The Evening Echo. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1879.

Some months ago a jubilee day was held in Ashburton. Every available flag was made to do duty, and excited citizens could be seen in all directions, jubilant and jolly, shaking hands, and mutually congratulating each other that the days of the Board as a governing body were past, and that a' new and brighter era had dawned upon Ashburton. In a word, information had been telegraphed that Ashburton had become a Borough ! Naturally, we all felt proud. Under the Road Board, although well-treated so far as forming and metalling our streets were concerned, we had no particular reason to complain ; still, we felt, as all progressive communities do, the necessity of self government. It is a grand word, and a high-sounding one, that same 1 ‘ self government.” It tickles our vanity, and compels us to believe ourselves better than “ others see us.” After the proclamation we had, of course, to undergo a course of political excitement in the shape of an election, and the amount of oratory and nonsense duly delivered and applauded was not more than is usual on such occa sions. The Mayor and Councillors having been duly elected, at once went to work with a will, and the burgesses flattered themselves that they had exercised a very wise discrimination in the selection of their Council. We must admit that the latter have made very vigorous efforts to do various things likely to benefit the new Borough. Alas ! “ the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Everything, they have undertaken appears to have turned out an inglorious failure. They have certainly progressed so far as to appoint a clerk, an engineer, and a foreman of works ; we also hear it reported that a “ Works ” Committee exists, anda Finance Committee, likewise a Debating Club Com mittee, but of the latter we are dubious. We consider the appointment of all these necessary and judicious, but we ask—and we ask it in the name of the ratepayers— “ Where are the works?” To task the members individually with their election promises would be unfair, and to charac terise any particular member with not keeping his promise would be invidious ; but we wish to draw the attention of the ratepayers to one fact, viz., that every member who was elected went in on the ticket of “ Water Supply por the Town ship.”

Now, what has been done ? A. consider able amount of what aborigines call * ‘ korero ” Anglice ‘ ‘ gas ’ ” —has evolved, noticeably from one member, the report ing of his speeches having monopolised all the capital I’s in the possession of a con temporary in reporting his speeches. Schemes and plans have been laid before the County and Borough Councils, and eminent engineers have been imported to report upon the schemes of our local talent, and what is the result ? Nothing. It is not our object to find fault with the action of the Borough Council. We are of opinion that their faults are more in the direction of careful finance than of wastefulness. In other words, they are more guilty of sins of omission than of commission, but for this we blame them. So far as regards a water supply for flushing the streets and fire prevention, we were shown very clearly, without any engineering talent, where water could be obtained for a mere trifle. But mere trifles in this direction would not be con sistent with with the dignity of a Mayor and Corporation. Consequently the Bor ough engineer had to explain his elaborate scheme, and another “ engineer of reputa tion” (as per statement of an eloquent councillor) must be consulted as to the feasibility of the scheme of Messrs. Fooks and Son, and in the meantime all the schemes are hung up between heaven and earth!

Of the various schemes for supplying Ashburton with water, we are of opinion that the one submitted by the Messrs. Fooks had some advantages that recom mend it. Firstly, the water is rendered as pure as spring water by filtration through shingle. That this is practicable is shown by the trial-well sunk on the Alford Forest Road ; that it is cheap any tyro can see ; and that it is at a sufficient elevation above the township is shown by the engineer’s plans. The work is by no means a costly one, and has the advan tage of giving a reliable and plentiful sup ply of clear water, a desideratum that we certainly would not have obtained had the scheme approved by the County Council been adopted, whereby the town was to be supplied with the pea-soupy liquid which usually flows down the north branch of the.Ashburton River, and not very much of that, as a 6-inch pipe was to flush our sewers, supply water for fire prevention, and for domestic purposes, to say nothing of cattle and horses.

One objection however is to be found against Messrs Fooks’ scheme, and that is a serious onethe delay of completing it. No resident within the belt will deny that we are living in a very risky state, and it is well-known that an immediate supply of water is an absolute necessity. At the only fire we have yet had in Ash burton, we were clearly shewn by Dame Nature herself that a cheap supply could be obtained for next to nothing, and it is a mysterious to us why, when once the supply reached the township, the Borough Council did not take steps to continue it until a permanent supply of a better des cription was inaugurated. We certainly think that the local body were guilty of a sin of omission by not making arrange ments with landholders affected by the stream, if such were necessary, and in not reducing the risk of fire by a continuous supply from this source.

Another source of water service has been lately proved by means of the pipes sunk by the Council opposite Mont

gomery’s Buildings. These stood a good test with the fire engine, and we think that it would be money well spent to adopt the suggestions thrown out by the brigade at a' recent meeting, to try the effect of a single pipe. In other places they have been a success, and the experi ence of practical men point to the likeli hood of an underground current existing under the township, from which a single three inch pipe would give an ample sup ply for the engine. That this under ground stream exists is a fact which can be easily proved. A few days ago Mr. George Compton, the Captain of the Fire Brigade, sunk a well for obtaining water at Messrs Bullocks & Co’s new Buildings in Moore-street, West. Water was tapped at less than three feet from the surface, and after sinking another foot or so, the quantity of water defied all attempts to get the well deeper ; and it is a question if at the shallow depth the powerful fire engine will be able to keep the water down. We trust, however, to see an at tempt made in a day or two. Here, then, is another and immediate source of sup ply, for the lower end of the town at any rate, and we are of opinion that the Borough Council will have the gratitude of the ratepayex-s, if they shew an inten tion to move in some direction. Verb. sap.

Fire Brigade. — We hear that a practice will take place on Wednesday evening. A Correction. —We inadvei’tently stated in our report of Wednesday’s Court that M‘Car thy, a lunatic from drink, was brought down from “ the Spread Eagle.” The man was brought from Sutherland’s Hinds Farm, and never was in Mr. Tisch’s Hotel. Spanish Restaurant. —lt will be seen by announcement in another column that the boarding-house lately occupied by Mr G. Eagle, has been renovated and re-opened by Mr J. Cotton, and now bears the name of the Spanish Restaurant.

Consecration of the New Church at Windermere.— On Saturday the Primate consecrated the new Church, built on Mr E. G. Wright’s estate. The Church is named St. John’s, and is a wooden struc ture in Gothic architecture, capable of seating perhaps 100 persons. The clergy present on the occasion, in addition to the Primate, were Revs. Wyatt, Paige, and Collins, and the Ashburton choir rendered the musical portion of the service, Mrs Paige playing the harmonium.

Trotting Match.— We learn that a trotting match will probably come off on Saturday next for £5 aside between Mr M’Rae’s chesnut horse “ Brandy ” and the roan mare that won the trotting match in harness at the Winslow sports. The ground will be the Winslow road; the distance, five miles, to finish at Scott’s hotel.

Dr. Trevor to-day remanded Mrs. Walsh for eight days, meanwhile to be sent to Addington for medical treatment, she being a lunatic from drink. Mrs Hudson (wife of “ Yorky”) the woman who was found in such a helpless condition at the Hinds sometime ago, died this morning in the Christchurch Hospital. An inquest will be held to morrow.

The Weather in Ashburton has cer tainly claims for being the most uncertain and changeable in New Zealand ; the leading features being howling nor-wes ters, and bitter sou-westers, varied oc casionally by a struggle between the two, resulting in a whirlwind. Even the pro verbial “ raining cats and dogs” was nearly a literal fact a few nights ago. During the small hours of the morning an individual was wending his erratic way along the foot path under Montgomery’s verandah, when lie heard, apparently from the clouds, a yelp, a howl, then a shower of blue glass followed by a dog careering through space and crashing on the footpath. Neither dog nor man waited to explain .matters ; the biped went for home, and his remarks on the way contained fully seventy-five per cent of profanity, whilst the quad ruped, who was evidently under the im pression that he was wanted elsewhere, made off in the opposite direction, his caudal extremity not being visible. The explanation of the above meteorological mystery seems to be as follows : The dog was inadvertently left locked up in one of the upper floor offices, and had slept peace fully until the phenomenon happened, when he jumped through the window and landed on the verandah which, being of glass, gave way under him : hence the trouble.

The Land Tax Valuation.--The time for the completion'of the land tax valuation has been extended to the 20th inst.

Mr Conyers.— The following satisfac tory telegram relative to Mr Conyers’ state was received in Christchurch on Saturday. It is dated from Gore at 10 a.m.:—“Dr Macaffer says that Mi* Conyers is out of danger. He was up yesterday, and doctor hopes to send him home in a week.”

School of Art.—A school of art and design is proposed to be established in Wellington. The Sunday Question. —At a meeting to-night of the members of the Wellington Athemeum the question of opening the institution on Sunday will be considered.

The Mail Coach from Christchurch to Hokitika arrived at the latter place at 3 o’clock on Saturday, and Cameron’s coach at the same time. The road is very good. This is the earliest arrival for several years. His Excellency’s Farewell. The “ Gazette ” of Saturday gives notice of an undress farewell levee to be held at Wel lington to-day, another at Christchurch on Wednesday, and a third at Dunedin on Wednesday week. Diving Apparatus for Timaru.— The diving apparatus for the Timaru Harbor Board arrived from London on Saturday. It is provided with an electric light.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

SPECIAL TO ASSOCIATION.]

London, Feb. G. Three per cent. Consuls, 96§. The proportion of the Bank of England reserve to liabilities is 39 per cent. The total reserve in bullion and notes is £13.927,500. Feb. 7.

The Marquis of Hartington, leader of the Opposition, in a speech at Liverpool, said the verdict of the country on the foreign policy of the Government would be the principal question for the next general election. A skirmish took place on Jan. 12 be tween the British troops and the Zulus. The British loss was trifling. The Zulus are retreating to the interior. Feb. 8.

The Marquis of Hartington, at Liver pool yesterday, explained that the pro gramme of the Liberal party was the extension of the franchise in counties, to reorganise scats, the reform question, local government, religious equality, and a large reduction of taxes. The Board of Trade returns show that the imports for the past month amounted to 26§ millions, showing a decrease of 44- millions ; the exports for the past month were 14 3-16th millions, showing a decrease of 17'32 millions.

The steamer Kepangie is a total wreck. Oapt. Everard, the mate, and four of the crew arrived at Gabo.

AUSTRALIAN

[By Submarine Cable.] . Melbourne, Feb. 8.

A bush fire eight miles from Colac rushed towards a homestead and destroyed it. The parents and five children were surrounded, and struggled towards the water dam. A tree fell and killed one child and desperately injured the father. The mother and two children were burnt to death.

Sydney, Feb. 8.

The Grand Lodge of England has dis allowed the New South Wales Grand Lodge. The verdict in the Glen Innis shooting case was “ Justifiable homicide.”

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Auclland, Monday.

The City of Sydney, mail steamer, coaled with Russell Bay coal. She took 250 tons, and Captain Dearborn expressed a belief that the mail boats would soon be large consumers.

The defeat of the Auckland-built yacht Waitangi by the Magic at the Sydney Regatta has touched Auckland metal. It is mooted to send a crew from here by a subscription fund to sail her in March against the Magic. Father Henneberry gave his valedictory address last night in the new Catholic High School to 2000 people. It is stated £2OOO was subscribed, and £7OO paid which he had himself guaranteed to the builder of the school. He told the builder again to go on, securing him £SOO more, as he knew they would not let him stick. During the mission in Auckland district 6000 people took the pledge in the Colony 20,000, and £205,000 saved from drink to the Catholics in the Colony. Auckland would save £60,000. He leaves for Dunedin to-day. Wellington, Monday.

The gold cup was presented to Mari tana’s owner on Saturday night, and the following amounts were paid for stakes : Total amount paid away, £1,351 175., and gold cup, £IOO. Ray took £475 and the gold cup for his wins with Maritana and Bribery ; P. Butler received £261 ss. for the Hurdles, W.R.C. Handicap, and the Free Handicap ; D. Yallance, £237 10s., for the Maiden Plate and Derby ; J. Bel cher, £7l ss. for the Empire Plate ; D. Knight, £7l 55., for second in the Cup, and second in the Empire Plate ; R. Mclvor, £7l 55., for the Handicap Hur dles ; W. H. Gibson, £6l 155., for the Consolation Stakes, and second in the W.R.C. Handicap ; S. Horsefall,£47 10s., for the Flying Handicap ; Whitehouse, £lB, for the Hack Hurdles ; Cartwell, £9 10s., for Hack Race ; T. Ray, £9 10s., for Hack Race ; Webb, £9 10s., for second in the Consolation ; and A. Young, £7 125., for second in the Free Handicap. At Horokiwi, yesterday, on a very narrow part of the road, a horse, drawing a trap containing Mr. and Mrs. Nichol and four children, shied. The trap went over a precipice forty feet down. The eldest girl, nine years of age, had her skull fractured and a arm broken ; another child had its cheek bone injured. Mrs Nichol sustained a severe scalp wound and other injuries. The baby in arms was unhurt, but the father and the other children were shaken and bruised. The sufferers were brought into the hospital. The oldest girl is not likely to recover ; her brain is injured. The Hydrabad, when being towed off by the Glenelg, sprang a bad leak, and as she would have sunk in deep water, had to be left. She is now abandoned. Bluff, Monday. The Ringarooma left Melbourne at 4.30 p.m. on the 4th, arrived at Hobart Town on the 6th at 10.55 a.m., left the same day at 7 p.m. and arrived here at 9 a.m. to-day, Sails for Dunedin at 5 p.m.

Forgery.—At the Waimate Police Court on Friday, Sarah Steel and Robert Lee were committed for trial for forging and uttering cheques in the name of the female prisoner’s husband. Other similar charges are hanging over the same prisoners for offences said to have been committed in Christchurch.

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

[Per the s.s. Ringarooma at the Bluff.]

Flow January 30 to February 4. Victoria. The Victorian Minister of Railways has given orders for the dismissal of a large number of employees, in order to curtail the expenses of his department. The weather has been exceedingly hot, and ten cases of sunstroke have occurred.

Several bush fires have occurred, and crops have been destroyed. The Exhibition Buildings are to be com pleted before the Ist of May, 1880. An inquest is being held regarding the death of a widow named Charlotte Collins, who is supposed to have died from the effects of attempts to procure abortion. Some extraordinary disclosures are being made, and the case is causing much excite ment. Mr. Crooke, a surgeon who is connected with the case, has been seized with a sudden and dangerous illness, said to be apoplexy. The inquest has conse quently been adjourned for a week. The Kelly gang are still at large. No thing has been seen of them since the Euro a outrage and bank robbery. A Medical Defence Association has been formed in Melbourne, to check the in discriminate abuse of medical charities, to suppress illegal practice, to alter the mode of electing medical officers to various charities, and to obtain more equitable remuneration from Government, municipal bodies, insurance companies, and benefit societies. A resolution was also passed, condemning the present method of medical appointments by Government. New South Wales.

The New South Wales Land Bill has been introduced by the Lands Minister. It reduces the value of improvements from £1 to 10s an acre, and extends the time for improving to five years. In the Assembly the Minister of Works stated that 66 locomotives would be given for manufacture to local engineers—the total sum to be paid to contractors to be £222,514. . The Council has inserted in the Parlia mentary Privileges Bill a proviso that no act. done or words spoken or written, shall be dealt with as contempt or breach of privilege by either House unless done, spoken, or written in the Chamber, or within the precincts of the House. Government are considering the ques tion of combining with Victoria to erect a bridge over the Murray to unite the railway systems of the two colonies. Sir H. Parkes states that Government intend submitting a clause in the Corpora tion Bill, authorising the Council to impose a wheat tax.

Intense heat prevails ; 125 deg. in the shade. Fourteen deaths have occurred from sun-stroke during the last 10 days. The brig Iserbrook, recently burnt, has been pumped out, and the body of Capt. Fraser found floating under the floor of the cabin, through which a hole had been burned.

The date of Sir. H. Robinson’s depar ture is indefinite.

The report of the A. S. N. Co. for the past half-year shows a loss of £5,806, due to the seamen’s stiike. South Australia.

A number of gentlemen are attempting to establish trotting as a sport in Adelaide. The Althrope lighthouse will be illu minated for the first time on Feb. 14.

Many bush fires and a few cases of sun stroke are reported. The amount of damage done by bush fires is estimated at £2,000. At a meeting of stock-owners to strength en the hands of the Meat Preservation Co., £1,900 was subscribed in the room, and an influential Provisional Committee was formed. A four-oared -whale boat was washed ashore at Double Island Point, branded “J. Palmer, Levuka.” The beach at Inskip Point is strewn with cocoanuts. Parliament is prorogued until March 18. Retrenchment is initiated in some Govern ment Departments, especially in the Customs. Difficulties connected with the late strike still remain unsettled.

Queensland exhibits at the Paris Exhi bition have been awarded a diploma of honour, Wo gold, fifteen silver, and 21 bronze medals, besides 33 certificates of honourable mention.

BOYHOOD OF EDISON, THE INVENTOR.

At twelve he began the world as train-boy on the Grand Trunk Railroad of Canada and Central Michigan. To one who has noticed the precocious self-possession, the flippant conversational powers, and the sharp financial dealings of the young persons who for the most part abound in it, it does not seem a profession for the cultivation of a spirit of quiet research or the most thorough acquirement of the sciences and arts. But it is fair to presume that Master Edison at this time had no very comprehensive scheme of develop ment prepared. It offered the moat available means of a livelihood. He went into it with such a will that in course of time he became an employer of labour, having four assistants under him for the disposal of his wares. He is not averse to recur to the humors of this part of his life. “ Were you one of the kind of train boys,” he has been asked, “ who sell figs in boxes with bottoms half an inch thick ? ” “ If I recollect right,” he replied, with a merry twinkle, “the bottoms of my boxes were a good inch. ” There exists a daguerrotype of the train-boy of this epoch. It shows the future celebrity in a chubby-faced fellow in a glazed cap and muffler, with papers under his arm. The face has an expansive smile—not to put too fine a point on it, a grin. Yet there is something honest and a littlo deprecat ing in it instead of impudence. He was,

as will be shown, an eccentricity among train-boys, and was no doubt sensible of it. He looks like a fellow whose glazed cap a brakesman would touzle over his eyes in passing, while thinking a good deal of him all the same. His peculiarity consisted in having established in turn, in the disused smoking section of a springless (fid baggage car, which served him as a head-quarters for his papers, fruit, and vegetable ivory, two industries not known to train-boys in general. He surrounded himself with a quantity of bottles and retort stands —made in the railroad shops in exchange for papers —procured a. copy of “ Fresenius’ Qualitative Analysis,” and while the car bumped rudely along con ducted the experiments of a chemist. By hanging about the office of the “ Detroit Free Press ” in some spare hours, he acquired an idea of printing. A.t a favorable opportunity he purchased from the office three hundred pounds of old type, and to the laboratory a printing office was added. It seems to have been by a peculiar, good-natured, hanging round process of his own, with his eyes extremely wide open and sure of what they wanted to see, that his practical in formation on so many useful subjects was obtained. He learned something of me chanics and the practical mastery of a lo comotive in the railway shops, and ac quired an idea of the power of electricity from telegraph operators. With his printing office he published a paper—the l< Grand Trunk Herald.” It was a weekly, twelve by sixteen inches, and was noticed by the London “ Times,” to which a copy had been shown by some traveller, as the only journal in the world printed on a railway train. The impressions were taken by the most primitive of all means —that of pressing the sheets on the type with the hands, and were on but one side of the paper. Baggage-men and brake men contributed the literary contents. In 1562, during the battle of Pittsburg Landing, the enterprising manager con ceived the idea of telegraphing on the head-lines of his exciting news, and having them pasted on bulletin boards at the small country stations. The result was a profitable venture, and the first awakening- of interest on his side in the art of telegraphing, in which he was destined to play such a remarkable part. During this time he continued his reading with unabated industry. His train carried him to Detroit where there were advantages he had never enjoyed be fore. An indication of his thirst for knowledge, of a naive ignoring of enor mous difficulties, and of the completeness with which the shaping of his career was in his own hands, is found in a project formed by him to read through the whole public library. There was no one to tell him that all of human knowledge may be found hi a certain moderate number of volumes, nor to point out to him ap proximately what they are. Each book was in his view, a distinct part of the great domain, and he meant to lose none of it. He began with the solid treatises of a dusty lower shelf, and actually read, in the accomplishment of his noble pur pose, fifteen feet in a line. He omitted no book, and skipped nothing in the book. —“ Scribner” for November.

Monday, February io, 1879.]

THE EVENING ECHO.



Ironmongery. ORR & CO. Would call Special attention to THEIR STOCK OF IRONMONGERY. A Fine assortment of Carpen ters’ Tools now landed. Ironmongery. Parties Furnishing should in spect our Stock of Plated Goods — TEA POTS, CRUET STANDS, BUTTER DISHES. TEA AND COFFEE SETS, TABLE CUTLERY, &c., &c., &c. IRONMONGERY. STOVES, RANGES, GRATES, FENDERS, and FIREIRONS. These Goods are imported di rect by ourselves, and will be sold at prices below anything hitherto offered in Ashbur ton. IRONMONGE RY. Harvesting Tools — Hay Forks, Rakes, Scythes, &c. McCORMACK’S Reapers and Binders. No farm should be without one. Can cut and tie even if the Straw is only 9 inches long. No necessity for wire. BUY A M c C OR MACK, AND SAVE YOUR STRAW. 200 DOZEN HORNSBY’S PLOUGH SHARES, Landing ex “ Hurtjnui.” Orr & Co., EAST STREET, ASHBURTON.



New Advertisements. WANTED TO PURCHASE, SMALL COTTAGE and Section, near Town Belt. Apply to ALFRED HARRISON, 358 Auctioneer, &c. NOTICE. ALL Persons indebted to the late Firm of Firth, Pass, & Co. will oblige by Settling their Accounts before the Ist March, 1879. 357 J. H. PASS & CO. PRELIMINARY NOTICE. SPANISH RESTAURANT (Late Eagle’s Boarding. House), HAVELOCK STREET, Ashburton, Near Town Hall, and Two Minutes’ walk from Railway Station. rjpHIS well-situated and commodious House has just been thoroughly reno vated, and is being refurnished and sup plied with every comfort. Boarders and the Travelling Public will find a Good Table, Superior Accommoda tion, and Best Attention, combined with VERY LIBERAL CHARGES. Meals : Tea or Breakfast, Is. ; Dinner, Is. 6d. ; Beds, Is. and Is. 6d. J . COTTON, Proprietor. 359 CHEAP VALENTINES. CHEAP VALENTINES. CHEAP VALENTINES. gALANCE of Stock to be CLEARED 3UT at about COST PRICE. VEERS AND DIXON, Printers and Publishers, East-st. N., Ashburton.