The Evening Echo. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 4, 1878.

“The Messiah.” —Mr. J. T. M. Smith, Conductor of the Christchurch Harmonic Society, promises, at an early date, to regale the lovers of good music with a performance of Handel’s immortal oratorio “ The Messiah.” The treat will be given conditionally on sufficient inducement, as regards patronage by the public being offered to the undertaking. The oratorio will be given by a band and chorus of forty persons, who will include some of the best vocal soloists and instrumentalists in the city. That the work will be a musical treat of the highest order is undoubted, when Mr. Smith’s name appears as the originator and conductor of it, and Christchurch is known to possess talent of an uncommonly superior charac ter ; it will be a pity then if the Ashbur ton public should be apathetic enough to allow a chance to pass of hearing a master piece of high-class music. The opportunity now given is one that ought to be taken without fail, for if Mr. Smith receives sufficient encouragement his visits may be frequent, but it stands to reason if an offer to supply an entertainment of the very highest class music that masters have ever composed is coldly rejected the offer will not be readily renewed. We hope many names will be received by the agents, so that Mr. Smith may have a sufficient guarantee for bringing up his chorus andj orchestra. /

Larceny. —Before the Justices of the Peace who sat on the Licensing Bench yesterday, William Noon was brought up on remand charged with the theft of a watch from John Aagessen, a Windermere laborer. Aiigesson had attended the Ash burton races, and had slept at Anstee’s boarding house on Nov. 14. He had put his watch on the mantelpiece when he went to bed, and at 7 in the morning it was missing. The watch cost £5. The watch produced in Court was his property. Thomas Clarke, farmer, Ashburton, recog nised prisoner, who had hailed him in Burnett street and offered a watch for sale for £2. He said the watch was his own. Paid prisoner £2 per cheque. Noon wrote the name of George Webb on the cheque. Prisoner was committed for trial. Unclaimed Letters. —The Postmaster notifies letters as follows, received during October, and unclaimed on Ist Dcember ; Cavanagh, Peter, care John Quinn; Daly, J erqmiah ; Elias, William, care Mitchell; Hetherington, William ; Larkins, Andrew (2) ; Moyna, Joseph ; North, J. ; Russell, David; Sullivan, John.

The Southern Counties Almanac is, perhaps, the best compendium of business information a Canterbury resident could possess. It is published at the oilice of the “ Lyttelton Times,” and has a special re commendation to the public of Ashburton, in the shape of a map of the township bound up with it. This map is a reduced copy of the large one recently issued by the “ Lyttelton Times,” and is of a handy size, quite big enough for any purpose, and quite complete. The cost of the whole publication—maps and almanac —is two shillings, and Messrs. Weeks and Dixon, and others are the agents. Education Committees. —The Educa-

tion Committees for the districts of Ash burton, Tunwald, and Willowby, will be elected on Thursday evening, as per adver tisement in another column. It may be added that the Committees to be elected to-morrow will only hold office till the general election a few weeks hence. County Council. —A special meeting of the County Council will be held on Mon day, the 9th inst., to consider the report of Mr. Higgenson' on the Rangitata road bridge, and for general business.

C.Y.C. —The Ashburton army will evacuate its position to-morrow, advancing on Christchurch per 4 ‘2O train, to attend a general meeting and foot parade at head quarters. Matt. Notice. —The mails for the Aus-

tralian Colonies, per Albion, will close at the Bluff at 11 a.m. on Thursday, sth inst. The outward mail, via ’Frisco, will close at Ashburton at 10 a.m. on Friday next, 6th inst.

A Racing Art Union Difficulty. The “ Napier Telegraph ” of the 19th ult. says : —“ A legal document was served to day on Mr. Edward Ashton, the landlord of the Provincial Hotel, at the instance of Mr. Kelsall, claiming from the de fendant the sum of £3OO in connection with the late Art Union on the Melbourne Cup. It will be remembered by our readers that, owing to some mishap, an unpleasant occurrence took place, and the final drawing was postponed until next day. At the first drawing Mr. Kelsall claims to have drawn the winning horse, and were it not for the mistake he would have taken the chief prize. Mr. Lascelles is, we understand, Mr. Kelsall’s legal adviser.” Direct Steam Service. —It will be in

the recollection of our readers that when the question of a direct steam service was under debate in the house the Hon. Mr. Macandrew said he anticipated further news on the subject by the incoming mail. That information has now been received. The estimate of the Home agents is that a subsidy of £60,000 per annum will be re quired for a monthly direct service between England and New Zealand.—“ New Zea land Times.” ‘

Buying Over. The rapidity (says “ Atlas ”) with which an editor may, under sufficient pressure, be induced to change his policy, was recently forcibly illustrated in a Canadian country paper. It had been the organ of the Government, and had received in consequence the official adver tisements. Upon a general election taking place, and the opposite party coming into power, the new Minister withdrew them. The editor remonstrated; the Minister replied, “ Impossible to furnish you with the Government advertisements, unless you support its policy. Reply by wire. ” He received the following sensible and laconic response : —“lt’s a damned sharp curve, but I’ll take it.” The paper is still a good property. The Electric Light.— The days of gas are clearly doomed, and the sooner we set ourselves to obtaining the electric light the better. From a private letter just received from a San Francisco gentleman, on whose opinion we rely, we make the following extract : “ What a pity Dunedin bought the rotten gas concern on the Flat. Edi son has contrived a machine for the sub divison and distribution of the electric light with as much ease as ordinary gas. Patents in Europe and other foreign coun tries have been applied for, and gas stock has gone down by the run. The cost is a trifle. It can be used for fuel for domestic purposes. The old gasfittings will be used for enclosing the wire, and every old wo man can make pancakes with Jove’s thunderbolts. There is no exaggeration in this. The Californian gas thieves have bolted to Europe to sell watered stocks on manufactured balance-sheets, but I fancy Edison is there before them. Quite a ruffle East, and a convention of gasmen in New York has just declared that it is a scanda lous interference with vested interests to use the electric light for illuminating pur poses.” If The Australian Cricketers.—Accord ing to the “ New Zealand Herald,” the /Australians say they never could have got /through their work in England had they not maintained the strictest temperance. “ Some of them never drank spirits at all. The error they committed was in doing too much. The fatigue of the frequent and long journeys was very great, and they say that only on one occasion could they get sleeping accommodation in the railway car riages, Every other time they had to doze sitting, or lay themselves down on the floor of the carriage. They were thus at many of the matches not in a condition to play ; and one of them told us that he has fallen asleep with the bat in his hand waiting to take his turn at the wickets. They say that they would get into good fettle, and keep their condition up for a day or two, and tlien they would all iall away, as it is impossible to maintain the system long at a high strain. In respect to the Cam bridge match, one of them told us they would confidently tackle the same eleven again if they had a spell and were in con dition. When all this is remembered the surprise must be greater at the great suc cess of the Australians. All the team speak enthusiastically of the cordiality of their reception in England. ”

GREAT TEMPERANCE MEETING IN THE TOWN HALL.

Last night, perhaps one of the largest audiences ever brought together in the Town Hall, assembled to hear addresses on Temperance by Messrs J. W. Jago, G.W.O.T. of the Good Templar order in New Zealand,, and J. A. D. Adams, the gentleman who preceded Mr. J ago in that office.

Dr. Trevor was in the chair, and, in in troducing the speakers, said they were men who had taken a prominent part as leaders in the temperance movement. He was much pleased to see before him on such an occassion the largest meeting that had ever been held in that hall, and he trusted they had come together not only because of the known ability of those who were to speak, but because they possessed a genuine interest in the cause and felt that the time had come when a remedy must be found for a great national evil. The progress of temperance had not been so great as it should have been, consider ing the claims upon the people which the cause possessed : but never before had the natural leaders of the people taken such a position in regard to it as ‘they took now. It was advocated by the clergy, the judges every day pointed to it as a fruitful source of crime, and the legislators had been com pelled to turn their attention to it. Alcohol was in no sort of way a food, and could only be used as as such with detriment to the user—this was the testimony of high medical authority. Thosewhobelievedthat intemperance was an evil would have to come to the further belief that the only real cure for the evil was total abstinence.

Mr. Adams, who laboured under the disadvantage of a temporary failure of voice, did not speak so long, nor with so much power as we have heard him do be fore, advocated in a general way total abstinence as an example that ought to be set by men who spoke and wrote against drunkenness. He also combatted a charge brought against teetotallers by the “Otago Daily Times,” that they set them selves up as possessing a higher degree of sanctity than other people. He was quite willing to be exposed if he did so. But in the face of the fact that men advocated this cause at great loss to themselves often, and at the risk of incurring much obloquy, the man who wrote that article, which contained language he would not insult his hearers by quoting, did so with no know ledge whatever of the subject he was writ ing about.

Mr. J. W. Jago then delivered an excel lent speech. The gentleman is very fluent, has a great command of language, and being thoroughly acquainted with every side of the temperance question is well qualified to deal with it. He said he was proud to stand before that large meeting as the chief officer of an order which had one of the noblest and most philanthropic missions that could be undertaken by men, viz.—“ To raise the fallen and save others from falling.” A nobler moral object never called true men and women together in council. There were men and women by the thousand who had become victims of intemperance, and had gone down to the very depths-of degradation. These it was the order’s mission to reclaim. But that work did not limit its mission. The demon vice of intemperance was drawing many still into its abyss, and to help those who were in danger of falling into that abyss was another object for which the order existed. The Good Templars num bered 8000 in this island, and their organisation had spread throughout the whole world. The Chairman had said that night that the temperance movement had not made that progress it ought to have done. That was true, and was to be wondered at. When the temperance men thought of the scientific soundness of their principles, and all that these had to recom mend them to the people, and compared them with the terrible work that drink was doing, they felt they had a right to look for those principles being hailed with joy and adopted by every class of people. Yet the progress of temperance had not been slow. It was not so very many years since the whole movement of temperance was represented by five or six men in the town of Preston, one of whom was the famous Joseph Livesy, and from these few workers had come the great principles upon which now r acted the glorious army of reformers that had spread to every cor ner of the globe. Those six men had taken up arms against the world, against habits and customs that royalty had smiled upon, and which had wormed into the very heart, of society, and were sus tained in force by the pow'er and tyranny /of fashion ; those men fought against the ' traditions of ages, and they succeeded to a degree that no other social reform had ever reached. Those courageous men deserved the thanks of the world for the movement they had led. Professor Rol leston, of Oxford, brother of the last Superintendent of Canterbury, had wisely said that the cause of drunkenness was— just drinking. But there was no reason for drinking, and so men sought excuses. Great nations had passed away from the earth and left only a memory and a name. Drunkenness, if not removed, would bring Great Britain to a like fate. The great W. E. Gladstone, in a paper in one of the monthlies, had prophesied that Great Britain would go down before this giant evil; Neal Dow, one of the best men in America,, had traversed Great Britain through and had sojourned for a time in it : he said lunacy, pauperism, and crime were increasing at a faster rate than the population, and that inevitably drunken ness would stamp out the people. Hoyle, the Manchester statistician, bore similar testimony. This colony had a population of European and Maori less than 500,000, and spent £2,000,000 annually in liquor, That money would supply all its present demand foj? tpa, sugar, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, rice, and literature, and

still have a million left. It would not require to go into the L°ndon money market and borrow every now and again four or five millions if it could only use this annually wasted wealth for its real progress. That sum of £2,000.000 would be better spent if cast into the sea, for then it would be simply lost, and would not leave behind it the evils which drink left. The speaker then referred to the medical testimony in favor of total, absti nence, and adduced the evidence in sup port of it of some of the highest authori ties of modern times. In very eloquent language he appealed to all to aid in the work of putting down an evil that was gnawing at the vitals of the community. There were men, he said, who boasted of being able to regulate and keep in check their appetites ; but he had known a clergyman become a drunkard at 85. Mr. Jago spoke for fully an hour and was listened to v r ith great attention, the only interruption being from an intoxi cated person at the back of the hall. The usual votes of thanks were given, and Mr. Jago led off the “ National Anthem. ”

QUARTERLY LICENSING MEETING.

Tuesday, December 3.

Commissioners —A. Le Grand Campbell, John Grigg, H. T. Winter, and J. Bes wiek, Esqrs. NEW APPLICATIONS. By Patrick O’Shaughnessy, to license a hotel on the corner of Wakanui road and East town belt. By Max Friedlander, to license a new hotel at the Hinds. By George Wilcocks, for a new hotel in course of erection at Wheatstone. This application Avas objected to last meeting on account of the plans not being suffi ciently definite. By William Bayliss, for a hotel at Waterton. Mr. F. Doherty had purchased Mr. Bayliss’ interest in this building and was prepared to undertake the manage ment of the hotel. He represented Mr. Bayliss before the Bench. By Robert Patton, through Mr. Crisp, for a license to a hotel at Methven. The requirements of the law had not been strictly complied with in this instance, and Mr. Crisp desired the Bench to express such an opinion as would guide applicant in the question of proceeding or not with the building. The Bench said a house was wanted in that district. All the applications for new licenses were granted, Mr. Patton’s being disposed of as above. . RENEWALS. Objection was taken to the renewal of the Ashburton Hotel license in favor of Mutch and McKenzie, and the renewal was only granted for three months, to be then applied for by McKenzie alone. The license for the New Inn (J. F. But ler’s), was cancelled altogether. At last meeting'the Bench deemed it inadvisable to make alterations on the premises, and suggested the transfer of the license to a building on another site. The New Inn being on leasehold property, the pro prietor objected to such a transfer. Hence the cancellation of the license altogether. For the Railway Hotel at South Rakaia, Arthur Devery had neglected to apply for a confirmation of a temporary transfer of the license to Mr. Wallace, and it thus reverted to the original holder, who had left the country. The Bench decided that the house must be closed, as the transferee had not applied for a confirmation, and any one selling liquor there did so at his own risk. All the other renewals in the district were granted.

SHOES.

Shoes may be generally classed, says the “ Boot and Shoemaker,” as coverings for the feet, commonly made of leather. If furnished with a top for enclosing the lower part of the leg, it is called a boot. The oldest form is that of sandal, a flat sole to be worn under the foot, and secured to it by thongs in various ways. The ancient Egyptians made sandals of leather, and othes, for the priests, of palm leaves and papyrus. Specimens from their tombs are preserved in the British Museum, formed of strips of palm leaves nicely fitted together, and furnished with bands of the stem of the papyrus. The Hebrews used similar protections for the feet, sometimes formed of linen and of wood, while those for soldiers were of brass or iron. Among the ancient Greeks and Romans the use of shoes was not general. Spartan youths were trained to go barefoot, and the heroes of Homer are usually described as without shoes when armed for battle. Greek women, however, wore shoes, and their use finally became universal. There was great diver sity in their fashion, and the several sorts were named from the person who intro duced them, or from the place whence they came ; as the “ shoes of Alcibiades,” “ Persian,” “ Cretan,” “ Athenian shoes,” etc. The Spartans wore red shoes, and the same were put on by the chief magistrates of Rome on ceremonial occasions. The “ calceus ” was like modern shoes in form, covering the whole foot, and tied with latchets or strings. Those of senators and patricians were high, like buskins, orna mented with an ivory crescent, and called “ calceilunati. ” Some were made with tops, and of all lengths, even to covering the whole leg ; thesb were called ‘f caloea menta” and “cothurni.” The tops were often of the skins of wild animals, lacing up in front, and ornamented at the upper extremity with the paws and heads arranged in a flap that turned over. The skin was dyed purple, or some other bright color, and the shoes were variously ornamented with imitations of jewels, and sometimes with canvas. It was common to make them open at the toe, so that this part of the foot was left exposed.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[By Submarine Cable.]

London, Nov. 30.

Considerable diplomatic correspondence which recently passed between the British and Russian Governments in reference to Russian proceedings in Central Asia,, has been issued from the Foreign Office to-day. It shows that in reply to the first despatch of Lord Salisbury, asking for explanations, the Russian Chancellor denied that any formally accredited mission had been sent to Cabul. This was subsequently ex plained in the manner previously tele graphed—namely, as being an act of courtesy on the part of Kauffmann, Go vernor-General of Turkestan.

Calcutta, December 2.

In a severe engagement with the Afghans the British were at first forced to retreat, but were eventually victorious. The Internationalists are again active. An attempt was made to assassinate Tizza, the Hungarian State Treasurer, at the con vocation of delegates at Pesth.- .

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, Dec. 3.

The company are gradually resuming operations with outside labor. The men on strike are still obdurate. Sailed —Wakatipu. [Special to Globe.] The Government are now asking Par liament for a subsidy of £50,000 for the proposed exhibition. Foley and Newton, after 70 minutes of a severe and undecided contest, were interfered with by the police.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per Press Agency and Exchanges.]

Auckland, Tuesday.

The Acclimatisation Society declined to recommend shortening the close oyster season on the ground that the large ship ments South were diminishing the supply. The wreck of the Taranaki was put up to auction, and purchased by Smith, a draper, for £3B 10s., and the linen, &c., saved, was purchased by the agents of the steamer for £54; the boats and oars for £56 by the agents. Another tender of £1035, for the seventh section, was accepted for re building Queen Street wharf. New Plymouth, Tuesday. The Hon. J. Sheehan, accompanied by Major Brown and Mr. Parris, left this morning for the South by way of the coast. Wanganui, Tuesday., ’

The Wanganui Annual Race Meeting is fixed for the 13th and 14th March. There is £9lO to be divided into twelve races. The, principal handicap is £3OO. Wellington, Tuesday.

The departure of the outward Suez mail from Melbourne has been postponed until Saturday, the 28th inst, instead of Friday, the 27th. Mails will accordingly be des patched from New Zealand a day later than the dates fixed by the time table. The inspector of kerosene for the Corpo ration has been testing several consign ments of kerosene belonging to different merchants, and out of 1,550 cases he found not more than 25 or 30 were what he con sidered perfectly safe for househofd pur poses, the flashing point being from _ 90 tq 100 degrees. The ship Hyderabad, which has been so long on the beach near Otaki, has been moved seaward about 100 feet. With favorable weather it is considered certain that the ship can be saved. A. presentation of majolica ware was made to. Mr. Batkin, of the Treasury, by the officers of that department on his leaving the department. A gang of men has been taken down to the Southminster’s wreck on behalf of the South British Insurance Company, and they have taken charge. Captain Doile is of opinion that with due energy a large quantity of cargo and spars ipay be sayed, At present the vessel lias holes in her bot tom, and about 13 feet of water in the hold, and the cargo is washing about in all directions.

It is said that Sir John Richardson still continues dangerously ill. Judge Gillies left for Napier to-day. Blenheim, Tuesday. The Supreme Court will open on Tues day next before the Chief Justice. The calendar is as follows :—David Scott, inciting to commit felony; Caroline Braund, perjury; George Stenhouse, libel. There is one civil case for hearing. Dunedin, Tuesday,

At a meeting of the City Coungil tPxday a letter was read from the Commissioner of Police, promising that the obstruction to the foot traffic caused by betting men congregating outside the Empire Hotel should receive attention. The Council have also abandoned the idea of fitting up the hulk as a floating bathing establish ment for Dunedin.

The “ Morning Herald” points out a blunder in the Administration Act, 1878. The omission of the word “ illegitimate” before the word “ female,” in the 36th clause of the Act, has the effect of ferring the property of apy female who dies intestate, apd without issue, to her mother, or to the" heirs of her mother, Messrs. Keith Ramsay and James Mills have been elected members of the Harbor Board without opposition. - ~ Another accident happened on the Nor thern railway, near Palmerston, yester- ! day. A goods train from Oamaru, con sisting of several trucks, was thrown off the line. The train was proceeding at a slow rate, but there is a sharp cum whew the accident happened.

WEDNESDAY, December 4, iB?B,j

THE EVENING ECHO:



Hotels. Under Distinguished Patronage. QUILL’S HOTEL. (Opposite Railway Station, and adjoining Post aad Telegraph Departments, Ashburton.) THE Proprietor of the above Magnifi cent Hotel begs to announce to Commercial Travellers, Families, and Visitors to this prosperous district, that | this establishment is acknowledged to be the finest in New Zealand, both as regards its extent of accommodation, and the general perfection of its appointments. ° The private suites of apartments are specially designed to suit the convenience and privacy of families. The sitting rooms are cheerful and pleasant. Splen did Commercial Room, and a Reading Room with one of the Best Libraries in the colony. Large Sample Rooms to meet the requirements of Commercial Travellers. Bath Rooms, and a First class Billiard Saloon furnished with one of Alcock’s Prize Tables. T. Q. having completed - arrangements with the best wholesale houses in Aus tralia for the supply of Wines and Spirits, is in a position to offer nothing - , but a genuine article to the public, and strongly recommends invalids,* and those who enjoy good Port and Sherry, to purchase from the above Hotel. T. Q. guarantees everything in stock, of the purest descrip tion. 'S' S r x" . '- : Sy



The? Trade Supplied. COMMERGIAL HOTEL AND WINE vaults. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL SPIRIT MERCHANT & IMPORTER. Railway Station, Ashburton. ORAM’S SOMERSET COMMERCIAL AND FAMILY HOTEL, ASHBURTON. UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF Sir George Grey, K.C.8., Premier of New Zealand. Sir James Ferguson, Bart., late Governor n? New Zealand, AND Sir Charles Ducane, late Governor of Tas mania. / jpHIS centrally-situated Hotel is pronounced to be one of the finest in the Southern Hemi sphere. The cuisne is under the super-vision o: an eminent chef, and the proprietor hopes that his long experience in the trade is a sufficient guarantee as to the quality of the contents of the cellar. R. W. SHEARMAN, PROPRIETOR. CENTRAL TEMPERANCE HOTEL, HAVELOCK STREET, Ashburton. 'JpHIS well-situated and Commodious Hotel *TIS NOW OPEN, jet Boarders and the Travelling Public _ will find the Best of Accommodation, combined with liberal Charges, Strict Civility, and the Best Attention. Refreshments at all hours, and Breakfast for early trains. Meals, is. each ; Private Rooms, extra. Breakfast, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. ; Dinner, 12 noon to 2 p.m. ; Tea, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The manager is now prepared to receive Orders for Wedding Breakfasts, Wedding Cakes, Private Parties, Suppers, Etc. Remember the Address— HAVELOCK STREET, NEAR THE RAILWAY STATION. JOHN BROOM, Manager. Auctions. BULLOCK & CO. • ALTERATION OF DATE OF SALE. rjUIE Sale of Household Furniture, &c., advertised for Sale on the Premises of Mr, T. Jordan, East Street, will be held on FRIDAY, December 6th, in lieu of its pyeviouiily



Winslow. GEORGE LADBROOIC, GENERAL STOREKEEPER AND PRODUCE DEALER, BEGS to announce that he has JUST OPENED a General Store at Wins low, near the Railway Station, and hopes to merit a share of public support. A cart will wait upon families for orders regularly. Goods supplied at Lowest Current rates. Note the address — GEORGE LADBROOK, GENERAL STOREKEEPER, WINSLOW. December 3, 1878. Qk Miscellanuous. FENCING WIRE. 20 TONS Just Received, and on Sale at LOWEST PRICES. A. O. AITKEN & CO., 1. Havelock Street. Fish. Fish. Fish. MICHAEL DARCY begs to announce the opening of his new FISH STORE, Adjoining the Echo Office, East Street. Fresh Fish Daily. Crayfish, Cockles, Moki, Groper, &c. Dried Fish always on Hand. by post or otherwise punc tually attended to, and familes Avaited on. £lO REWARD. WANTED, the Public to Know that a Rascally Attempt was made last night to mar the success of my Masonic Dinner, by Breaking Open the Meat Safes and Stealing therefrom the contents. Notice is hereby given, that a Re Avar d of TEN POUNDS (£10) -will be paid to any one who will give such information as will lead to the Conviction of the offender or offenders. THOMAS QUILL. 92 Commercial Hotel. A SOMERSET LODGE, E. C. THE MEMBERS of the BUILDING COMMITTEE are requested to meet at the Secretary’s Office, at 8 p.m. on FRIDAY next, 6th December. Business important. CHARLES BRADDELL, 104 Secretary.