The barque Pacific, Captain Sioper, New Zealand to Shanghai, put in to Roumea with her cargo shifted. The vessel is damaged, and has to dis charge 85,000 feet of timber. The chief steward jumped overboard, and was drowned. Col Scratcheley and Richardson have gone to Newcastle to carry out defensive measures. Graham, a partner of Moore, book seller, Sydney, fell throuvh a trap door and was killed. A fire in a glass factory, at Ross, New South Wales, destroyed property insured for in the New Zealand Company. Burvlaries are frequent just now in Sydney. Wellington, Monday. A Gazette extraordinary, issued to night, contains a proclamation further postponing the next meeting of Parlia ment to Thursday, 23d May. A supplement to the Gazette , of the 14th, contains notices of the appoint ment of Mr Stout to the Executive Council in the room of Mr Larnach, and also of his appointment as Attor ney-General. The Government steamer Stella has been ordered from the north, where she has been buoying several harbors, to attend on Sir John Conde during his inspection of New Zealand harbors.

The Government have received a communication from London that the 4y 2 per cent loan has reached the highest quotation it has ever touched- It is now being quoted in London

market at par. Mr. Stout was sworn in as Attorney- General to-day, the Governor having deputed the necessary powers for that purpose to Messrs Macandrew and Ballance.

Hokitika, Tuesday. Homer, agent for the Bank of New Zealand at Ross, has turned up. The Christchurch coach reached here this morning.

Dunedin, Tuesday,

Cargill Gibbs and Co. have received the following telegram from Schwartz and Co., London dated 15th inst. : “ With reference to wool, sales show less animation in prices for fleece, and greasy wool shows an average decline of 14d to id per lb, compared with open ing rates of present series. Bulk of colored wools sell steadily. Prices for cross-breds show an average rise of id per lb compared with closing rates of last series.

Greymouth, Tuesday,

A fire broke out in Green’s Hotel, Maori Creek, this morning at 1.30. It destroyed the hotel and billiard room, Walker’s boot store, Good Templar’s Hall, Wilson’s Store, and Mrs Brown’s fruit shop. Green is insured in the South British Office, Walker in the New Zealand, and the Good Templar Hall in the Victoria.

IRISH LOBSTERS.

One of our restaurants boasts of an Irish Munchausen who acts in the humble capacity of waiter, and adds much to the entertainment of guests. One of them being served with a small lobster asked :

“ Do you call that a lobster ? ” “ Faix, I believe they do be calling thim lobsters here, surr. We call ’em crabs at home.” \

“ Oh,” said the diner, “ you have lobsters in Ireland ? ” '“ls it lobsters! Begorra the creeks is full of ’em. Many a time have I seen ’em when I’ve lepped over the shtrames.”

“ How large do the lobsters grow in Ireland ? ”

“ Well,” said Mike, thoughtfully, “ to shpake within bounds, surr, I’d say a matter of five or six feet.”

“ What! five or six feet; how do they get round in those creeks ? ” “ Bedad, surr, the creeks in Ireland are fifty or sfxty feet wide,” said the unabashed Mike.

“ But,” said the persistent inquirer, “ you said you had seen them when you were leaping over the streams, and lobsters here live in the sea.”

“ Deed I did, surr; we’re powerful leppers in Ireland. As for the say, I’ve seen it red wid ’em.”

“ But look here, my fine fellow,” said the guest, thinking he had cor nered the Hibernian at last, “ lobsters are not red until they are boiled.” “ Doan’t I know that ?” said Mike, reproachfully; “ but there are bilin’ springs in the ould countary, an’ they shwim troo ’em an’ come out ready fur ye to crack open and ate,” and Mike walked calmly off to wait upon the next guest, leaving his interlocutor to digest the lobster, and the story.

Grain already blocks the railway stations up Tinmru way, and is not yet in full delivery. The Jones Libel case has ended in a win for the defendant. The fury found him “ Not Guilty.”

The coroner’s inquest on the Blue skin case has resulted in the jury find ing a verdict of “ Wilful Murder at the hands of the mother.” Mrs De Costa was therefore sent back to gaol, to be brought up to-day formally at the City Police Court, Dunedin. Lord Yarmouth, speaking at Strat ford-on-Avon, strongly advocated the introduction of a Bill rendering com pulsory the slaughter of all foreign cattle at the port of debarkation. He thought the English farmers ought to be pro tected now that they were beginning to feel American competition in the meat trade.

THE EVENING ECHO, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1878.



EXCELLENCE, PUNCTUALITY, AND SATISFACTION SECURED BY Taking your Printing TO THE ECHt) PRINTING OFFICE. EAST STREET. CARDS, CIRCULARS, PROGRAMMES, INVOICES FANCY SHOW CARDS, HANDBILLS, SHIPPING FORMS POSTERS, LABELS, BILLHEADS, CATALOGUES. PAMPHLETS, MEMORANDUM FORMS, And every description of Letter-Press Printing executed in a style not to be surpassed in the Colony. Colour Printing.



Medical.— An 1.r.c.p., 1.r.c.5., L.M., Edinburgh, First Honorman and Medalist, aged 28 years, married, would be glad to hear of an appointment in New Zea land. Would manage a branch or accept of junior partnership in a good practice, for which premium would be accepted out of proceeds. Advertiser is strictly steady and energetic, has had much experience in all branches, and holds a number of first-class testimonials from eminent men in the pro fession. Address, with full particulars, to DR. WM. BENNETT, P.O. Box 42, Ashburton, Canterbury. WANTED TENDERS for the under signed’s INTEREST IN THE RAKAIA LOCK-UP. Having built the above according to con tract, which was completed on 30th January last, and failing to get any information from the Government respecting payment for same, the undersigned is prepared to sell his interest in the above to the highest biddei. Particu lars can be obtained from GEORGE PARKER, Builder, Ashburton. fORD, HUGHES, & CO. JLy GRAIN AND PRODUCE MERCHANTS, Shipping and Commission Agents, Make Liberal Advances on Grain or other produce for shipment to their agents in the Australian Colonies or London. Cornsacks and Woolpacks supplied at lowest current rates. Indents executed from all parts of the world. Offices —High Street, Christchurch.



MESSRS BULLOCK & CO., Ashburton, General Merchants, Auctioneers, Stock, Sta tion, Estate, and Commission Agents. Sales of Stock, Farm Implements,. &c., will be held at their Yards, Ashburton, every alternate Thursday. CASH Advances made on Stock, Produce, &c., consigned for Positive Sale. BULLOCK & CO.



MRS. E. PETERSON, DRESSJVIAKER, (Two doors from the Echo Office). All orders executed with neatness and with promptness.



STORAGE. GRAIN and other PRODUCE STORED on Account of Farmers, at Lowest Rates. SAUNDERS BROTHERS, Ashburton and Christchurch. LOTTO, Draughts and Draught Boards, Dominoes, Cards and Cribbage Boards, &c., at FURNESS AND DIXON’S, East-street, Ashburton. J. G. ANSTEE, BUILDER AND CONTRACTOR, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. Every description of Carpentering, and all kinds of Jobbing Work, Shop Fittings, &c., done on the most reasonable terms. Pictures Mounted and Framed !



W. R. BOYLE, e 9 jgSTATE AND GENERAL AGENT, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. ((JHE EVENING ECHO.” Town Agent, MR. A. WESTON, Tancred-street. WATER COLORS, from is 3d to 255. Drawing and Tracing paper, Paper Binders, File Clips, Date Cases, Ink and Pencil Erasers, Black and Colored Pencils, Colored Inks, Quill, Steel, and Magnum Bonum Pens, Pocket Books, and Purses, in immense variety, at FURNESS AND DIXON’S, Stationers’ Hall, Ashburton. BOOKS ! BOOKS ! BOOKS ! FURNESS AND DIXON have on Sale a Choice Assortment of Interesting and Popular Works, including the following:— Sunday at Home for 1877. Leisure Hour for 1877. Child’s Companion for 1877. Little Wide Awake tor 1877. Saved from the Sea, by Kingston. Robinson Crusoe, 100 Illustrations. Swiss Family Robinson, 300 Illustrations. Boys Book of Sports.



[A Card.] PRIVATE LESSONS TO YOUNG A LADIES, Four times a Week in Music, French, German, and Drawing, at MISS STEANE’S, Oxford Villa, Burnett Street. THE undersigned is a CASH BUYER of OATS, BARLEY, GRASS SEED, WHEAT, CHEESE, and OTHER FARM PRODUCE, At highest Market Prices . Cornsacks supplied at ruling prices. H. B. SORENSON. Christchurch. TO LET A FURNISHED, OCCA SIONAL ROOM, in a Central position. Can be had on application to ALPHA, “Echo" Office. TO LET. A SHOP IN EAST STREET, next door to Mr. Sando’s. Enquire at the ECHO Office. WANTED, by a respectable young man Board and Residence in a quiet family., Apply at the ECHO Office, East-street. ANTED SUBSCRIBERS AND ADVERTISERS FOR THE ECHO. Support a Genuine Publication ! A LPHABET CARDS and Boxes, Mavor’s •CV. Spelling, Royal Readers, Slates, Pencils, Copy Books, Drawing Books, and other school Requisites to be obtained at our premises, East-street, Ashburton. FURNESS AND DIXON, Stationers’ Hall.



BUSINESS NOTICE. J- L • WILSON AUCTIONEER, VALUATOR & BROKER, Lichfield Street, Christchurch.



WILL IMPORT FOR THE NEXT SEASON, REAPERS AND BINDERS. JOHN ANDERSON, Canterbury Foundry , Having made arrangements for the im portation of each description of each machine, viz:— The WOOD, The McCORMICK, and The OSBORNE, With all the latest improvements for next season’s harvest, begs respectfully to state that he will KEEP A STAFF OF EXPERTS In the district during harvest To Fit Up and Keep in Order, Which, with a supply of extras for each machine, will be a guarantee against stoppages. Early orders will oblige, to save dis appointment.



WANTED Runners for the Evening Echo. Good wages to smart boys.



RAILWAY FOUNDRY, CHRISTCHURCH. SCOTT BROS., ENGINEERS, &c„ BEG to inform their customers and the public generally that they have REMOVED To new and commodious premises in MANCHESTER STREET SOUTH, Near the new passenger station. Manufacturers of Railway Contractors’ Plant, Flax Dressing Machines and Presses, Wool Presses, Agricultural and all descriptions of Machinery. Plain and Ornamental Railing, Gates, and Tomb Fencing. Stoves and Cooking Apparatus. Drawings prepared, and estimates given for all kinds of Engineering and Machinery. Repairing done with expedition.