POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close n; follows : For Christchurch and North at 10 a.m. \ 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.m. 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 Timvald, Winslow, Ilinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily.

UNCLAIMED LETTERS

The following letters are advertised at the Post Office, as having been received from places beyond the Colony, during the month of July; and remaining unclaimed on the Ist September 1878 :•*— Anderson, James Clough, Robinson Doherty, Henry James Fergusson, J. 11. (2) Gooch, W. Kelly, Cornelius Moyna, Joseph O’Donnell, Patrick Palmer, William Rilly, 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 ICOUNTANTS AND COMMISSION AGENTS — Charles Braddell, Montgomery’s Buildings H. J. Bristo, Prospect Buildings, East-st. W. R. Boyle, Moore-street. A tCHITECT AND CIVIL ENGINEER— S. W. Brown, East-street S. Farr, Montgomery’s Buildings B. Mountfort, East Street 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, East-street, Bynks— Bank of New Zealand, East-street Union Bank of Australia, East-street Boarding Plouse Keepers— J. G. Anstee, East-street Eagle’s Dining Rooms, Havelock Street Builders, Contractors, Etc.— James Baker, Havelock-street Geo. St. Hill, Bumett-street West G. Parkin, Steam Saw Mills, Moor-street Matthew Smith, Moor-stieet Thos. Williams, Tinwald G. Compton, Builder, Moore-street. B ">OKSELLERS AND STATIONERS— A. Weston, Prospect Buildings, East-street street South Weeks and Dixon,'' Stationers’ Hall, East Bootmakers— > J. Chambers, 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 Thomas 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., near Railway Station A. Hayes, Firewood and Timber, near Rail ■ way Station F. P. Leßreton, Bumett-street. Drapers and Clothiers— Aitken and Co., Havelock-street Orr and Co., East-street John Fowler, Tancred-street Firth, Pass, and Co., Old Bank Store, East street W. Gavin, East-street T; Quinn & Co., Moor-street Engineers and Founders— '.Edwards and Lee, Engineers, Smiths, etc., Burnett-street W. J. Hessey, Central Foundry, Peters-st Furniture Warerooms— A. Spillard, Tancred Street Grocers, General Dealers, Etc.— Aitken and Co., Havelock-street Orr and Co,, East-street Firth, Pass, and Co., East-street John Fowler, Tancred-street K. Sando,. East-street

Greengrocers— W. Birtwell, East-street . , J. Mooar & Co., East-street Hairdressers— E. A. Garnett, East-street A. Pearse, Moore-street Hotels— Quill’s Commercial Hotel, near Railway Station Shearman’s Somerset Hotel, East-street Ironmongers- . Orr and Co., East-street * * Aitken and Co., Havelock-street S. Hardley, East-street Ladies’ Clothing Establishment— Mrs. Morey, Tancred Street. Painter, <ic. — J. R. Chapman, Tancred-street < Printers and Publishers— Weeks and Dixon, East-street Plumbers, Gasfitters, Tinsmiths, Etc.— J. C. Dolman, Tancred-street Joseph Hyde, Tancred-street ' S. Hardley, East-stieet Saddlers— Thomas Dudson, Burnett-street Surveyors— •• C. E. Fooks and Son, East-street Tailors— Aitken and Co., Havelock-strcet TENTMAKEkS— K, Sando, East-street Tobacconists— , A. Pearse, Moor-street E. A. Gamed, East-street A« Weston#

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Evening Echo. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1878.

Leaderless and disorganised, in a helpless minority, and powerless for united action, the Opposition can offer enly obstruction to the consummation of the Government policy so far as its pro posals are concerned. Were they able to unite their power, and work in con cert against the progress of the mea sures upon the adoption, of which Ministers somewhat bombastically assert they must stand or fall, there is a pro bability of a measure of success attend ing such union as would seriously im peril the position of Government. It is well known that many supporters of the Grey Ministry are only so on the principle that of two evils it is wisdom to choose the least, almost any ad ministration being superior, in their eyes, to one with Major Atkinson at its head, and made up of the men who were his aides-de-camp in the last Ministry. The measures, too, of the reigning power 1 are not in every way satisfactory to many who ‘ are no minal supporters of those who framed them ; and there are those in the House who, who while opposing any move ment likely to culminate in a return to power of the men who previously held the reins of Government, are not pre pared with a blind faith to follow wher ever the men of to-day may lead. On the Land Tax Bill, for instance, Go vernment followers’ hearts do not beat in unison, and great divergence of opi nion exists. Government will accept no amendment upon it or any other Ministerial measure from the Opposi tion, but are willing to accept sugges tions Irom their own supporters, and it is ttfs straw from the Land Bill which shows the drift of the Ministeiial cur rent of policy. With all the outcry about their loyalty to the measures they have introduced, and the principles of those measures being the bone and sinew of their policy and the foundation on which their structure of moKil re forms was to be built, it is pitiful to find that, after all. those moral reforms were but stalking horses put forward to please one portion of the community. The apparent independence of Govern ment is melting away into a servile following of the dictation of what is in reality the master of the country, and the determining power of its destiny, namely—the public-house interest. The Bribery Bill has been dropped, the Licensing Bill has fallen from the grasp of the Government’s hand, nerveless under the frown of the “vested interest” of beer; and not many hours ago, the most fruitful source of corruption during an election contest was retained by the vote of the Government and its sup porters. The keeping open of public houses during the polling-time offers inducements for “ treating” which ought not to exist; it may be thar the country is not yet “ educated ” up to the point of recognising the holy duty of keep ing the electorate pure and clear headed when called upon to exercise its duties; but a “ reforming” Government like our own should have made the duty of such education its own task. Mr. Stout, of all the herd, had the courage of his convictions. His since rity in the ostensible policy of his Go vernment is palpable; but he is left isolated in his championship of what his colleagues professed when they took office, and they only support him in

measures, which they know please the country, and do not hurt the “ interests” they have made their own, and will even accord support to principles which they would not did they not know they would never pass the House. A Go vernment, tied to the interests of any particular class, is sure to fail and lose the country’s confidence; and the course followed by Sir George Grey’s during the past week or two, shows that their aim was not to serve the country —not to institute the grand reforms which were the centre figures of Sir George’s promises—but to play into the hands of one class of men.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ecclesiastical. —Stej>s have been taken to form the Anglican Parochial District of South Rakaia into a separate parish, and on Wednesday a meeting of the South Rakaian Presbyterians will be held to consider the advisability "of taking similar steps in the interest of Presbyterianism. The Templar Hall has now been comfortably seated and lighted, and to night the Star of the East Templars will hold their meetings there Last night it was occupied by the Odd-tellows. New Bank Store. —The plans are prepared of. the new edifice for the Bank of New Zealand. The site is to be the section recently secured by the Bank in Wakanui Road, bordering Baring Square. The building has been designed by Mr. W. Armisan, and will be a very imposing structure, in white stone. It represents a build ing of two storeys, measuring 45ft. by Soft, and 43ft. high. On the lower floor will be the offices of the Bank, and a suite of rooms, &c., for the ma nager’s use as part of his dwelling-house, while the upper storey will find him drawing, bath, and bedrooms. Alto gether the new Bank will add to the architectural beauties of the town, and reflect credit on the company to whose service it is to be devoted. Mr. Wakefield’s Readings.— Mr. Wakefield’s readings last night were given to an audience we would gladly have seen as large as it was select, ?nd as the character of the entertainment deserved. The reader chose for the delectation of his audience some of the richest gems of the English classics, and laid them before his hearers with a masterly touch. Reading to a limited number of people in a difficult house is somewhat arduous labor, and evidently told on the reader; but he never lost spirit and took his audience with him in every line of Longfellow, Byron, Scott, Shakespere, and Macaulay, from .whom he read. His own poem “ A land of our own ” met the applause it merited, as did others of the more familiar pieces he recited. To-night we hope Mr Wakefield will receive the patronage his efforts merit, and the superiority of his subject deserve. He will give an abridgement of and selections from “ Guy Mannering ” one of the winning stories of the prince of fiction, Sir Walter Scott; also selections from the writings of Edward Gibbon Wakefield his father, on the religious element in colonization, and on the Abolition of Capital Punish ments. His own address on the Taxes of New Zealand as they affect the ladies, working men and wealthy men will al so be given, the whole work of the evening being varied by the finished piano playing of Mr Frank Webber. .

Parliamentary.— The Legislative Council last night dealt with some business r of only local interest, and sat ,in Committee on the Dog Bill and Brewer’s Bill, both of which were fixed for third reading on Tuesday. The Census Returns were laid on the table of the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. In reply to ques tions, Ministers said the whole subject ‘*>f Kohimarama Training School was under consideration; that all information regarding Messrs. Proudfoot and Makay’s contract for constructing the Tapanui Railway would be given; that the Govern ment did not wish to supply further in formation about the result of the Hiku rangi meetings than what had been pub lished in the reports of the public meet ings, and hoped they would not be pressed for any. The police pay-ques tion was remitted to a Select Commit tee ; an amendment was made on clause 142 to seal over the numbers placed upon the ballot-papers, so that these can only be seen by breaking the seal. A long discussion ensued on the pro position of a clause by tbe_ Attorney- General to allow Maoris to vote —both as ratepayers and freeholders—provided all rates have been paid by each-voter. The question has really, though not openly, been started as a party question. Plurality of Votes.—At 1.45 this morning the House divided on Mr. Saunders’motion, “ That no man should vote in more than three districts.” This amendment was only lost by five votes —2B for it and 33 against it. Mr, Montgomery’s “ one-vote” amendment >vap lost by 44

CHISPA’S LETTER.

I am not yet so bald that you can see my

brains.—LONGFELLOW.

It is dangerous sometimes to scan an advertisement carelessly. “ Unco guid” folks don’t, of course, go in for reading strolling players’ puffs in the newspapers,' and generally look upon those puffs as so much wasted room. They are welcome to their opinion ; but when they philosophically think over the whole question of advertising they will come to the conclusion, as all seekers after truth land upon a fact, that puff is the great secret of. success. ItmrdeSir George Grey the popular man he is—for that grand halo of elo quence which surrounded him as he flitted through his stumping tour, was all in the first person singular, and the keynote of his fluent music was “ I.” Puff keeps dark-hued Johnny Sheehan in his place. Woolcock is a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal, but he keeps on jangling and drawing atten tion to himself, certain that if his name is not emblazoned on the flying scrolls fame it will be branded on the shuttle cocks of notoriety. You must adver tise to succeed; “ Blow your own trumpet, otherwise it might not be blown.” But I have philosophised out of my course. It is dangerous to care lessly read an advertisement. One man I know hurried up with all his might one morning to load two trucks of goods for despatch to a customer, in fulfilment of a large order. The job just finished, he cast his eyes down the columns of a just - arrived morning paper. A bankruptcy notice announ cing his customer’s failure was the first thing that caught his eye. Those trucks were at the station master’s.-disposal again in a very short time. Another man I know had a debt against a com pany of strolling players. As is usual with that order of bipeds, the “ age of gold”; was past, and <‘ iron ” had succeeded —the rhino was non est, and the creditor looked like having to call up spirits from the vasty deep—and most men who have impecunious deb tors know what that means. But he had skimmed over the strollers’adver tisement and felt he was right. He would just quietly take out a summons, "get judgment, and come down on the “ American prize pig and trained mon key.” The law took its course. Whe ther the debt was paid or not is not mine to tell you, but his eyes were opened to the wisdom of reading adver tisements,, when a second consultation of the paper taught him that the strol lers had no porkers, but were dancers of Jigs, and that the monkey had only an existence in the title of a farce.

It was in the Octember of umteen and sixty-eighteen, as near as I can re member, but I never was death on dates. I got into debt. It was a wrong thing to do, of course, but, like Richard 111., having set my life upon a cast, I must stand the hazard of the die. That’s fine language, but a plainer, shorter, and more explicit phrase is to that, owing a man money, I’d got to stand the racket. My name ■ was Sharp then —it did as well as another. I was lugged up. He was ajMuffer of a judge, and he consigned me to the debtors’ quarters somewhere over the Styx. The' bailiff was a smart young horsey man, whose name was Beau Can non, and he had a horse to sell near the Styx. He would make a ride of convenience of my journey to durance and go with me—one for me and two for himself. Went with him to the sta tion. That horse was all in all to him; I was nothing. He bustled . about the train arranging matters re horse, and I got into a brown study. The train went away with the horse and the for getful bailiff, but I have not yet crossed the Styx. Sometimes you see a man may ride a hobby over the lines of duty, and carry off an unthinking officer with out his prisoner.

Sir, two wild lads were once measu ring the amount of fat upon a cat’s back. They took a peculiar way to do it. They made an iron red hot, and applied it to pussy’s vertebrae. So long as the flesh kept fizzing, they kept counting one, two, three, &c., meaning to go into scientific calculations on the result. They repeated, the operation several times, so that they should have data to go by when the slate and pencil came to be used. A quiet old fool of a neigh bor, who went past them, said they were bad boys, and then sauntered up to the schoolmaster next day to say what very wicked pupils he had. An old terror of a shoemaker smelt the frizzling cat-ilesh, and shaped for the scene of the conflagration. . ‘ Puss got a chance to mizzle, which she at once took. Yells came from that back yard. Fifteen years afterwards, when those two young blackguards deserted from the army, they were each described in the Hue and Cty as .having two deep scars on the left hip, supposed to

have been made with a shoemaker’s awl. It was cruel to measure the cat’s fat with a red hot poker, and the Hue and Cty gave a hint of retribution richly deserved. If anj man w r ants to know what I mean by this story, he' will find the application in the refine ment of cruelty which could allow a lot of cattle to go about athirst for days in a public pound, look upon them in their misery with unpitying eye, and heart “harder than the hide of the rhinoceros.” tie will not find (how ever much he might wish) the pioperty man with the awl, but he will find the parallel of the old neighbor—who said the boys were but bad had not the soul to give them a sound lambasting, and went and reproved their master —in the judge of a court, who could have such a case laid before him, and find no crime worth punishing. Oh ! the majesty of the magisterial discrimina tion !

Chispa

ADVENTURES OF A BAILIFF,

[by telephone.]

The Ashburton bailiff, in the pursuit of his avocations this week, has had some adventures. On Thursday afternoon he arrested a debtor, and took him to Felton’s Hostelry for safe keeping. The sergeant’s myrmidons, however, did not understand the procedure of lock ing up a debt prisoner, and, as the boss was absent, the bailiff invited his pri soner to an hour’s rabbit-hunting in the vicinity of the lockup, pending the ser geant’s arrival. The rabbit-hunt was a failure, barring making the prisoner (who, by-the-way, is somewhat obese) perspire freely. However, he was ulti mately secured in the “ stone jug,” and our juvenile friend having another war rant to execute on-some members of the “ sock and buskin,” took his way to wards the Library Hall in the evening with a view to recovering certain debt and costs. Unfortunately for him the stage properties were of so scanty a nature, that, although the debt was something under £3, Buck could not see value for his blue paper, and he wended his way to what is known by courtesy as the “ Green Room,” and after informing the aspirants to histri onic fame of his errand, was regaled with P. 8., but could not persuade the defaulters to cash up. A watch, with a gorgeous Albert chain, was on the table, and Buck being determined to do his duty, took another pull at the bot tle, and then pulled off the watch and left in a hurry; one of the talent gave chase, but the youth was clever enough to gain the shelter of the Somerset with his plunder and to retain possession. So far, so good; but now comes a woeful tale. On Friday he to escort his stout prisoner from the lock-up to Lyttelton. He got him safely to the railway station, shouted for him, let him.have his break fast in the refreshment room, got his ticket, and told him' to wait on the platform fill he went for his portman manteau. The prisoner followed his instructions only too well. Buck, in his ardour to distribute blue paper, was a second, too late to return to his prisoner, and took it for granted that he. had taken his seat. But the whistle blew, and to our friend’s dismay, there sat the prisoner, calmly following his. instruc tions to “ wait on the platform.” . Buck waved hysterically to the guard, shouted to his victim to “jump on,” but time and the Canterbury railways wait for nothing, and the prisoner and his cap tor were soon many .miles-apart. As a fitting sequel the prisoner. was during the afternoon’ again captured by Sergt. Felton on a charge of drunkenness, and must have made/good use of his time. He will feel* rather mixed when he gets to port as to what he will be doing his time for.

Consoling. —From time 'immemo rial (says an Australian paper) weak minded persons have been at great •pains to deposit coins of value, together with elaborate statements engrossed up on parchment, bundles of newspapers, and what not, in glass-stoppered bottles, in foundations of public edifices, in the fond hope that posterity, centuries hence, would kuow who were respect ively the president, treasurer, and secre tary of the institution about to be erected. Architects, contractors, and their workmen, have, from time to time, over copious glasses of wine or pots of beer, laughed at the absurdity, well knowing that so soon as the sun went down, the stone would be lifted, the bottle extracted, and the coins would be liquefied by a simpler and less scientific process than that of the liquefaction of oxygen. The Only member of the Epis copal Bench present at the railway station to welcome Lord Beaconsfield on his return from the Congress was, according to the Whitehall Review, the Bishop of Xhmedin, ' t

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[By Submarine Cable.]

New-York, Sept. 19.

The Canadian elections have resulted in placing the Government party in a minority. The elections are a signal success for the Protectionists. Vienna, September 19. A regimeat oi Bosnian Insurgents has surrendered unconditionally at Bihaes. London, Sept. 19. The Australian cricketers sailed for America to-day. At a banquet given them by the Sunderland team, Gregory in responding said that the whole team were delighted with their reception in England. Government have issued circulars making stringent provision against the introduction of yellow fever .from America into British ports. At the general election in Canada 1 the Opposition pledged to the protective policy obtained a decisive victory. The leading Canadian journals regard this as a serious blow to the prosperity of the Dominion. Germany has withdrawn from the action of Turkey, in consequence of England refusing to accede. Mrs. Bravo is dead. At the Coroner’s inquest a verdict was returned of death from excessive drinking. The Brindisi mail has been delivered. The departure of the cricketers was witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd, who cheered them warmly. The Queen has invested the Marquis of Lome with the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. The King of Burmah is dead. England and Germany have, .sent identical, instructions to their Naval Commanders, with regard to putting a stop to Chinese acts of piracy. (Special to the Wellington Post.) Sept. 19. To the astonishment of Europe, the Porte announces its intention to sell to the highest bidder the whole of the Bul garian dominions. There is no change for the bulk of the wools, but there is increased anima tion in competition. The most regular prices are equal to the average of the last series.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per Press Agency.]

Dunedin, Friday. A telegram Received from Croiijfweli to-day states that the Star of the ;East Company* had finished crushing ’2OO tons of stone, the yield being 256 ounces of gold. The goods traffic has increased so much on the Northern line that special goods trains have, been put on. The. railway site question is settled. The main feature of the plans adopted is that the central passenger station will be very little removed from its present position, but the change will be. advan tageous in every respect. A numerously attended meeting was held at South Dunedin last night, to consider a proposal .to amalgamate South Dunedin, St. Kilda, and Cavers ham municipalities. A committee was appointed to consider the proposal, and to report to another public meeting to be held ten days hence. A resolution was also carried, asking the Government to amend the Municipal Corporations Act so as to admit of amalgamation be ing effected. Gisborne, Friday. The two prisoners in the Waiapu murder case are committed for trial at Wellington. Inspector Scully starts to night for Waipu, taking with him a surveyor to draw out plans of the lo cality of the murder. Wellington, Friday. The JEvening Post appeared to-night in an enlarged form. Mr. Dransfield the present Mayor, intends to seek re-election, f but is scarcely likely to be successful. Probably his predecessor, Mr. Hutchison, will oppose him; j « ; y

A Real Luxury— “ l am °£ opinion that luxuries should be taxed,” said Mr. Swanson, <£ and if any man can tell me there is a greater luxury than a good income, I should like to hear him.” New Zealand Sheep for Japan. —The Japanese Government has been busying itself lately enquiring into the : merits of our colonial sheep, with the result that a large order has been sent to Australia and New Zealand for ewes and rams. Speaking of the sheep sent, a Sydney paper says “ Perhaps the gems of the consignment are a lot of grand Lincoln rams, selected from the flocks of Mr H. J. Hall, of Canterbury, New Zealand, whose sheep will surely make a great name, by the help of these now being sent to the'Flowery Land as representatives, for they are realty a jgD£4lo&#-

The Evening Echo, Saturday, September 21, 1878.



ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST. s. d. s. d. 3utter, inferior to best, $ lb I 6 to I 8 Eggs, If? dozen - - I •0 to I 3 Bacon, prime smoked, If? lb o 10 to 0 0 Hams in cloth, If? lb - I 6 to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, $ lb o 9 to 0 10 Flour in bags, 4? ioolb 12 6 to 14 0 Oatmeal, If? ioolb - 26 0 to 0 0 Lard, If? lb - - - 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.



Bank of New Zealand. 'JpHIS BANK is Prepared to RECEIVE DEPOSITS AT INTEREST AND TO TRANSACT ALI. GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS - ON TERMS which may he ascertained AT THE VARIOUS BRANCHES AND AGENCIES IN THE CANTERBURY DISTRICT. J. L. COSTER. Manager.