POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close u follows : For Christchurch and , North at 10 a. m. j. p. 111., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10 a.m. daily. For Rakaia at 10.a.in., and 4 p.m. daily. For Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstieam. Uanritata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, U 10.15 a.m. daily. For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.m. daily. For Temuka, Timaru, and South at 10.15 .m. and 3 p.m daily. . For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mourn Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST.

BIRTH.

On the 19th November, at her residence. East St., Mrs. M. Darcy of a daughter.

The Evening Echo. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1878.

" At the recent dinner of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association Mr. Saunders darkly hinted, and Mr. F. B. Passmore broadly asserted, that if we wanted railways laid down we were unwise in not doing the work at once ourselves without waiting until some good angel should trouble the Governmental stagnant water. When the Mount Somers Railway may be finished is a question to be settled simply by the effluxion of time, for no one knows what changes may come o’er the spirit of the Ministerial dream ere their hands are. put finally and in earnest to the plough. But the time for completing the Rakaia and Ashburton Forks Railway is fixed upon, and in ten months we may expect to see the iron thread stretch from Rakaia to the Forks, and soon thereafter to the hills. It is but one line of a plan of alternating rail and river, on the west side of the trunk line, that must finally be carried out, and which the circum stances of these plains require. When that plan is completed the wealth of Can terbury will be even then but partially known, but the resources of our district will be on the highway to development. Arable land still virgin will find a direct avenue to market for its produce ; the coal stores of our hills will become avail able, and be tapped for our use ;• and tim ber which we now only know of will find its way over the plains to our doors. That the Rakaia and Forks line will pay there can be no doubt, ancl the remunerative character of the lines hinted at, to lie between the other rivers, is about as certain; but the certainty of their construction is not so well assured, and while the good graces of James Macanclrew are sought to be wooed, and his aid leant upon in their construc tion, the hope is none of the brightest. There was a world of wisdom in Mr. Pass more’s words when he said that the univer sal trusting of the colony to Government for the initiation, construction, and main tenance of public works of any magnitude had an effect upon the people calculated to demoralise their independence and weaken their self-reliance. Had the pro promoters of the railway, of whose per manent way Mr. George Hart on Tuesday turned the first sod, waited till the Ge neral Government saw fit to believe in the line and cut its tussocks, they would still have been hopelessly pleading for a survey, and we should still have had to speak of the line as one of the good things that we may enjoy some time in the far distant future. The promoters of the new rajljvay knew what they wanted when they started the agitation, and be lieved in it as a genuine thing when they took shares in the company, and the resul

of their faith will bo a railway that must pay them, as it is bound to be an unspeak able blessing to the country. Trust not for freedom to the Franks, They have a king who buys nnd sells ; 111 native swords and native ranks. The only hope of courage dwells ; and the settlers on the Canterbury plains, if they would have their lines made where they know they will be remunerative, and a real benefit to their district, must trust to their own enterprise and foresight, arid step forward in the work themselves. If all the districts where lines of railway are a game worth the candle, would follow the plucky lead of this little company, they would be able to run a-head of the slow moving and ponderous coach of Govern ment, and snap their fingers in the Otago blinded eyes of the Minister for Public Works.

The San Francisco Mail. —The Taia roa sailed from New Plymouth yesterday at 6.15 for Nelson, with the mail via San Francisco. The Ashburton bags may be expected on Saturday. The C. K. B. Minstrels.-— This talen ted company gave their first entertain ment last night, to a good audience. It is seldom indeed that playgoers in this colony are regaled with such a treat as the C. K B.’s put before tbeir patrons, and if merit always brought its own reward, we should say this company ought to play on every occasion t'o a crammed house. Perfect music rendered by masters of the art —both vocal and instrumental—genuine fun, made by men endowed with the power to please as a natural gift, brought to perfection by long training ; judgment displayed in the selection of the very best pieces to make up a programme, and these performed without a hitch —are amongst the characteristics of the entertainments to which the C. KB. ’s invite their patrons. It is not then to be wondered at that the press speak highly of the company, and delighted audiences reward their appear ances. We have not room to particularise or dwell upon the individual merits of each item of the varied repertoire at the company’s command, else we could point to many gems really worth listening to, but we would advise all who did not enjoy last night’s treat, to take the last opportunity afforded them by being pre sent this evening. The Weather and Crops. —The con tinued absence of rain, and the fierce nor’-westers that seem to have no term, are beginning to have their effect upon the growing crops, and from every quarter we hear complaints of the drought, and fears that unless the thirst of the parched land is slaked with a few days’ rain, and that speedily, a light harvest is sure to blast the hopes of the husbandman. Fol lowing on the bare returns of last year, a failure this autumn would be indeed a misfortune, and just at this period of the county’s history we can ill afford to have two bad harvests in succession. Many settlers have only just started, so to speak, and repeated failures of crop just at the outset of their career is a staggering blow that wants much stamina to bear up against. Let us hope, however, that nature will be better to us than our fears, and that a cloud is hid behind the hills that will soon burst upon the plains and gladden the hearts of all, for upon the success of the farmers depends that of every class of tradesmen in the district.

A Bold Attempt was made in Auckland on Tuesday by a boy ten years old, named John M’Cormish, to burn down the house of George Daniels, night watchman, in East street, Newton. Mrs. Daniels de tected the fire before much injury was done, and it was extinguished, and the boy arrested.

The American Engines. —The “ Press” of this morning says There are now five of these engines in working order, three of those which arrived by the South minster having been fitted together. The first good trial which any of these three had was on Tuesday, when No. 92 ran at express rate to and from Rakaia, and per formed the journey in a most satisfactory manner. Three othera still remain to be fitted up, making eight in all. Of these engines two will be used on the section between Dunedin and Invercargill, two between Dunedin and Oamaru, and the remainder on the Christchurch section, this side of that town. At present the express trains between Dunedin and Oamaru are worked by the Fairlie en gines, which have worked well hitherto, but whose services for thiskpurpose are now to be dispensed with. Dr.uNK to Death.— An inquest was held at the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum on Tuesday, before Dr. Hocken, City Coro ner, on the body of a man named John Morgan, a carrier, well-known in the Oamaru District. Long-continued in temperate habits had been the cause, in this case, as in so manv others, of in sanity and death. Kempthorne, Prosser, & Co.—A day or two ago we mentioned that 2000 shares in Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, and Company’s New Zealand Drug Company (Limited) had been applied for in Auck land. We were informed yesterday that 850 shares had been applied for in Dune din, 500 in Christchurch, and 600 in Wel lington. “ Otago Daily Times.” The WiJAington-Wairarapa Rail way.—Mr. Ashcroft, who has b'een traffic manager on the Nelson and Fox Hill rail way since its commencement, has been appointed to the management of the Wel lmgton-Wairarapa line. Mr. Stone suc ceeds him a • Nelson. The Curator of the Christchuich Do main has succeeded in raising six plants hom seed of the sugar maple, which hitherto has been supposed to be impos sible.

An Artificial Hand,- —A case was tried last week in the Nelson Court, in which an artificial limb maker recovered S 3 odds from a man whom he had failed to please in supplying with an artificial hand. The debt had been incurred for alterations. The plaintiff said he had found great difficulty in making the hand to defendant’s liking. He wanted it to turn from side to side, and over on its back, then he wanted it made so that he could play the piano, which necessitated cutting the thumb off at the wrist, then the joints had to be reset, and finally it would have had to be cut at the arm to make it suit.

Volunteers. —The total strength of the New Zealand Volunteer Force is 5508 adults and 2180 cadets. The North Island has 2834 adults enrolled, with 095 cadets; in the South Island the adult strength is 2674, and the cadets 1576.

A Compliment. —This is how a Charles ton paper does off a candidate for County Council honors: —“ The reputation of the Addison’s people is again at stake, and we hope that at this election they will make the amende honorable by electing a person able to represent them in a straightforward, sensible, and honest man ner, and not return an ignorant, stupid, vacillatory, and painfully idiotic blun derer, or one -whose every action will tend to bring himself and those he repre sents into the most unmistakable deri sion. ” Princess Louise. —Princess Louise, in her new position, says the London “ Queen,” will be able to continue those good works to which she has so well ac customed herself in this country, and she will be able to show, as the Princess Royal and Princess Alice have already done, what a Princess can do to influence the well being of the people she is called over to preside, She is patroness, not only in name, but in act and work, of so many charitable movements in England, and of so many societies -whose intention is to help forward the education of women, that her absence will be a real loss. She has always been so graciously ready to give time and attention when she has been asked to do so, to preside at open ing meetings, to give away prizes, to exer cise for good the influence that her posi tion gives her, that her absence will be felt; and when the times comes for her to return to England she will be gladly welcomed back again. But, in the mean time, much work lies before her, for the doing of which the educaton which life has been given her has been helping to prepare her. She will carry with her to Canada many earnest and sincere wishes for her personal well-being, and much hope that she may show among our own people there,. as well as her sisters have done on the Continent, the good results of that excellent training which our beloved.- and respected Queen has so carefully be stowed upon her daughters. The influence of woman, always great, is never so much so as when exercised by woman in high rank, and when that rank is the highest, the good which they do bears fruit in every lower grade and people. Victorian Bushrangers. —Regarding the late murders by bushrangers, who seem to have many friends in some of the districts of Victoria, a recent telegram says —lt appears that the Mansfield district is alive with notorious characters, who ex press sympathy with the bushrangers and act as their confederates, as the move ments of the police would seem to have been known to the gang. Two men, one known as Dummy Wright, were ai rested for endeavoring to intimidate the search party. They behaved like infuriated animals, and threatened that if they were not released the police camp at Mansfield would be attacked by bushrangers. The police of the district appear to have been badly arraiiged and mounted. False Teeth. —Mrs. Bridget Newman, of Dorset Street, Commercial road, East, London, whilst walking across the room, caught her foot in the corner of the car pet, which threw her on her face. Hav ing broken her arm she was removed to thy hospital, where she expired from asphyxia, caused by swallowing her false teeth.

A Sensation. —A phenomenal man has recently turned up in Dublin, Ireland, who beats the man who has the power t j make his heart move to different parts oT his body, as he can make his eyes retire into his head to the depth of three inches, where they remain as long as he wishes, glowing like coals of fire,, and p resenting a horrible appearanee. In spite of this accomplishment, which might. be thought ruinous to the eyes, his sight is splendid. Hew Hoeseshoe. —In England they are adopting a horseshoe made of cowhide, and know T n as the Yates shoe. It is made of three thicknesses of cowhide pressed into a steel mould, and then treated with a chemical preparation. It is claimed for it that it lasts longer and weighs only one fourth as much as the common iron shoe ; that it w r ill not cause the hoof to split, nor haye the least injurious influence on the foot.

A Photo, Tax.—A writer in “May fair” says :—“ I understand that Sir Staf ford Northcote has had it suggested to him by a financial adviser 7 that if next session he finds it necessary to impose any new taxes, he ought to increase the duty on tobacco, and impose a stamp duty on photography. This latter tax ought not to be unpopular, ana it cannot fail to be remunerative. Nobody will sympathise with the grievance of the cad if, when he buys a carte of Mrs. Langtry or Mrs. Cornwallis West, in order that he and his friends may gloat over these fashionable beauties, he is mulct for the benefit of the State, A tax on photographs is to a great extent a tax on vanity and snobbery, and for fiscal purposes these foibles are surely fair game. ”

A Good Conduct Medal. —The London correspondent of a contemporary says : It will be gratifying to Cousin Jonathan to learn that the Queen’s gold medal “ for the encouragement of boys to admire and maintain the qualities which will make the finest sailor,” has been awarded —on board the Worcester training-ship—to an American lad. The qualities necessary to gain this prize are “ cheerful submission to superiors, self-respect, and indepen dence of character—kindness and protec tion to the weak, readiness to forgive offence, and, above all, fearless devotion to duty, and unflinching truthfulness. It is fortunate for this hoy that he is not in America for he certainly would be lynched.

You Bit.—A Yankee riding on a rail road was disposed to astonish the other passengers with tough stories. At last he mentioned that one of his neighbours owned an immense dairy, and made a million pounds of butter and a million pounds of cheese yearly. The Yankee, perceiving that his veracity was in danger of being questioned, appealed to a friend, “ True, isn’t it, Mr. 1 I speak of Deacon Brown,” “ Y-e-s,” replied the friend, “ that is, I know Deacon Brown, though I don’t know as I ever heard pre cisely how many pounds of butter and cheese he made a year, but I know he has twelve sawmills that all go by butter-millc.

TheYeiluv Fe’EH. —The San Fran cisco correspondent of the We.lington “ Chronicle ” writes :—Yellow fever has tried and proved humanity. Hero is what the “ Avalanche ” says:—“Parents have deserted children, and children parents ; husbands their wives, but not a wife her husband.” This verdict is given in the very face of death, by men who know wlierecf they write. The rich in the stricken cities have not all been selfish, Lut many were. They fled, leaving to the strangers and less affluent citizens the task of nursing the sick, feeding the hungry, ancl burying the dead—often a difficult task.

Wesley's Grandson !—A curious an nouncement was recently made in the Manchester papers that the Rev. John Wesley, grandson of the late Rev. John Wesley, founder of the Wesleyan Society, would preach in St. Mary’s Church. As John Wesley had no children, people were rather puzzled as to where his grand son came from.

Puppies !—An old Scotch lady had an evening party where a young man was present who was about to leave for an appointment in China. As he was exceed ingly extravagant in his conversation about liimself, the old lady said, when he was leaving, “Tak’guid care o’yoursel’, my mon, when ye’re awa’, for mind ye, they eat puppies in Cheona !”

Worth Trying. —lt is said that a bag pf hops, as large as the two fists, placed in a grain bin, will kill or drive away every grub or weevil in the bin. The dead can be removed by fanning. Teach the Boys to love the Farm, but do not prove hard task masters. Do not make their farm life one of drudgery and toil if you would have their thoughts in after life turn lovingly to their old homes and happy young lives. Teach them that something more than muscle and physical endurance is required ; that, indeed agriculture is a science, or art, that should be conducted according to clearly defined laws and well established princip les, and successful in proportion to the intelligence that directs it. Mad Dogs. —An impression widely pre vails among certain classes in Great Britain that the danger arising from the bite of a dog suspected of being mad can only be averted by the death of the animal; and dogs unaffected by rabies are no doubt often destroyed in accord ance with this theory, leaving tne person or persons they may have bitten in a state of suspense as to the risk incurred of an attack of hydrophobia. In Burmali mad dogs and dogs supposed to be mad are not only killed, but eaten, the flesh of a mad dog being in the opinion of the Burmese not only the best antidote to the poison of the tooth, but a prophylactic against hydrophobia. A crowd the other day, ac cording to a Rangoon paper, were seen in the streets of that city hacking a dog to pieces and scrambling for the morsels, which when secured were taken home and fried and eaten by the fortunate posses sors. The dog was rabid, and had bitten several persons, some have since died. It was ultimately chased and clubbed to death, and those who devoured its remains flatter themselves that they are now hydrophobia-proof for ever. Wealth. — A complete classification of the large freehold estate in Victoria has been pul fished, in which the aggregate of this cl si of property is shown to be over £14,000,000. Mad for a Medal. —Jacob Webbler, a French soldier, 95 years old, who fought under the first Napoleon, had his rneda' stolen in New York recently, and went crazy at its loss.

Silver Bells. —The Duke of West minster has hung a peal of tw r enty-eight silver bells in the tower of the chapel attached to his seat at Eaton Hall; cost, £30,000, Cheap. —About 360,000 acres of heavily timbered land in Virginia were recently sold by auction at an average of one cent per acre.

Peesbyteeianism. —A number of gentle men in London have combined, in order to raise a sum of not less that £60,000, to build and endow a suitable place of wor ship in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Cueious Accident.—A child aged six months, the daughter of a tailor, of Fan shaw street, Pitfield street, London, being placed by her mother at the foot of an iron bedstead, slipped through the iron work and hanged herself, being quite dead when found in that position.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[By Submarine Cable.]

London, Nov. 19. The Brindisi mails have been delivered. There have been disastrous floods in the eastern counties of England. Fearful gales have been experienced in the North Sea.

[SPECIAL TO WELLINGTON POST.] London, Nov. 'l9.

There are great rejoicings in Italy at the escape of the King. Congratulatory telegrams from most of the European potentates have been received. The l-e ---joicing lias attracted notice to the many Internationalists now in Italy. Their secret movements were unsuspected by the Government, and they have operated successfully in Florence. There they attacked a procession into which a bomb was tin-own. A fearful explosion ensued, killing and wounding many persons.

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, Nov. 20.

Sailed —Rotorua. The Queensland general elections are proceeding. The Fiji mail brings a report of the loss of the schooner Tubal Cain, bound from Auckland to Levuka, on Ono Island. The seamen’s strike continues. The men leave all the A.S.N. steamers on arrival, and refuse to woi'k while Chinese are employed. Melbourne,. Nov. 20. The result of the embracery convictions is that David Henry, money-lender, has been sentenced to four years’ imprison ment and a fine of £500; Ireland and Trorist, money-lenders, to two years’ imprisonment and fines of £SO each.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per Press Agency.]

Auckland, Wednesday. The settlers at Wangarei propose to give a reception to Sir George Grey. Wellington, Wednesday. The divorce case Digby v. Digby and Alexander has been postponed till Mon day, in order to ascertain from Christ church whether the respondent had been served with notice. The Nautical Assessors, Captains Halli day and Hewitt, disagreed as to the deci sion regarding the wreck of the City of Auckland, and Mr. Mansford, R.M., is to give an independent judgment to morrow.

According to a public notification from the Secretary of the Customs, fencing wire may be landed on payment of a deposit, which will be returned subsequently, when the new tariff comes into operation. The notice reads as follows As fencing wire cannot be warehoused, the Hon. Commissioner authorises you to allow it to be landed until deposit of entry as soon is the exemption in the new tariff be comes operative.— W. Seed.” The Hon. J. Sheehan, accompanied by Dr. Hector, will proceed North to-mor row to meet Rewi, it is stated, and arrange to see Te Whiti regarding the Hiroki affair, and settle respecting the coming Native meeting in March next. It is understood that the Union Com pany at once take charge of McMeckan’a boat, the Ringarooma, now on the coast, and that she has run the last trip for her former owners.

•* In,the -Divorce Court to-day, in the case Jeffrey v. Jeffrey and another, Mr. Travers applied for a decree nisi. The Court granted the decree as prayed on the usual terms.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Wellington, Thursday. Mr. Batkin, Accountant of the Trea sury, has been appointed Assistant Con troller and Auditor, while Mr. Gavin takes Mr. Batkin’s place as Accountant of the Treasury. Mr. Heywood has been made accountant under the Land Tax Department, of which,Mr. Sperry is Chief Commissioner: —Mr. M‘Lean, Provincial •'Auditor, has been appointed to the sub commissionership of Auckland, and'Mr. Watson, Government Auctioneer, has been appointed Sub-Commissioner of Otago. Mr. Maikay, of the Native Reserves, has been appointed Sub-Commissioner at Nel son. The valuation under the Land Tax will begin early in December, and it is under stood it will be ready for enforcement in January. Timaktj, Thursday. The sea is gradually scouring the beach and reclaimed land north of the mole. Messrs. Allan and Stumbles, contractors for the, first part of the breakvvater, have put a lot of hands on filling bags of shingle and laying them along in twos in front to break the force of the*sea. The fire in Geraldine bush is still burn ing, and gradually approaching the town ship. No correct estimate of the damage can yet be made. Messrs. Whitaker, Barker, Postlethwaite, M‘Kenzie, Martin, and Gibson are sufferers, and besides the loss of Government hush a large quantity of stacked firewood has been consumed. The “ Timaru Herald” announces that it will shortly reduce the price of its paper to twopence, and be enlarged.

A Dunedin coffee merchant intimates that he will be a buyer of chicory root in any quantity next year. The Lost Ten Tbibes.-—A society is being formed in Dunedin . to examine into the identity of the British Nation with the lost ten tribes of Israel. .

THURSDAY, Noyemssr ar, 1878,]

THE EVENING ECHO,



s. d. s. d. Gutter, inferior to best, l?Ib o 0 to 0 0 fcgg.s, # dozen - . - 1 2 to I 0 Bacon, piime smoked, lb o IO to 0 0 Hams in doth, $ lb - I O to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, ii? lb o 9 to 0 IO Flour in bags, $ ioolb 12 6 to 14 0 Datmeal. ioolb - 26 0 to 0 0 Lard, It? lb - - - 0 9 to 0 0



Tinsmiths, &c. J. C. DOLMAN, O LUMBER, LOCKSMITH, BELL -1 HANGER, ZINC, and TINPLATE WORKER, Tancred Street, ASHBURTON. Artesian Wells sunk and Pumps fitted and repaired. Q. G. Guttering fixed at current rates. Electric Bells supplied and fitteb- N.B.—Orders punctually attended to. STTABDLEY, in tendering his XX Sincere Thanks to the In habitants of Ashburton and Surrounding Districts for their past patronage, begs to announce that he is now SELLING OFF HIS PRESENT STOCK AT COST PRICE, to make room for a Fresh Shipment daily expected from Melbourne. Note the Address — S. HARDLEY, PLUMBER AP'D TINSMITH, EAST STREET.



PUBLIC NOTICE. JOSEPH HYDE, dractical coppersmith ani Jr BRAZIER, TIN, IKON, AND ZINC PLATE WORKER, '.Begs to inform the inhabitants of Ashburton :and surrounding districts that he has corn* onenced business in TANCRED Si REE I, 'where he hopes by strict attention to business, 'combined with moderate charges, to merit a tfair share of public patronage. N. K.—Repairs neatly executed.



Business Notices. Tea ! Tea ! Tea ! ioo BOXES 50 HALF-CHESTS The above will be found Pure, combined with strength ami Fine Flavour. ORIENTAL TEA COMPANY’S, In 11b. and j£lb. packets. We are Agents for this Tea, and woeild advise the public to give it .a fair trial, as it is highly spoken of., Orr & Co.



SPECIAL NOTICE. WE ARE NOW LANDING— Exp.s. “Tongariro,” $ x i}( Totara for Wells Ex “ Clifton,” from Invercargill, -240,000 feet first-class Boards and Scantling El* “ Drover,” from Bluff, 120,000 ditto ditto Ex “ Wave of Life, ” from Thames, j 50,000 feet Flooring, Lining, &c. Ex “ Flora. ” from Kaipara, ' .A splendid assortment of 95,000 feet Kauri Timber MONTGOMERY & CO. (Limited), CHRISTCHURCH, Anb EAST STREET, ASHBURTON.



H. BUDDEN, SEED MERCHANT, Etc., Etc., NELSON, N.Z. Fruit and Forest Trees, Ornamental Shrubs, Roses, Seeds, Plants, etc.—Packed to any part of New Zealand. pOTATOES. POTATOES, FOR SALE, at At 0, AITKEN & CO.'s, Havelock Street.



NOTICE. Advertisements for the evening Echo must be sent ill not later than 3 p. m. with the number of insertions written plainly on .lie copy, otherwise they will lie inserted till countermanded, and charged accordingly. Special notices can be received up to 3.30 p.ni. Ibr insertion over the Leader, but will be charged double scale. buoscnptions—quarterly in advance, 6s. ; posted, Bs. 6d. ; per annum, in advance. 225. 6d. ; posted, 35 s - d. ; weekly, paid to ruuners, 6d. Delivered to any part of the town, and at any of the Rail way Station?.



ENCOURAGE LOCAL INDUSTRIES. AO. AITKEN & CO. have much plea • sure in informing the Gentlemen of Ashburton that they are prepared to take orders for New Spring and Summer Suits. A Perfect Fit Guaranteed, and at Christchurch Prices. A. O. AITKEN & CO.,