The Evening Echo. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1879.

Oh, sic a parish, Oh, sic a parish, Oh, sic a parish Was drucken Dunkeld ; They’ve hangit the minister, Drooned the precentor, Pu’d doon the steeple, S An’ drucken the bell i —Old Scotch Song. The above sweet little dity is, to say the least of it, somewhat rough on one of the prettiest little towns in the Perth shire Highlands, and though the men of the Duke of Athol’s country can still do their fair share of square whisky drink ing, we' scarcely think the echo of the past century we quote above is any thing, within a very long way, like what the Dunkeldonians are in regard to their bibulosity. A traveller in the Scotch Highlands is said once to have met a shep herd in an out-of-the-way glen, and, in conversation with the lonely keeper of sheep, asked him how he did, when he was taken ill, so far from a town or village. The man of kilt and plaid at one* replied “I tak’ a sup whisky.” “ But,” suggested the traveller “ that might not do ; how then ?” The shep herd “ Oh, tak’ a sup mair.” The pos sibility of the faiuro regarding even the second “ sup ” was suggested—but the shepherd had pinned his faith as much to his whisky as he had to his kirk and his hills, and he at once replied in hi 3 broad dialect that, if whisky failed to work a cure, “deilheit” (nothing else) would have any effect;. There is one redeeming feature in the Highlander’s fondness for his whisky, say his defenders, and that is, as he makes or superintends the manufacture of his own tipple—unknown to her Majesty’s officers of excise, with all their nose power—he knows exactly what he is drinking and can vouch for the purity of the spirit. Whether this knowledge has any influence in keeping John Highlandman out of the clutches of those blue demons that dance round the brain of the -dipsomanaic ; or the want of it acts in a reverse way on the unfortunates brought so often before our Magistrates’ Court, we cannot say—but our reports of the business of that Court show an appaling state of things in regard to the number of men charged before it with “ lunacy from drink. ” Thanks to Ashburton’s blue army of peace and their able Sergeant, the blue demoniacally possessed have never yet essayed “ hanging the ministers,” pulling down the bell-tower, or “ drinking the bells. ” But if we go on manufacturing “lunatics from drink ” at the rate we are now doing, there is no saying how soon the wisdom may become apparent of quietly removing all the rev. gentlemen to a place of safety, and stowing away the fine triplet of tinklers, to whose sound we have so recently been introduced, lest the whole category share the fate of the un fortunate minister, psalm-singer, bell, and bell-tower of “drucken Dunkeld.”

A few weeks ago an authority on the mat ter reported that Ashburton had contri buted to the lunatic asylum more lunatics from drunkenness than any other district in the Colony, and our daily experience goes far to prove that we are likely to keep up our unenviable notoriety. What is the cause of it? Is it because the town and district sprang into notice with a bound, and advanced by a single step from a puny hamlet and a howling wilderness to an important town and a wealthy tract of cul tivated country, that all the tag-rag and bobtail fled hither, as to another Cave of Adullam, in the track of the warm men who have made the town and district what it is ? and are we only now, by the natural course of events, dropping from the mass the rotten ones that could not bear the test of time ? Or must we seek the cause

in the associations of our community ? Is the power of our drinking habits so exceptionally great in the Ashburton dis trict as to bear down the self-control and the reason of more men than succumb to alcohol in any other district 1 Or is the drink itself sold amongst us of such a cruelly potent character* and possessed of such destructive properties to the intel lects of those indulging in it, that so many of our fellow-men go down before its influ ence 1 We cannot believe that Ashburton liquor is in any way different from that sold in other towns in the Colony, and we must," therefore, come back to the reason assigned by Good Templar Jago in his recent lecture in the Town Hall, viz., that drinking is the cause of drunkenness, and long-continued drunkenness ends in “ lunacy from drinl. ” Ashburton is—well, if we say “ blessed we shall offend our temperance readers, if we use a word expressive of the reverse of blessing we shall, perchance, offend those who are not advocates of temperance, so we will steer a middle course, and say,—pos sessed beyond ordinary of facilities for drinking. Long ago we made this state ment, and subsequent events bear out our assertion. From whatever point we ap proach the town, the first institution we meet is a hotel, and we readily allow we have in those some of the' best in Canter bury ; but surely, with the ugly rifeness and increase of alcoholic lunacy staring us in the face, the Licensing Bench will not add more licenses to the existing list; if they do, we only "hope that they will, with equal consistency, ask the County Council to plant alongside their new Hospital an asylum for dipsomaniacs, and crave for a Commission to enquire into the cause of our high per centage of men who ‘ ‘ take qn enemy into their mouths to steal away their brains.”

Rechabites. Public Meeting, A public meeting will be held, to-night to inaugurate a Tent of Recliabites for Ash burton. The meeting will be held in the Town Hall, and will be addressed by Mr. J. T. Smith, from Christchurch, and some others.

New Zealand (South) Congregational Mission. —To-night a meeting will be held in the Young Men’s Christian Association Rooms of Christians holding Congrega tional views, and others interested in the spread of the Gospel, to confer with the Rev. B. T. Hallowes, 8.A., of Timaru, and the Rev. E. Walker, of Christchurch, on the subject of Congregational exten sion. Those rev. gentlemen are now r on a visit to Ashburton in the interests of the New Zealand (South) Congregational Mission, the objects of wdiich are—To employ mission pastors to act temporarily as ministers of infant churches ; to enrol names of ministers and members of Con gregational Churches who will Conduct, or take partin, a series of ordinary evangel istic services, services for children, or the regular services of the church ; and to secure land in eligible localities as sites for future Congregational Churches. The “ Congregational Mission ” was organised at a meeting of Congregationalists from various parts of the Middle Island, held at Dunedin, in October last, and the visit of the Revs. Hallowes and Walker to Ash burton and other towns on the line is a commencement made. Young Men’s Christian Association. —The usual weekly meeting of the Ash burton Young Men’s Christian Association was held in their room, Montgomery’s Buildings, East-street, last evening. There was a good attendance of members and friends. The subject chosen for con sideration was “Joshua, the High Priest,” Zech. iii. At the close of the meeting it was intimated that Mr. Waddell would deliver a lecture in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening next, to which the members and the general public are in vited. It is entitled “Victories of Christianity a proof of its Divine origin.” As Mr. Waddell is acknowledged to be a very able lecturer, we have no doubt many of our readers will take advantage of the opportunity to hear him. Fire Brigade. —The Brigade had a practice in Moore-street yesterday evening, the water being supplied from a shallow well sunk by Mr. G. Compton, and, as was expected, the well could easily keep the engine going, although finally the nozzle was taken off the hose to reduce the pres sure and test the well to the engine’s utmost power. At no time could the water be reduced more than 3 inches, although it was- calculated that the engine was throwing 100 gallons a minute. Two new members joined immediately after prac tice, and the Brigade has still an opening for a few active young men.

The Governor’s Levee. —Yesterday afternoon, His Excellancy the Governor held an undress levee at the Provincial Council Chambers, Christchurch. At a few minutes after one o’clock His Excel lency, accompanied by Lord JELavvey Phipps, Mr. Le Patourel, and Major Lean, entered the Chambers, and shortly after wards addresses were read to him from the City Council, and the Selwyu County Council. • A large number of the leading men of Canterbury were presented to His Excellency.

Auckland Citv West. —For this seat two candidates are up—Dignan and Goldie. The contest will be fought on the denomi national education cry, raised by the Catholics. A Christian Pure and Simple.— -One of the valuers for Thames County, under the Land Tax Act, 1878, has had a form returned to him endorsed as follows : “ Being a Christian pure and simple, and a pilgrim earth waiting for my Lord from Heaven and for the city of my Lord —new Jerusalem —I hold no property, landed or otherwise, on earth. I am simply a lodger in the house I reside in, and must refer you to ‘ who is the owner thereof. ’ ”

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

ASHBURTON BOYS.

To the Editor Evening Echo,

Sir,—The paragraph in your yesterday’s issue, regarding the choice language of the Ashburton children surprises me so much that I am tempted to ask, in regard to the paragraph,—“ Is Saul also among the prophets'?” —I am, &c., Saw Bench.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

SPECIAL TO ASSOCIATION.] London, Feb. 8- A strike of engineers has commenced. 2000 men belonging to eighteen London firms are engaged in it. Feb. 10. The Admiralty reports that the Thunderers gun missed fire and was re loaded. Both charges were then, fired and caused the explosion.

AUSTRALIAN

[By Submarine Cable.]

Sydney, Feb. 12. Nothing further has been heard of the Kellys. It is supposed that they have re turned to Victoria. A number of police have bean sent from Sydney to asssit the troopers. Page, for absconding Secretary of the Building Society in Melbourne, has been arrested here, charged with embezzlement. He was found hidden in the chain locker of a steamer from Brisbane.

The Kellys traversed Urana on Friday incognito. The Assembly last night declared the seat the Orange vacant, owing to Mr. Coombes having accepted the post of Executive Commissioner for the Colony at the Paris Exhibition, this being held to be an office of profit under the Crown. Cooktown, Feb. 12. • The French troops have disembarked. Three men caught beating Rees, a but cher, to death, were arrested. Brisbane, Feb. 12. The Peak Down mine liquidates on tri bute. Melbourne, Feb. 12. The Somersetshire has arrived. Dr. Crooke in his evidence to-day attributed his illness to an overdose of chloral. A tornado at Camperdown Bay yesterday caused great damage.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, Thursday.

At the meeting of the Education Com mission, Dr. Campbell was examined re the Girls’ High School, and Colonel Haultain respecting the Auckland College and University} matters,[also St. John’s and Parnell Grammar School. WAIRARAPA RACES. Wellington, Thursday. The attendance was good. Maiden Plate, of 50 sovs., 1J mile—Merlin 1, Barbelle 2, Black Prince 3. Won easily ; time, 2min. 48#ec. Wairarapa Stakes, 100 sovs. —Bribery, 1; Lara, 2; Danebury, 3. Won in a canter. Time, 5 minutes and 56 seconds. Mufti, Laertes, and Harkaway were scratched.

, Dunedin, Thursday. John Patrick Egan, one of the lords-in waiting in “Henry V.,” at the Princess Theatre, fell down a flight of steps last night and fractured his spine. He is not expected to recover. Collett, the railway guard who was badly crushed between the trucks, is sup posed to be dying. Typhoid fever has broken out in North Dunedin.

A dipsomaniac named Jowitt —brother to the Chairman of the Clutha County Council —was sent to gaol for one week for stealing a silver brooch from a jewel ler’s bench. He pleaded that for three days he was unconscious of his acts. Invercargill, Thursday.

A large meeting has appointed a com mittee to act with the Volunteer Com mittee for the Easter demonstration of the Middle Island Volunteers.

Six cases of trespass, involving aggregate damages of £B4O, are now before the Magistrates. Mr. Conyers goes home to-morrow. Walsh manifested little emotion when informed of his fate. “ The Times ” denounces the Govern ment for nominating two thorough Go vernment supporters on the Bluff Harbor Board. The appointment gives public satisfaction.

ARRIVAL OF THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

TELEGRAPH SUMMARY Auckland, Thursday. The mail steamer Australia, arrived this morning at 9 o’clock. She was detained at San Francisco thirty-six hours owing to the non-arrival of the English mails. Her news is to the 21st January, of which the following is our telegraphed summary : The North Wales- Miners’ Association and North Wales Union are 7 giving £l4 each to members of these bodies emigrating to Australia.

A colliery explosion at Rhondda Valley, Pontypridd, has killed 60 persons. Sir M. M. Hayter has been drowned. Great distress followed the suspension of the Cornwall Bank.

, The Marquis of Tweedclale is dead. The Town Council of Cork refuses to receive - the ex President of the United States, General Grant, because of his Anti-Catholic sentiments. In Dublin he was presented with the freedom of the City, and was magnificently feted in Bel fast, and the North of Ireland generally. Dean Stanley is to return to America. The Oldham cotton strike is over. The distress in England is increasing. 650 persons are daily relieved in Man chester alone. Sir James F. Stephens has been ap pointed Judge of the High Court, vice Sir Anthony Cleasby resigned. Mr, Gladstone proposes to contest Mid lothian, in Scotland, at the next election. 5000 English emigrants sailed for New Zealand recently. The Oxford Boat Club declines to row the American Harvard College Club. The Duke of Edinburgh is to be ap pointed Admiral of the North American station, and the rumor is revived that the Duke of Connaught is to be Viceroy of Ireland. The Birmingham and Midland Literary Institute has been burned down. 80,000 volumes were destroyed, 8000 which formed the largest Shakespearian collection in the world There have been large floods in England and Scotland. The Thames is filled with floating ice, and traffic in parts has been suspended. Princess Caroline of Hesse is dead. Lord Beaconsfield has fully recovered. The troops of the Peshawur column in Afghanistan have settled down for the winter. An imposing durbar was held at Jellala bad on the Ist January by Sir H. Brown. The feeling of the chiefs is friendly, and the troops’ health good. Stewart’s command had encamped on the Ghuznee road after marching through Candahar. It is reported that Yakoob, Khan has fled from Cabul, leaving the army dis organised. Bismarck is preparing a Bill giving authority to open all letters on the frontier.

The German Government intend to send a naval force to Samoa to demand the recognition of her alleged rights. Russia is endeavoring to prolong the time of occupation. Switzerland has voted in favor of a sub vention to the St. Gothard and other Alpine railways. A heavy run on the London and County Bank was caused by a mob assembling in front of the building to listen to a dispute between a cabman and his fare. The reserves of the bank are not affected.

Twenty persons were recently killed by a collision on the Warsaw railway. Two thousand’ and forty-five (2,045) Communists have been pardoned by MacMahon. , , / 1 M. Conyasa and Co., London merchants, have failed for £BO,OOO.

AMERICAN SUMMARY.

San Francisco, Jan. 21. A second vessel fully laden has left New York for Sydney with American articles for the August Exhibition. Jan. 4. A delegation of Chicago merchants has gone to the City of Mexico for the pur pose of extending trade. Severe earthquakes were felt in Florida. Mrs. Anderson, an Englishwoman, walked 2700 quarter miles in as many hours at Brooklyn. Caleb Cushing is dead. Scarlet fever is raging in New York. European steamships are delayed at New York harbor by the ice. Archbishop Parkell of Cincinnati, a prominent Roman Catholic Prelate, has become bankrupt and resigned. Specie payments were resumed by the United States Government on Jan. Ist. Paper is now generally preferred to gold. The Grant Powder Works, San Fran cisco, have exploded. Three persons were killed, and a loss of 5000 dols. was sus tained. Wm. H. Vanderbilt is about starting a line of steamers between New York and Liverpool. A fire in Broadway involved a loss of 2,000,000 dollars ; a second one in Ninth street, 2,000,000 dols.

The Gisborne Fire.— The insurances on properties destroyed by the fire at Gis borne on Tuesday, are as follows :—The Bank of New Zealand was insured in.the, N.Z. Insurance Company for £650 ; the Albion Hotel and furniture for £I6OO in the New Zealand and £4OO in the Victoria. Adams’ stock was insured in the Victoria for £SOO, National £SOO, Transatlantic £IOOO, Norwich Union £SOO, Union £SOO, Standard £SOO, New Zealand £3OO, and the store in New Zealand for £3OO. The brick building being erected for the Bank was insured in the New Zealand for £IOOO. The same company had a risk on Bradley’s stables of £llO. Mr. Bradley estimates his net loss at £3OO. Adair, the stationer’s, insurances were—National £3OO, Hawkes’ Bay £4OO, Union £4OO. His.loss is £SOO. Good, jeweller’*, was insured in the Standard for £4OO. He saved £SOO. The net loss is £9OO, his stock being valued at nearly £2OOO. Best, the draper, loses £IOOO. A Man in Petticoats. —A singular development transpired at Fort Lincoln on Nov. 28. Mrs. Sergeant Noonan, who died the night before, turns- out to be a man. : Mrs. Noonan was a laundress at the post, a and most popular midwife. She had been married three months, and was one of the widows of the Custar massacre. Her husband is a member of the Seventh cavalry, now in the field. There is no explanation of the unnatural union, except that the supposed woman was worth 10,000 dol., and was able to buy her hus band’s silence. She has been with the Seventh cavalry for years.

THE MODERN RAKE’S PROGRESS.

(From the World.) The typical rake of to-day is a develop ment very different from him whom once we knew. He may be still drunken and resolute, but lie is a drunkard of the de bilitated, enfeebled, spiritless order—a brandy-anil-soda tippling, cigarette smoking, stuttering specimen of sesquipe dalian humanity. He staggers about upon carnival occasions just as in the old. days, but there is nothing firm at other moments in his tread, nothing strong, nothing manly. It may be titled blackguardism, but it is blackguardism without any of the old rollicking virility- and self-assertion which his predecessor had. To the rake’s progress, as the rake’s progress is now ordered, the possession of a wife is appa rently as indispensable as the accumulation of colossal liabilities. He must be in debt to all sorts of people—tradesmen, trainers, silversmiths —and he must have a wife. He may not be able to relieve himself of the' first, but he will not have the slightest difficulty in relieving himself of the second. His creditors may meet and meet in vain. One arrangement after another as to the disposition of his estate and the parceling out of his revenues may be arrived at, and may fail. But there will be no such delay in the conclusion of her plans by the lady with whom by his side he has recently reeled to the altar. Supposing that by any chance the rake of the last century had reached his pitch of degradation, he would at least here have firmly planted-his foot. There was yet , one dissyllable which would have irre pressibly stirred the smouldering fires of his manhood. This is an era of dan gerous rancour which we have outlived', and the representative of rakishness h la mode is on capital terms with the excellent fellow who has put a common friend “on ' to a real good thing. ” Rakes high and low have divested them selves of any scruples about washing their dirty linen in public. The more public the proceeding the better; for the greater the publicity the spicier the relish. So very great is the thirst for publicity in these days that the fierce light of the police court or the divorce courtis invoked to intensify the glare, just as we are pre paring to supersede the dull glow of gas by the superior illuminating power of electricity. There was, after all, a timid reserve about the rake as we once knew him. He was not then sufficiently familar with the publishing power of club smoking rooms, and the organised agencies of club gossip. The first thing that the rake of to-day aims at is that he should be talked about; the second, that he should stand, or sit, or reel, the hero of the knot of talkers. He must do something eccentric, and the more eccentric the better. If he is a stripling and he happens to meet the woman of Samaria, he at once proposes marriage, and it may even be the. offer is accepted. Maidenly beauties have no charms for. him. He has probably seen , quite enough of them already, and his boyish days have been spent in a seclusion which makes him turn to the brilliant fascinations of less shrinking sirens. In that case the rake’s career is still before him. He has begun with infatuation, and it will be hard if he cannot graduate very rapidly in infamy. And what does society say about it all ? Why, society smiles and chuckles and sneers and leers, and says it is very shocking, and forgets all about it. There was a time when it would have done something more. But now society wisely asks who it is that should throw a stone at its more unfortunate members. Rakish ness, it reflects, is only a stage of develop ment, and the freaks of rakishness are the errors of inexperience. The “ vie orft geuse,” in whatever form is but a transi tion state; and though ignominy, misery, and dishonor are incidental to this condi tion, society is satisfied that it will all come right in the long-run, and will be ready at the proper moment to pass a complete act of unconditional amnesty.

The Murderer Walsh. —Mr. Stuart, the Invercargill Sheriff, received yes terday information of the posting of the warrant for the execution of W alsh. He communicated the fact to the prisoner, who did not display any emotion. :In all pro bability the sentence will take effect about the beginning of the week.

The Microphone as a Thief-catcher has proved very useful to an English resi dent in India, who found his store of oil rapidly and mysteriously diminishing. He fixed a microphone to the oil cans, carried the wire up to his bedroom, and, after the house had been closed for the night, sat up to await the result. Very shortly he heard the clinking of bottles, followed by the gurgling sound of liquor being poured out, and running ‘ down stairs he caught hi* bearer in the act of filling small bottles with oil for easy conveyance from the pre mises.

The Fortifications of Constantinople, consisting of two parallel lines of defence, are being actively proceeded with, and when completed will be armed with 800 guns of large calibre. In other respects also the Porte is preparing for anything in the form of hostilities. Since the armis tice 29 vessels loaded with rifles and can nons have arrived at Constantinople, principally from America. Several sug gestions from Hobart Pasha, as to the re-organisation of the navy , are also to be carried out. .

Shakespeare is greatly relished by the Chinese of California, and Othello has lately been played at a Mongolian theatre in San Francisco. Some slight innovations however, weie introduced to suit local tastes; for instance, the plot on the tragedy was made to turn entirely upon the identification of Desdemona’s hand kerchief, which is recognised to slow music in the last act by a four-bitter laundryman.

Thursday February 13, 1879.]

THE EVENING ECHO.



Ironmongers.



IRONMONGERY Ex “ Times ” and “ Mennock ” from London. OKU & CO. A RE iCOW LANDING the following GOODS from the above-named Shipn CHAFF CUTTERS, Small to Extra Large. HORSE GEARS, One, Two, and Three Horse. Fencing Wire, Nos. 8,9, and 10. Blue Stone, in 1 cwt. kegs, - Fencing Staples. Hay Forks, 2 and 3 prong. Park’s Spades. Lindon’s Spades. Potato Forks.



Plough s : RANSOM & SIMS’, 2 and 3 Furrow. HORNSBY’S, Single Furrow, gkeitb Blades and Plough Fittings. Harrows, Howard’s. Ransom and Sims’ Ploughshares. Hornsby’s ditto. Boiled and Raw Oil. Lard Oil. Bolts and Nuts, all sizes. Bar and Rod Iron. Locks and Hinges. Brass Foundry. Carpenters’ Tools. Blacksmiths’Tools. Portable Forge. Blacksmiths’ Bellows. Files and Rasps. Sewing Twine. Plough and Trace Chain. Coil Chain. Rope, all sizes. Avery’s Weighing Machines, 4 to 8 cwt. Spring Balances, 25 to 400 lbs. Steelyards, 150 to 500 lbs. Scales and Weights. 1 case Table Cutlery, a fine assortment 1 case Plated Spoons and Forks. 1 case Tea and Coffee Pots, Plated. House and Cattle Bells. Plasterers’ Sieves and Trowels. Wire, Brass, and rfair Sieves. Butchers’ Choppers and Cleavers. Hollow-ware, all sizes, Tinned and Enamelled. Furnace Pans, Cast and Galvanized Iron. * Ditto, Copper, 12 to 25 gallons. Pumps and piping. Stoves, Cooking and Office. Ranges and Grates. Horse Shoes, Nails, all sizes. Sash and Floor Cramps. Floor Brads. Brushware, of all descriptions. Fenders, superior quality. Tinware, a fine lot. Cash Boxes, with Chubb’s Locks. OR R. & CO.



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, otherwise they will be inserted till countermanded, and charged accordingly. Standing advertisements may be altered once in three months; additional changes will be charged for according to time tikcn in such; alteration. Special notices can be received up to 3.30 p.m. for insertion over the Leader, but will be charged double scale. New Advertisements. WANTED, to PURCHASE, 10,000 Bushels of BARLEY. Apply to FREDK. PAVITT, 376 East-street, Ashburton. - TO LET, A SIX-ROOMED HOUSE in Tancred Street. Apply 378 ORR & CO. TO LET, A FOUR-ROOMED HOUSE at Trevorton. Further particulars on applying to mog C laiik,* 379* Burnett-street. DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP. is Hereby Given that Mr. -131 Geo. Hooper, of Nelson, has withdrawn from the Firm of Hooper, Aitken, & Co., of Ashburton, and Mr. Thomas Hooper, Junr., is admitted a Partner, and that all debts due to and by the said Firm, are to be respectively re ceived and paid the undersigned who will carry on the business under the style or name of “ Hooper, Aitken, & Co.” THOMAS HOOPER. 377 ' A. 0. AITKEN.