a nu..i pocket, including a large box of matches, which is supposed to have been the cause of death.

There are mountains of flour piled up at Hikurangi. Tawhia came near Alexandra, on the opposite bank of the river, on Saturday, to witness a grand procession of Queenite war canoes. A messenger, who arrived from Hikurangi this morning, reports 2000 present, amongst whom are very few Ngatimaniopotos. Rewi is at Takanui, his settlement, near Orakau. The late rains flooded Hikurangi, and the water ran through the houses. The Natives under temporary cover suffered much, and are growing very impatient. The piles of food are sufficient to last a fortnight. .

The numbers at Hikurangi are vari ously estimated at 2500 to 5000. The following are present:— The whole of the Waikatos, about 2000 ; Ngatirau kawas ; a small section of Ngatimanio tos, from Te Kopua; some from Wanganui, besides Te Wheoro’s people. Tawhiao has long been anxious for the meeting to be the largest possible, and used every means to induce them to come long distances. Ngatihikairo are said to have left their crops to rot. .. . - .i . Alexandra, Monday. Mr. Sheehan went up to Kopua in a canoe, and has returned. He saw no one. Rewi and Wahanui are still at their settlements. Procrastination appears to be the order of the day. Nothing is doing at Plikurangi. The weather is very bad. Sir George Grey and party have arrived here, and will leave some time to-day. Later. The Premier and suite have gone on to Kopuakatakai as a matter of form, but will return this evening, and pro ceed to Hikurangi overland to-morrow. •Wellington, Monday. Last night as Mr. Cleland, agent for the Bank of New Zealand at Feather ston, and his assistant, Mr. Luxford, were driving towards Featherston, the horse bolted, and the buggy capsized. Mr. Cleland was dangerously injured, and is not expected to recover. Mr. Luxford escaped uninjured. jl )r. Hector has analysed the contents of the stomachs of the racehorses which recently died at Castlepoint, and states that the stomachs contained a quantity of arsenic.

Thirty-two thousand shares in the Colonial Insurance Company have been applied for here. Dr. Hector having, by request, tested the kerosene by which the late fatal accident was caused, reports :- —“ The flashing point of this oil is 105 degrees, but after it has been warmed to no degrees ig.flashes 7 at' goo' degrees, 01- even less. The oil is therefore petro leum,(and dangerous in the meaning of the ‘ Dangerous Goods Act, 1869,’ and under .th,e.U4th clause should not be sold except in vessels marked ‘ Danger ous ; no light to be brought near.’ ” k'f'tH • >; si * *<. ..... 1

Dunedin, Monday.

Two hotels were totally destroyed by fire; at^ Kingston ajt 6 o'clock yesterday morning. The fire originated at Kerr’s, Upstairs, and extended afterwards' to Anderson’s; Three men were burned tcTdeMh. One was named John Dough erty, another R. McCann, and the name of the third is unknown. A small amount of personal property oiilv was saved. ' There was no appliances avail able for extinguishing-the fire when dis covered. Anderson was -insured for about pC.Soo in the New Zealand and National Companies. Kerr was insured for only, upon the hotel. Both were new houses near the railway sta tion.

John Ahern, a well-known miner, was instaneously crushed to death yesterday while working in shallow ground, only four feet deep, at the Eight-mile, Arrow.

Tuesday. Mr. Justice Williams to-day ordered the trustees to prosecute a debtor named Millar for fraudulent bankruptcy.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Timaru, Tuesday

At a meeting to-day of the Harbor Board, it was resolved to call for ten ders, for a 300 feet mole, to be in by July Ist

LATEST CABLEGRAMS

London, May 2. The area of the Lancashire strike is extending. The mill owners have been mobbed at Preston. The weavers pro pose a mixed board of arbitrators, under the presidency of the Bishop of Man chester, but the employers refuse. Mr. Cross, in speaking at Preston, said that the Government insisted on the maintenance of existing treaties. He denied theirs was a war policy. The captain of the Chimborazo (?) says that he believed his men were destined to man Russian cruisers in the Pacific.

ARRIVAL OF THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Disastrous Floods in London— The Lancashire Strike : The Millowners Mobbed. The Kaffir War : Defeat of the British Troops by Natives, and Threatened General Ris ing in the Transvaal.

Auckland, Tuesday. The Zelandia arrived in Auckland to day with the English and American mails.

The Earl of Leitrim was shot oppo site the cottage of an evicted widow. Ninety tenants were notified of intended eviction. There was a hostile demon stration at the Earl’s funeral.

It is generally believed that an English war with Russia will cause the entire bankruptcy of the Russian na tion, and the complete suspension of payments on the Russian national debt. The Russian Treasury are to issue a new series of 50 rouble treasury bonds. From the Eurydice disaster only five were rescued.

500 Liberal representatives, from all parts of England, waited upon Ministers to protest against calling out the re serves. The Marquis of Huntington, representing the views of Earl Granville, replied that the Government required no stimulus to preserve, and the opposition could not prevent war if the Government were determined on a war like policy. King Humbert is neutral, but favors an extension of the Hellenic Kingdom, and the creation of other Christian nationalities to oppose Russia.

The iron trade in the south of York shire is stagnant, and 30,000 people are unemployed.

Four war vessels have been des patched from' Nicaragua to enforce reparation for the Consular outrage. Lord*Adderley has been elevated to the peerage. The Marquis of Salisbury has been appointed to the Foreign department, GnthorneHardy, Indian Secretary,Lord Skm'ey, Secretary for War, and Sir Sel wyn-Ibbetson, Secretary of the Trea sury.

South London has been flooded to the extent of two feet, bursting a sewer, and causing much damage. There has been intense cold, and four inches of snow in the Midlands.

Typhus fever is raging throughout T urkey.

Mr. Butt has resigned the leadership of the Home Rulers.

Troops and war material have been sent to England from Jamaica. The Paris bankers have refused a further Russian loan of 300.000,0c0 francs.

There have been further disturbances in America. Sitting Bull is again men acing peace with 7000 warriors. Sir Baltic Frere announces the ter mination of the Kaffiir war. A subse quent telegram reports one action in the Transvaal rebellion in which the British troops have been compelled to retreat before an overwhelming force, and assistance has been asked. All the prudence of Government will be required to prevent a general native war.

Keght thousand Mussulmcn refugees in Greece.

1 he famine in China was increasing. Ihe relations between Austria and Russia are more concilliatory. The Czar had sent the Emperor Francis Joseph an autograph letter. Austria would participate further in the host, ilities.

THE EVENING ECHO, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1878



MR. BRANSON, BARRISTER and SOLICITOR, H AS COMMENCED PRACTICE in ASH BUR lON, and can be consulted at the SOMERSEI 1101 EL until he can obtain suitable Offices.



T OST on Sunday in Ashburton, a CALICO -*—/ LAG, containing a Cheque for £8 ios. and three £i notes. Reward on returning to Echo office. 'T''HE Public are Cautioned against Cashing a lost N.Z. Hank Cheque, numbered 9462, as payment has been stopped. May 6th. WANTED Immediately, SEVERAL first class CARPENTERS and JOINERS. Highest wages given to really good hands.— 1 1 lOS. WILLIAMS, Rudder, Tinwald. TX7'ANrED, about the beginning of June * V a3or 4 roomed Cottage, to rent. Ad dress, \V. “ Echo” Office. WANTED —Three or Four Intelligent MEN to circulate the “EVENING ECHO ” throughout the County. Apply at once. WAN 1 ED— Penders for Building a Four . roomed HOUSE. To be sent in not later than 12 o’clock on SATU RDAY, May nth. Plans and Specifications to be seen at A. O. AITKEN & CO’S., 1 lavelock Street. The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted.



As HB U R TON COUN T Y STEEPLECHASE MEETING. WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1878. PROGRAMME : !• ASHBURTON COUNTY STEEPLE CHASE—Handicap of 30 sovs. added to a sweepstake of 2 sovs. for acceptors. Nominations 1 sov., over about 3 miles of fair hunting country. To start at noon. 2- —ASHBUETON HUNT CUP—I-or Sil ver Cup, value 15 sovs., with silver mounted whip for rider, weight for age. About 2 miles. Gentlemen riders to be approved of by the committee; entrance 1 sov. ; winner of the A.C.5.11. to carry 14II1S penalty. 3 THE FARMER’S PLATE of 15 sovs. Weight for age—about miles; entrance 1 sov ;_ hoses to he the bona fide property and ridden by Farmers or Farmer’s sons lcsidenl in the County, Winner of the previous races to be excluded. 4.—MAIDEN STEEPLECHASE —of to sovs-—Weight for age. Entrance, I sov; 1 mile ; for horses that have not competed at this meeting. 5 HACK R VCE of 5 sovs—About 1 mile; post entry, 10s. catch weight. BYE-LAWS. All races to be run under the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Rules, unless otherwise specified. No horse shall be qualified to run at this meeting, unless such horse was the bona fide piopetty of a resident in the Ashburton County on Ist April. Nominations for the handicap, enclosing 1 sov., to bo sent to tile I lon. Sec. by 8 p.m. on Saturday, May the nth. Weights will be pub lished in the Evkni.w, Echo on May 18th.. Acceptances enclosing 2 sovs will be received on night of general entry, Saturday, May 25th,. at 9 ]i.iii., at Somerset Hotel. Entries for Hunt Cup, Farmer’s Plate, and Maiden Steeplechase, enclosing 1 sov, to be sent l() lion. See., May 25th, at 9 p.m. N. li. —Scale of weight-for-age— 4yrs old, Ils * 1 sy rs °ld, list i2lbs; 6yrs and aged, i2st 3'bs. All colors must be declared to Secretary, May 25th, at y p.m., and a fine of £1 will be enforced for running in colors other than those declared. JAMES WILKIE, Hon Sec. '“TENDERS are invited for ADDITIONS T and Al.l ERATIONS of private house, foi Mr. |. M. Cambridge, Ashburton. Plans and specification may be seen at my office, where tenders will he received up to May nth, at noon. Ihe lowest or any tender not neces sarily accepted. J. W. BROWN, Engineer and Architect, &c., lancred Street. Ashburton. TEMPLAR HALL COMPANY. npi'lE SECOND CALL of ss. pet share in ->- the 1 emplar Hall Company is now due and payable to the secretary. K. SANDO. FOR SALE. ACRES of the finest Agricultural LAND in Canterbury. Apfba A. O. AITKEN & CO. [A Card.] pRIYATE LESSONS TO YOUNt LADIES, hour times a Week in Music I'KKNcit, Gkrman, and Drawing, at MISS STEANE’S, Oxford Villa, Burnett Street.



COUNTY OF ASHBURTON. T II E undersigned being convinced that room exists in this County for the| development of a Business specially suited for the wants of Stockowners, Farmers, &c., have determined upon EXTENDING heir present connection as Grain Buyers, Millers, &c, by OPENING AN ESTABLISHMENT for the purpose of BUYING & SELLING STOCKS STATIONS, ETC., and with a view of giving every facility for Stockowneis obtaining full value for their pro*, ducts, have engaged the services of i MR. NEIL MACLEAN, j (late Manager of the Acton Station), as AUCTIONEER. whose long experience and admitted ability in« that line cannot be questioned. The Firm have constantly on hand Improved and Unimproved FARMS FOR SALE on the? most favorable terms.. Advances made on Wool, Grain, etc., con signed for shipment to Engjand, Australia,, orr America. Advances made on Crops. > AGENTS FOR Osborne’s Reapers and Binders Rausome and Sims’ and Head’s Agricul tural Implements. Properties of all Descriptions Valued- SAUNDERS. BROS., i AsniiURTON. •' Messrs SAUNDERS BROS, havefor Sale, Situated on the NORTH BANK of the RAKAIA, ! 4000 acres, partly improved. ■ ' 690 ~ unimproved 675 ~ fenced 1 760 „ 4poof which are now in Turnips. 1 72 „ unimproved; ' * 400. „ WAKANUI DISTRICT!. ' "] 490. acres, 130 of which are ploughed , 201 » highly improved House, Stable, Sea. 255 201 ,„ iri „ 936- „ 200 „ Sixty Acres four miles from the Township- Several. Valuable Town. Sections..



Saunders Bros.' have: £4,000 FREEHOLD PROPERTY. £ O t 0 be INVESTED in FREEHOLD Security. £ 2 Ron t 0 be ADVANCED in > Sums of and upwards. Preference given to town sections and house securities. to be ADVANCED ) UUU oil GROWING CROPS, LIVE STOCK, andother.AGRICULTURAL Security. , DRAUGHT HORSES. £2o UPHE Undersigned have FOR SALE a Number of Broken and Unbroken COLTS now to be seen in their Paddocks, adjoining the Ashburton Domain. SAUNDERS BJ3&& NOTICE TO FARMERS, HORSE BREEDERS, AND OTHERS. THE Advertisers are prepared to Receive HORSES for Sale by Public Auction or Privately, and to make Liberal Cash Advances on same. Good PADDOCKS and Plenty of FEED for Stock . SAUNDERS BROS. WEST COAST LUNCHEON & DINING ROOMS, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON.. J. G. ANSTEE, BEGS to intimate to the public that he lias. just OPENED those spacious buildings situate in East Street, as LUNCHEON AND DINING ROOMS. Persons pationising this establishment can rely on securing all the com forts of a home. The bedrooms arc well ventilated, every attention being paid to cleanliness. The table will be found all that can be. desired. First-class accommodation for Boarders. N.B.—The proprietor trusts by strict atten tion to the comfort of his patrons, combined-, with moderate charges, to merit a share ol public custom, << 'JMI E EVENING EC H O.” Town Agknt, MR. A. WjE S 'l' ON , Taucred-street..