The Evening Echo. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1879.

The Harvest.— There- is every pros pect that harvest will be general all over this district towards the latter end of the week. To-day Messrs Miles, Hassal, and Co., on their Chatmoss and Islesworth estates, have no less than nineteen reapers and binders at work. Complaints are made of the demands made by laborers for wage 3 during harvest, and an instance is mentioned in which 10s 6d an acre was asked for tying on a M‘Cormick machine. An engagement was ultimately made with other workers for 5s 6d an acre. Presbyterian Soiree. —Last night the annual soiree of the Presbyterian Church was held in the Town flail. Between 300 and 400 people were present, including a large number of visitors from the country. Tea was served at half-past five o’clock, and the ladies deserve great credit not only for the quantity and quality of the repast provided, but the manner in which it was prepared and tastefully laid out. After everybody had enjoyed the good things, and the tables had been removed, the Chairman (the Bey. Mr. Burnett) addressed the meeting. Addresses were also delivered by the Bev. Mr. Cree, of Leeston, and Mr. Bichards, of the United States, the American humor of : the latter gentleman being very much enjoyed. He told a story from Kansas : — iC A teamster named his four horses as follows : Tli« off leader ‘ Episcopalian,’ because he held his head higher than, and overlooked all> the other cattle; the near-leader ■ Presby terian,’ because he was a safe, sound, jog trot horse; the off-shafter 1 Methodist,’ because he was always wanting. to be stirred up, and had such a lot of go in him; the near-shafter ‘Baptist,’ because he always made for the water, but would neither eat nor drink with the other horses. Bnt, taking the team all round, they worked splendidly together.” Good attention was paid to all the speakers. Music was supplied by a choir under Mr. J. S. Savage, with Miss Gates at the piano, and two or three sacred pieces were per ormed very well. Mr. H. A. Gates con ributed several songs with his usual ability ; notably, his “ Jolly Smiths ” was a great success, and received, as did his every effort, a well-deserved encore. Misses Annie Permain and Emma Savage sang the duet “ The Convent Bells,” and were rapturously applauded. Messrs Min nie and Bobinson gave recitations. The usual votes of thanks were passed to the Chairman, speakers, singers; to Mr Savage for taking charge of the choir ; to Miss Gates for playing that evening, and for kindly taking Mr. Stott’s place at the Church’s instrument during that gentle man’s absence. Thanks were also given to the ladies who took charge of the tables, viz., Mesdames Burnett, Orr, Caldwell, Jones, Leask, M'Donald, Muir, and Dunn; Misses Bobb, Hepburn, Hewston, Boss, Williamson, Gavin (2), and others. School Matters. —Dr. Stewart has re ceived a letter from Mr. Colbom Veel, stating that the Board of Education has set aside a sum sufficient to cover the erec tion of a new house for the master, and an addition to the infant room. Mr. Yeel asks what sites are to be had, and desires the Committee to recommend the most suitable. _ Land Tax Valuer. The valuer under the Land Tax gazetted for this district is Charles Frederick Barker, Christchurch, and his jurisdiction com prises Ashburton Borough, Ashburton, Upper Ashburton, Mount Peel, (part) Mount Somers* and South Rakaia Road Districts.

Ashburton Cases at the Supreme Court. —At the sittings of the Supreme Court, Christchurch, George. Blind pleaded guilty to the charge against, him of breaking into and entering Mr. Fow ler’s store. The case, it -iwill/be >yo membered, caused some stir in Ashburton,;, and the evidence was taken fully before the 8.M., at the time. ; His. Honor yesterday sentenced Brind'to Aa years imprisonment, expressing his regret that no reformatory establishment existed where such yonths as Brind could be placed for a term of imprisonment instead of herding with all classes of felons in the common gaols. A concur rent sentence of one year’s imprisonment was also pronounced upon Brind for the larceny of a watch from a dwelling-house and the theft of wearing apparel from Mr. Fowler’s premises. The case of John Casey, for stealing £4O odds from a Long beach man, in a Christchurch boarding house, was deferred till Wednesday. Begarding the charge of libel brought by Mr. A. Weston against Spencer Stephens, Tinwald, His Honor, as reported by the “ Times,” said “ Publishing a libel which tended to bring a man into disrepute was a punishable offence on account of its tendency to cause a breach of the peace and not on account of any loss it might bring upon the individual libelled. The law, therefore, was, that if you wrote something defamatory of a man and directed it to him in a letter, that would not be good ground for a civil action, as he would lose nothing by it. If that something was published to another, that would be an injury to his character, for which he could bring a civil action. An Appeal to Mr Sheehan.— There is a very important matter affecting the u rights of women” to which we (“ Waka Maori”) are desirous of drawing the atten tion of our native readers —the female sex especially. Women, too frequently, through being married to spendthrift or drunken husbands, lose the possessions inherited by them from their ancestors. In the “ interests of humanity,” we main tain that there should be an alteration in the law with regard to the rights of native women owning land who marry. The law in such cases should make the cere mony of marriage have the effect of con ferring upon the woman for her separate use such estate as she possessed prior to her marriage, or such estate as she might inherit after her marriage. Her property should be so pr.tected by law that her husband could not in any way influence her to alienate it from herself and her children ; and we think the safest way to attain this end would be to make her property inalienable during the period of her coverture. This would effectually save her from beiiig despoiled of her pro perty either by her husband or her hus band’s creditors. We recommend the native women throughout New Zealand to unite in getting up a petition to the Hon Mr Sheehan praying him to. use his influence in getting a law passed next session embodying the above principles. We think a gentleman possessing senti ments of gallantry so generous, and a devotion to the interests of the fair sex so chivalric, as Mr Sheehan is known to possess, could not possibly turn a deaf ear to the prayer of injured beauty and oppressed innocence. Petty Municipal Jobs.— Apparently the Sydney Corporation is in a bad way. For twenty years it has obtained an evil reputation for jobbery, cliqueism, incom petence, and wasteful extravagance. But a reformer, in the person of a Mr M‘Elhane, has been elected as an aider man, and .is going, to make the Corpora tion work straight in the future. How he proposes to do so may be gleaned from a few sentences extracted from his speech in returning thanks. a I believe,’ he said, “ that-in,defeating Alderman Oatley I have defeated the whole of the aldermen whose favor I don’t court, and for whose frownp I don’t care. I .have beep told that every alderman has contributed to secure my opponent’s return. I know that the public is tired of the rotten, dirty way in which things have been carried on. I will • try to stop an alderman milk ing his cows at the expense of the city funds. I have been told that one of the ex-Mayors has £3B of %. ratepayers’ money expended on his own property, and if I find that out I’ll expose it. An other alderman is said to have manure carted to his grounds by Corporation laborers. I will put a stop to that. I admire the courage of the Tammany Bing in going in for a million swindle, but I can’t find words to express my contempt for the aldermen who get their cows milked at the ratepayers’ cost, and who manure their grounds by aid from the city purse.” The Electric Light in Practice.-- The “ Pall Mall Budget ” says It is stated that on the 18th instant the ‘ Times ’ office was lighted by the electric light, the invention . adopted being that of M!r. Bapieff. Six lights were kept burning in one circuit, and in the presence of Lord Bichard Grosvenor and a large party of gentlemen, they were blown out, and in stantly re-ignited automatically. The lights, were lowered just the same as in the case of ordinary, gas. . They were put out altogether, and . each one separately, at the desire of the spectators. It is stated that the “ Times ” office is to he lighted up with the electric light.

Telegraphic. Communication is restored, on the port Darwin line. The United States have an average of over 180 fires per day. The total number of English medical attendants and nurses employed during the late war, was 145, of whom 23 fell martyrs to charity. There are 98,557 more children en rolled this year than last, in the Victorian public schools. All capitation grants to denominational schools aro abolished.

SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

The usual montlJy*: meetingof this Board was held at the office of tlie Board on Thursday, January. 2. ' Present •MessrsC. N; Mackie ; ; (chairman), Neil •Maclean, J. Lambie, and E. S. Coster.— The Chairman stated that he had arranged with the.agent of the Bank: of Hew Zea land, Rakaia, for the rate of interest on the fixed deposits, viz.—£sooo at 6 per cent, for six months, and £IOOO at per cent, for 12 months, and handed in a letter from the Bank agent to that effect. —The Surveyor’s report was read and received. —The Committee appointed for the purpose, reported that they had let the cuttings on Duncan’s road to R. Pattonior the sum of £9O IQs.—The Com mittee appointed to consider what portions of the Back road should be formed, re ported that they considered that the whole of the 14 miles advertised for should be done, and had accepted R. Patton’s tender at 8s per chain for the work.—The re ports of the committees were adopted.— Correspondence was read—From the pro prietors of the Evening Echo, asking a share of the Board’s advertisements. Resolved to comply with their request. —From the Ashburton County Council, with reference to the pound, and asking for the name of the poundkeeper and the scale of pound fees. The Clerk was in structed to forward the information re quired.—From the County Council, ask ing for a copy of the valuation list for 1879, and offering to pay half the cost of the same, also the name of the valuator. The Clerk was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter, stating that the Board would comply with their request. —From the Engineer to the Rakaia and Ashburton Forks Railway Company, in forming the Board that the necessary instructions had been given to the con tractor with respect to the dangerous places on Thompson’s track road.—Moved by Mr Lambie, and seconded by Mr Maclean, ‘‘That a cordial vote of thanks be given to the Chairman (Mr C. N. Mackie), for the very able manner in which he had conducted the business of the Board as Chairman for the past year.” Carried. —Accounts amounting to £653 10s 3d were passed for payment.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[By Submarine.Cable.] [special TO THE “ PRESS ASSOCIATION.”]

Bombay, Jan. 1.

: General Stuart advances on Candahar to-day through the Khojuk Pass. It is stated that the town is weakly garrisoned. The fleet returns- to Ismid, provisions being unobtainable at Artaki. The revenue returns for the December quarter show a large increase. The Governor of Candahar is preparing for a vigorous defence. London, Jan. 1. The Glasgow bank call realised £BOO,OOO. The Secretary has been released, and becomes a Crown witness.

Turkish Commissioners have been ap pointed to surrender Podgoritza to Monte negro. The Glasgow Bank pays five shillings in February. o. ' Jan. 3.

The Khan of Khelat is desirous of co-operating with the British advance on Candahar. ‘ ‘

• The official correspondence in reference to reforms in Asia Minor is published. The Marquis of Salisbury, in a des patch accepts the concessions made by the Porte, as an adequate instalment towards the complete execution of reforms. , The Treasurer of the United States holds forty million dollars in gold. There will be a resumption of specie payments.

[special to the post.]

London, Dec. 30.

General Roberts- held a durbar at Jellalabad, where all the chiefs of the Afghan frontier were assembled, and there he announced to them that henoe forth Great Britain was to be the sovereign power. A riot originating among the students at Kiev produced a great disturbance and bloodshed. The troops were called out and fired among the rioters, with the re sult that 80 students were killed.

AUSTRALIAN

Sydney, Jan. 6. The strikers have resumed work. . The Exhibition Commissioners, com mence sitting to-morrow.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

From the. New Zealand, Press Asso ciation to the “Echo.”

Auckland, Monday.

Mr. H. Kissling, solicitor, died yester day afternoon from typhus fever. He was the son of the late ; Archdeacon Kissling. His funeral was attended by a large number of people. To-day an inquest was held upon the body of Mrs. Brydon at Papakura. She died suddenly, on Saturday at her own house. She "Was seized with a strong desire to vomit, as if troubled with bile, and took some mustard and water as an emetic. She was shortly after found dead ip bed. The cause of death was disease of the heart, The Customs revenue collected at Auck land during the last week was £3415 7s 10d, The amount collected on Satur day and to-day was £1465 12s 7d. The barque Stag is now lading; timber at Maketu for Tinjaru, She is expected tb sail on Friday,

New Plymouth, Monday.

Te Whiti having heard a rumor that the;. Natives were assembling at Pariahaka to’ arrange for fresh fighting, has sent mes sengers out to contradict the statement. They are authorised to tell tho Natiyes, and to make it generally known, that there is to be no more fighting in the district. ' A- : Cobb’s second coach from Inglewood to Hawera did the journey in eight hours. The driver, says he could do it in four if the road were clear. Out of 81 sections offered at auction at the Government land sale, only 13 were sold. The Hannah Mokaa has arrived at Waitara from the Manukau and Mokau. On entering the river she struck on a snag and carried away part of her propeller. She leaves for the Manukau on Wednes day. Invercargill, Monday. ! The nomination of candidates for the representation of Mataura in the House of Representatives, took place to-day. Mr. H. Jaggers proposed Mr. Shanks. Mr. S. Morton nominated Mr. Andrew Kinross. Wellington, Monday. The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse’s sale to the Hon. John Martin comprises 34,000 acres af land, fenced, 33,000 sheep, 700. head of cattle, 40 horses, implements, buildings, &c. The price was £85,000. The post mortem examination on M’Elwan, who died on Saturday, shows that the cause of death was rupture of the heart. ■ Timaru, Monday. A respectable suit of clothes was found on the banks of the Pareora River to-day. It is supposed that someone has been drowned, but there is no clue to the identity. Dunedin, Monday. A meeting has been held to-day to take steps to relieve the family of the late Captain Hughes, of the steamer Oreti, who was drowned at the Bluff last week. About £SO was collected in the room, and the list will' be circulated and sent to various ports at which Hughes was known.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS.

New Plymouth, Tuesday.

A surveyor will shortly proceed to Mokau for the purpose of surveying the land, prior to its being passed through the Native Lands Court.

The survey party engaged on the Wai mate Plains resumed work yesterday after their holidays. Wanganui, Tuesday.

The schooner Arthur Wakefield has partly discharged her cargo. She was towed into the river by the steamer Clyde. She will re-load and come up to the wharf. The vessel was slightly shaken, and suffered no serious damage. Napier, Tuesday. The fifth session of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, 1.0.G.T., was opened yesterday. The Hon. Mr. Fox, G.W.C.T. presiding. He delivered a congratulatory address on the position of the lodge. Representatives from Auckland, Christ church, Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki were present. Wellington, Tuesday.

The footballers last night agreed to guarantee £2OO towards the expenses of a visit of the English team, or £250 if required. Railway workshops are being erected at Petone, and a steam lathe fitted up.- . Dunedin, Tuesday. ,

A Chinese leper who was confined in a lazar house at Lawrence, made his escape and committed suicide at Waitapuna yesterday. George Brown, an elderly man charged with indecently assaulting a girl 11 years old in August last was discharged at the Supreme Court, evidence as to identity being inconclusive. Margaret Barratt for stealing a watch and appendages belonging to C. E. Haughton, late immigrationist, was sen tenced at the Supreme Court this morning to four years imprisonment; Robert Angus, for stealing a horse, to five years penal servitude. Hyam Lyon Metz re ceived a comparatively light sentence for forgery, as the offence was his first, His Honor, however, said the case was different from that of a half educated man suffering from drink forging a cheque for a few pounds, and he was sentenced to two years hard labor’ James Morgan for forgery, received twelve months. Gilligan’s fortune, is believed to be seventy thousand pounds, it falls to his brother, a draper’s assistant in Dunedin. The latter leaves to-day for Wellington to claim his fortune.

The police authorities are raiding the public houses for gambling. William Maples, of the Occidental, has been fined £lO and costs. Sub Inspector Purdy stated that on the 4th gambling continued all night by professional gamblers, and large sums changed hands. Defendant pleaded guilty but in extenuation said it had been practised by the former pro prietor of the house, and he thought the practice was legitimate. Magistrate Barrister said the licences would certainly be prohibited in future. Auckland, Tuesday.

Tho death of J. IST. Crombie at Mel bourne, en route for Auckland, is announced. He commenced business as a photographer at Nelson in 1854, came to Auckland, and realised a fortune in Cale donian gold mine shares. The third session of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars is to be held at Hamilton, Waikato.

A lad named Win. Mace, resident in Newton, fell from a tree, fracturing his thigh. The Taranaki team left for the Thames, and will play a Goldfield’s eleven to-mor row,

UTILIZING AN OLD PLAY-BILL.

of Russian engineer officers, from their post on the Syr-Daria, ventured into the hostile territory of Bokhara,. with the hope of surveying a portion of it be fore they could be discovered. But they were compelled to relinquish this design by the’, appearance of an overwhelming forced'of Bokhariote horsemen, who quickly surrounded them. Seeing that resistance was impossible, the Russian leader advanced with friendly greetings, and announced himself a 3 a special envoy from the Czar to the Amir, and, in that character, demanded to be led into the presence of that important personage. The ruse worked like a charm, and the party made a triumphal entry into the capital, escorted by their captors. With due ceremony, the gentlemen were ad mitted to an audience, and the chief officer, with great dignity and impressive ness, conveyed assurances of profound re-/. gard from the Czar of all the Russians to his royal brother, and concluded by pre senting his own gold watch and silver handled knife to the Bavage despot, as gifts from his august master to the Amir. Everything was proceeding smoothly, when the Asiatic King upset the whole business by asking for the Czar’s letter— he knew how such matters were always conducted ; of course the great Czar had accompanied his gifts by a letter. At this demand the self-appointed ambassador turned pale as death,; and stood a picture of mute despair. But a young subaltern at his side came to the rescue. With almost a preternatural presence of mind, he drew forth his pocket-book and care fully unfolded an old play-bill of the! Alexander Theatre at St. Petersburg, and. coolly read from it an imaginary letter ol congratulation, winding up by presenting it to the Amir with a profound obeisance His eminence of Bokhara had seen the Czar’s name appended to official documents, and was entirely satisfied by the sight of the huge line “ Alexander ” on the top of the bill, together with the double eagle of Russia, and. the precious play bill was reverently deposited among the archives of Bokhara, where it probably remains to this day, a source of wonder and amusement. v

MARVELLOUS SLEEP-WALKING.

An astonishing incident occurred a few nights ago (says the New York “ Times”), during the run of the Chicago, Milwaukee,. and St. Paul express train, which is duo, at Milwaukee at’midnight. Among the passengers was. a lady.named Dixon, with a family of eight children j seven boys-'X and one girl, the eldest of the former being fourteen years. As the ‘train sped towards Milwaukee, the children one by one dropped asleep. The- train passed Lake station, and was flying over the rails at the rate of fully .thirty miles an hour, when the mother missed her eldest boy, and caught a glimpse of his slender form as it passed through and out upon the platform. She hurried after him, but before she could reach the platform he was gone.. He had' stepped off the car and plunged into the abyss of darkness that shrouded the train and its surroundings. The poor woman - became' frantic with grief when she realised that her idolized son, the eldest of her inter esting flock, had encountered a danger from which the chance of .escape from;; certain death was, perhaps, but one out of one hundred. The remaining occupants of the car were also interested to such an extent that steps were instantly taken to find the conductor, with the - view of . having the. train stopped and backed to the scene of the accident. By the time this % could bo accomplished, however, _) Milwaukee was so close at hand that the conductor concluded to make the depot and send, a party of .yard-men to search the track for the lad. A switch engine ’, was accordingly despatched,, which pro* ceeded as far as Lake Station, where the youth was ■ found' wandering about the platform in a state of bewilderment, rubbing his eyes and . feeling, his shoulder and head, which had sustained slight scratches and- bruises. Beyond these, not the slightest injury could be dis covered. The lad-could give no account of his singular accident. Hd only knew that he had fallen asleep in the car with his brothers and sister, and was awakened by the shock of striking the earth upon his shoulders.: The violence ;of the. con cussion caused him to roll over arid oVqr down the slight embankment of the bed, and by the time he could collect his. scattered senses and regain his feet, the train was out of sight,- Not* : knowing\ ! ; which way to proceed, hewaiidered ; along the track at random, and* soon reached.-;, the platform at Lake where he concluded to remain until daybreak, when the rescuing party came; up. ; The jpyroff the mother on finding her boy safe sound can better be imagined than des cribed, He had passed through a terrible ordeal in a somnambulistic state, and escaped without a sprain or fracture, and no discomfit beyond that occasioned by a few scratches and’bruises. - Mrs. Dixon. was en route from-Montreal 1 to Manitoba,’ 4 in the British possessions, where her husband is at present engaged as a con tractor. ’.-A’

TUESDAY, January % 1879.]

THE EVENING ECHO.



Ironmongery. OR R & co f Would call Special attention to THEIR STOCK OF IRONMONGERY. A Fine assortment of Carpen ters’ Tools now landed. *T:>f■ *• J\ 2t*J.. **:, *.*• *.• t '• ' ■ • ; '■r-'h: ‘ *»•*•;. ■.O • I RON M O N GERY, Parties Furnishing should in spect our Stock of Plated Goods — . TEA POTS, CRUET STANDS, BUTTER DISHES. TEA AND COFFEE SETS, TABLE CUTLERY, Sic., &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. I RO N M O N G E RY. Harvesting Tools— Hay Forks,.; ' V ; ;.... .: ,J Rakes, Scythes, &c. £... i-fU> r '''r' y ‘ ; ’i ■- ■ ■ 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. : Vv ... BUY A McCORMACK, AND SAVE YOUR STRAW. ' . V 200 DOZEN HORNSBY’S PLOUGH* SHARES, . Landing ex " Hurunui.” OR R & C 0., EAST STREET, E; ASHBURTON.



Advertisements for the evening 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. Special notices can be received up to 3-3° p.m.-for insertion over the Leader, but will be charged double scale. _ ' —Quarterlv in advance, us. ; posted, Bs. 6d. ; per annum, in advance, 225. 6d. ; posted, 355. d. ; weekly, paid to collector, 6d. Delivered to any part of the town, and at any of the Railway Stations. Special Notices. FENCING WIReT ~ ; 4)0 TONS Just Received and on Sale at LOWEST PRICES. A O. AITKEN & CO., Havelock Street. PRELIMINARY NOTICE. A LFRED HARRISON begs to /\ announce that on or about the Ist Feb., 1879, he will open a NEW AUCTION MART In Baring Square. A. H. will, make a specialty of Sales of Furniture and Effects, Sales of Stock and Merchandise. ALFRED HARRISON, AUCTIONEER, COMMISSION AGENT, &c., HAVELOCK STREET, ASHBURTON, Near the Town Hall. 213 THE FJvening FJcho NEWSPAPER AND GENERAL PRINTING OFFICE, Has Removed to new buildings, East street North, near Post Office, and next Quill's Hotel.



Strangers coming to reside in ire often at a loss to know which is the best Establishment to visit for ' the purchase- ol • Drapery, Clothing, and House-furnishing Iron* tnongery, and General ■ Stores, j { Orr_ &} Co. offer special advantages to the public that can . be met with nowhere else in Ashburton, tner keep at all times the largest and best-assortc Stock of every class of Goods, imported direq from the leading manufacturers at home, wlncn beina bought entirely upon cash terms, they are enabled to ofler goods of such sterling value a* - cannot be equalled by any other house m tne trade. Eyety article in, stock marked attfjjs | lowest price, Trom which no abatement is so that the must inexperienced buy their goods at the same pi ices as the best judges* AdYt