint. The only other Home item is a reputed lock-out in Lancashire. The last news of this kind was a strike of 80,000 operatives. The Two Thousand Guineas was won by Pilgrimage; Insu laine, 2 ; Sefton, 3 ; from a field of ten. The Prince and Princess of Wales had visited the Victoria log hut at the Paris Exhibition, tasted and approved Vic torian wines, and expressed deep interest in the advancement of the colonies.

In the Eastern question, hopes of peace were higher. 'The Council of St. Peters burg, the Emperor presiding, had adop ted a decision for the renewal of negotiations for a Congress, but before entering a Congress England wished all chance of misunderstanding removed. Hopes were held on the Continent that Russia would make the required con cession before the Congress met, and it was reported that the Czar had sub mitted a basis of agreement to the British Cabinet, personally declaring that Servia refused to join Russia in the war. Count Schouvaloff had left London for St. Petersburg on an important mission, taking with him definite pro posals from the British Government, and the visit was favorably construed, fhe treaty now pending deals mainly with Bulgarian boundaries and the question of cession of Armenia. The latter demand Russia has all along been suspected of having in view. Th ex tension of Bulgaria to the zEgean Sea meets the warm opposition of England and France.

The military position of Turkey is improving every day, and the tone of the army is rising; but far political situation is precarious. Palace intrigues continue, and a possible revolution in Constantinople would precipitate an Anglo-Russian war. The Turks had refused to evacuate Batoum, Varna, and Sell inula, and Baker Pasha says that any attempt at a Russian seizure of Constantinople would meet a Turkish resistance, the lines of defence being held by 80,000 Mussulman troops. Adrianople is the only surrender Russia will make. The insurgents in the Balkans were 20,000 strong, and gain ing ground.

Our cablegrams in yesterday’s issue give news to the 9th. -

Lending at more than 7 per cent, is forbidden by statute in the State of New York, under penalty of forfeiture of both principal and interest. There are two laws against usury still in force in the State. 'Fhe first, which dates from 1838, renders the usurer liable to imprisonment for three months and a fine of 500d015., besides the loss of the money. The second, which forms part of the Currency Act of 1864, reduces the penalty for lending at more than 7 per cent, to for feiture of principal and interest

A minister of one of the eastern parishes of Fife, renowned for his plain speaking in the pulpit, was rather “taken down” one Sunday. He was very much displeased if he saw any of his hearers sleeping while in the middle of his ser mon, and used to name them if he caught them napping. One Sunday one of his elders, by name John Robert son, was leaning his head on the book board and snoring heavily. The min ister, spying him, cried out, “I say, Betty Mitchell, wauken John Robertson there.” John, looking up—“ I’m no sleeping, sir.” Minister—“ What were the last words I said then ? ” “ Wauken John Robertson there.” He did not bother John in a hurry again.

THE EVENING ECHO, TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1878.



IVE SHILLING PACKETS of COP PERS to he had at the “ Echo ” office.