The Evening Echo. MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1879.

The Afghan campaign has been, since its first commencement, a series of triumphal marches on the part of the British forces, with comparatively little fighting. Only a little over a month has elapsed between the crossing of the Afghan frontier and Yakoob Khan’s submission at Jellalabad. The war against Shere Ali has been a successful one : it has been comparatively an easy one, for our generals were pre pared to fight a vigilant and valorous foe in a dangerous and difficult country, the nature of which ranged the advantages on the defending side. But our army found that there only foe. was Shere Ali, for the minor chiefs were not with him, and left him to settle matters with his western invaders as best he might. Doubtless had ;ur forces found pitted against them those of a united Afghanistan our tele grams would have told another tale, and the incoming of 1879 would have seen the English troops struggling in fierce and bloody warfare for possession of those passes so difficult to wrest from a brave foe, but absolutely necessary to be mastered to gain admission to the country. As it is, from what we have yet learned, the war against Afghanistan is over, and Shere Ali is subdued. The potentate who defied England has fled, and we now hold undisputed possession, so far as the Khan is concerned, of the positions we have gained. But does the submission of the Khan settle the question ? The real fighter was Shere Ali, but the real foe was Russia —a more dangerous because a more treacherous enemy. It was Russia should have been fought to begin with, because it was Russia inspired the Khan’s defiant insolence and drew on the war. What is to be done now ? What will Russia do '! These are questions to be answered by the future. Our Home Government claims to have the most amicable relations with Russia, who in turn gives left handed assurances of reciprocity. But, however strongly the Northern power may assert her peaceful intention, the world has got to look upon her with suspicion, and to return her friendly greetings at a safely-armed distance. England will most probably conduct herself as though she believed —which she does—less in Russia’s pacific meaning than in her conviction that she is not yet ready to clash with British interests in Asia; and doubtless we will hear, when terms have been made with Afghanistan, that those terms will ha re in view advantages useful against a probable Russian difficulty in Asia. It is quite possible, too, that those terms may only be the commencement of the war, and that, should they not suit the book of the Northern wire-puller, he may come out, nominally in Shere All’s aid, but actually to fight for his own hand. The Afghan difficulty will only be solved when Russia learns, by sore experience that it is impossible for her to cross our Indian frontier.

Presbyterian Soiree. The Presby terian soiree takes place to-night in the Town Hall at £ past five o’clock.

Ashburton A. and P. Association. — At the Association’s meeting to-day Mr Calvert, veterinary surgeon, was appointed Secretary to the Association, and amongst other business it was resolved to hold a trial of reapers and binders within the nest fortnight. A suitable paddock of crop is advertised for in tp-day’s paper.

Road Board Election. The annual meeting of ratepayers and election of Road Board members were held to day in the Road Board office. The statement of accounts for the year wa3 submitted, adopted, and ordered to be printed in the local papers. Messas. H. Friedlander, J. Hunt, I>. Wilson, T. Taylor, and J. Clark were nominated for the vacant seats at the Board. Mr. Taylor withdrew, and on a show of hands giving Mr. H. Friedlander the lowest number he withdrew also, not caring to put the ratepayers'to the trouble of a poll—Messrs. Hunt, Wilson, and Clark were thus elected. The Local Elections Act was. then adopted by the meating, and henceforth all elections for the Board will be conducted under it. : The Pulpit. —Yesterday, the Rev. Mr. Cree, of Leeston, exchanged pulpits with the - Rev. Mr. Burnett of Ashburton. Mr. Cree had good congregations at both services, and preached most eloquent sermons —in the morning on “ the Rent Vail,” and in the evening on “ Christ’s Advent.” —The anniversary, sermons in the Wesleyan Chapel were preached by the Rev. Mr. Cannell, of Rangiora, who endeavored, in his morning discourse, to awaken sympathy and practical help on behalf of the unfortunate victims of drink, and showed, by referring to the example of noble individuals, what could be done by personal effort. In the evening Mr. Cannell very impressively urged the neces sity and advantages of present religious decision. The Weather and Crops. The rain of Saturday has freshened up every species of vegetation, and will do a world of good to the pastures, though too late to benefit grain. Harvest has commenced here and there in the sur rounding districts, and the reaper and binder is of course making itself felt as a sweat saver. Though the “harvester” is being extensively bought, there is a great demand for second hand reapers amongst farmers, and a good trade could be done in them. A demand for reapers infers at least the existence of something to cut.

Short Measure. The' bakers in Sydney are crying out against an alleged discrepancy in the -weight of flour imported from Victoria. They say that the Victorian sack of flour weighs on arrival in Sydney considerably short of the weight Victorian merchants represent it to be, and the Sydney bakers have suffered accordingly. A meeting of master bakers has passed the following resolutions on the subject :—“ That in future all flour purchased by the bakers of Sydney shall be not less than 200 lb net per sack, and 2000 lb net per ton.

Flower Festivals.— The Good Tem plars of Sydney have initiated a series of flower festivals. All the subordinate lodges meet together in one lodge once a month. Each member wears a button hole or hand bouquet and the lodge furniture is lavishly decorated with flowers. By this means the lodge room presents for the time a very pretty and attractive appearance. The bouquets are afterwards collected and sent, while still fresh, to the Infirmary for distribution among patients. The Last Native. The “ Hobart Town Mercury ” states that the body of Truganini, the last of the Tasmanian aboriginals, which was buried in the graveyard attached to the Cascades Fac tory, has been exhumed, the bones denuded of the flesh, and the skeleton handed over to the Royal Society for scientific purposes. Substitute eor Cod-liver Oil, —A Mauritius correspondent of the “ Sydney Morning Herald ” says that turtle-oil, obtained in large quantities in the dependency of St. Juan de Nova, is be coming an important production. The eminent London physician, Dr. Richard son, pronounces turtle-oil more nutritious and less nauseous than the popular cod liver oil. The new oil is much used in America, where it is highly appreciated. The Incendiary Wasp. —The frequent mysterious burning of haystacks and farmers’ buildings (says a recent New York journal) has led to the suggestion that they are set on fire by wasps’ nests, and that the nests are ignited, by sponta neous combustion. This is produced by the chemical action of the wax in contact with the paper-lilce substance of which the nest is composed, a comparatively small access of oxygen being sufficient to make it burst forth in a blaze. The Socialists, The anti-Socialist Bill in Germany has become law, and has been immediately applied. The Presi dent of Police has already prohibited four associations the Association for the Protection of the Laboring Population of Berlin, the Association for the Communal Affairs of the North-East District, the Association of Tobacco-Workers, and the German Smiths’ Union ; has suppressed the “ Berlin Free Press,” and has pro hibited the circulation of thirty-three non-periodical pamphlets, some of them Gerpian, and some Swiss and American. The “Free Press” immediately reap peared as the “ Tagespost,” but was suppressed again, and it is evident that the freedom of combining and printing is at an end for Socialists in Germany,

The Japanese have been a nation for thousands of years, and have the oldest written history known on the face of the globe.

Photography has not yet penetrated into Persia, the reproduction of living creatures being forbidden, by the Mahom medan religion.

CRICKET.

Ashburton v. Mount Somers,

This match',, which has been looked for ward to with considerable interest by our local cricketers, was commenced in Mr. Hay Smith’s paddock on Saturday last, but was only partially played' when the game was put a stop to by rain. The Ash burton team completed one innings, the feature of which was the collapse of many of the most reliable bats, the excellent hitting of E. Saunders, and the splendid fielding of Bailey and O’Connell. The two teams lunched together at the Commercial Hotel, Mr. Quill providing for their com fort in a highly creditable manner. The appended scores will exhibit the position of the game when abandoned :

ROAD BOARD ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTION.

The Board met at 10 o’clock. Present: Messrs Grigg (in the chair), Hunt, Grigg, and Taylor. Some correspondence was left over for consideration by the new Board. Tenders were opened and accepted for the following works : Christy’s road, shingling, E. Thomas, Is 3d per yard; Cochrane’s road, Silcock, Os 8d per chain. The annual accounts were examined preparatory to submission to the annual meeting of ratepayers. The .accounts showed that the number of miles of road formed by the Board in the district amounted to 154 miles 58 chains 19 links ; shingled, 51 miles 70 chains 32 links, in cluding necessary culverts and bridges at at a cost of £19,283 18s 19d ; cash paid to boit)ugh of Ashburton, £ll3B 5s Id ; advertising, &c., £23218s lOd ; valuation, £240 ; survey, £250 ; clerk and collector, £249 6s 6d ; Board of Health, £3B 8s 4d ; tools, etc., £278 13s. The total revenue amounted from all sources for the year to £13,385 Os Id, added to a balance from last year of £14,543 15s lOd, making a total of £27,928 15s Bd. The present balance in the bank was £6945 4s 2d. The annual meeting of the Board and ratepayers was held at 12 o’clock. There was not a large attendance, and after the statement of accounts had been read to the meeting and questions asked and answered in regard to them, the accounts as read were adopted, and a resolution passed to have them printed in the local papers. The Chairman congratulated the rate payers on the smallness of the working expenses of the Board, which figures— £639 —would compare favorably with those of any other Board in the colony. He then referred to the movement on foot to divide the district into two, and hoped the ratepayers would think over the mat ter. He was not against the idea, and there w r as no opposition to it in the Board itself, but he felt that the work of the two Boards could not be carried on so cheaply as the single Board had been. Mr Hugo Eriedlander, speaking on the matter of the accounts, hoped that in future the statement would be prepared some time previous to the annual meet ing, so that it might be seen by the rate payers. The Chairman said it had been resolved to publish the statement a month previous to future annual meetings. Mr. Wright explained, in reply to Mr, Wilson, that the Board purposed rectify ing the deficiency in No. 3 ward from the first money accruing to the district. Some discussion then took place on the proposed division of the district in which discussion it was pointed out that if a majority of ratepayers desired separation the Government had no. choice but to concede it. The next business was the .nomination of three members to serve on the Board in place of Messrs. Williamson, Hunt, and Taylor. Mr. Hugo Friedlander proposed Mr. D. Wilson; Mr. E. Saunders proposed Mr. Joseph Hunt; Mr. Munro proposed Mr. Hugo Friedlander ; Mr. Bell pro posed Mr. T. Taylor; and Mr. Chapman proposed Mr. Joseph Clark. Mr. Taylor withdrew and a show of hands was taken. Mr. Friedlander having obtained the smallest number of votes withdrew. He had only stood at a request made to him that morning, and did not wish for a poll. The other three were then declared duly elected.

The meeting before adjourning adopted the Local Elections Act after some dis cussion, so that henceforth seven clear days must elapse between the nomination and poll for members of the Board. A vote of thanks to the Chairman con cluded the annual meeting.

At a short meeting of the new Board, held at two o’clock, Mr, Grigg was re elected chairman and the next meeting was fixed for the 3rd February.

Ths newsboys and bootblacks of Cin cinnati gave their earnings for one day to the yellow fever sufferers.

TREES OR NO TREES?

No. I — continued.

Contributed. Next fell the poplars on the Mayor Hobbs’ side of the Cathedral enclosure, and a bare, shadoles3 lawn and prim bor ders, with a dwarf laurel hedge, for the benefit exclusively of the Cathedral archi tect, and the retiring Mayor—who doubt less required “abed of roses” after two years of less Sybaritic experiences—took their place. Perhaps the immediate pre cincts of the Cathedral were so denuded of shade and shelter, that the slow process of its creeping erection might be more plainly visible to the panting public ; for it was a strange anomaly to render the environs of the future diocesan place of Divine wor ship almost as hot as a place which is only mutterableeven in Byron’s famous enigma. Then came the turn of a suburban authority, the Government nominee Domain Board, unchosen by, and irre sponsible to, the people, having uncon trolled power to plant and preserve, or to fell and destroy, as may seem best to their High Mightinesses, over the whole width and breadth of the Parks and Gardens which belong to the unconsulted people of all Canterbury ! A row half-a-mile long of valuable trees —elm, ash, silver birch, oak, Scotch fir, etc.—on the S.E. side of the footpath leading along the edge of the South Parle, from the Hospital corner to near Addington railway gates, was ruth lessly cut down at one fell swoop, without a single wooden exception, and, after lying long enough to become seasoned, carried away ; no one, except the perpetrators of the outrage, knowing how they were dis posed of. Wholesale ‘ £ thinning ” —entirely of valuable trees such as those named above—was carried on, and the timber (averaging the size of a man’s thigh) carried off, all round the S., W., and, in a less degree, on the N. edges of the South Park. Simultaneously, the shady groves of that part of the Gardens nearest to the gates and the river bank were eliminated so as to let in the wind, sandy dust, and sun-glare, and to ruin the habitations of the imported songsters. The walk to Addington, formerly sheltered from the hot morning sun and dust of the road for the benefit of forenoon pedestrians of all classes, was absolutely exposed to those destroyers of comfort. One seat was removed out of the miserly three in the whole South Park, granted for the shady rest of 25,000 souls even then inhabiting the city and suburbs. There has been no public statement of accounts by the Domain Board, shewing the jiroceeds of the timber so prematurely and mis chievously cut down. There were not, to our knowledge, any tenders publicly called for, with a view to its sale ; nor do we remember that it was ever advertised for sale by auction. And yet we have heard a good judge of the value of stand ing timber, young or old, estimate the damage done at that time to the public property in the Park and Gardens together at no less than £2,000 ! Then the- anti foliage ferocity of the city fellers acquired fresh vigor from the example, and they determined upon “ improving ” the West side of the Square, and the beautifully green-fringed banks of the river. “ Down among the dead men ” soon lay the large and graceful gum-trees and contrasting pointed poplars of 20 years’ growth. The unfortunate drivers of cabs, expresses, and heavy carts were as “ little thought of ” as the contemptible country bumpkins and city laborers, whose last dining refuge was axed and sawn away from over them. An artificial grass-plot, of mean dimensions, raised in sand, with a steep glacis, which is already dried up, was placed about the Godley statue, and the speck of green girt with a childish iron railing that any active lap-dog can clear ; outside of which again are paved stands for vehicles, and maca clamisation filled up with light soil before it was steam rolled, thus providing that opposite the slow march of the Godly edifices, the surroundings of the Godly statue should become an ungodly, because uncleanly, dust-pan in the centre of the city ! The felled timber was, we believe, advertised for sale by auction, but so meagrely and at such short notice was this’ done that somebody secured the whole lot for ten shillings ! We are well informed that a boarding-house keeper, who is also a carpenter and cabinet-maker, living close by, would be glad to have given five pounds for it; but its actual value, for both timber and fuel purposes, lying as it did in the centre of the city, was fully ten pounds. Then the worship ful guillotine of the municipal destroyers was employed upon the river banks. Willows that wept gracefully into the water were lopped and trimmed to re semble a poodle’s shaved and tufted tail, so that they no longer act as a dust screen and breakwind from the horrible nor’-westers to the smaller laburnums, ash, sycamore, &c., some of which were therefore blown out of the ground by the the first succeeding gale. The wdiole length of Oxford Terrace, and the passen gers to and fro along it, have been equally exposed to the unobstructed blast ; and, to make matters worse, many trees, large and small, have been sawn off or eradi cated, and in place of the grass on which a tired man might stretch his length, an uncovered surface of loose sandy dust invites the whirling of the storm to hurl it into the eyes of citizens and visitors. For how much the whole fellings and loppings of both banks were sold, or to whom, we have not heard or sought to ascertain. Both the last and the present Mayor are, we are informed, proud of having promoted these barbarities, and the Mayor publicly boasted of the alleged of the. Cathedral Square, as originally suggested by him, and though at first opposed by some, now universally approved. ” We do not envy his Worship and his predecessor for their self-glorifica tion. If he and all the councillors who approve of tree-destruction had had to

inarch in full municipal procession to celebrate their vandalism during a heavy N. W. gale like those of Friday and Satur day -week the whole length of Oxford Terrace and ten times round the Godley statue, without any .refreshment but the water supplied by the one drinking fountain of a city and suburbs containing 30,000 souls, they might have formed a different opinion as to the value of trees for shade, eye-rest, and breakwind. Alas ! it is no more use to lament over felled timber and foliage withered so as never more to burst into spring’s lovely greenery than is crying over spilt milk. The good work of preceding builders, in arbor comfort for thousands, just as it had come to useful maturity, after 20 years’ growth, has been ruthlessly sacri ficed as though it had been an accuinula tion of worthless and noxious -weeds. Some of the earlier public planters of Christchurch must bewail the ruin of their benevolent provision, and moan with Macduff, “What, all my pretty ones!” It will take another generation to fill up the dreary blanks hewn out of the town shade by the emulators of Gladstone ; or, rather, of such barbaric infamy as attaches to the memory of the heathen spoliators who burned the great...library of Alex-, andria. The new Christchurch rulers have done those things which they ought not have done in undoing the good things of their remote predecessors. We propose to prove in our next that the founders of Ashburton have left undone, in this respect, the things which they ought to have done, and that the sooner our pre sent rulers remedy the omission the better.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[By Submarine Cable.]

[special to the “press association.”]

London, Dec. 28,

Her Majesty the Queen, in a letter, ex presses her heartfelt thanks for' the universal sympathy tendered to her in her affliction.

A plot has been discovered to assassinate the Emperor of Austria. A difficulty has arisen as to the British jurisdiction in Cyprus, Italy contesting it.

The reported arrival of Yakoob Khan at Jellalabad is confirmed. Prince Bismarck lias written a letter to the President of the Federal Council, advo cating a protectionist policy. Dec. 30. The marriage of the Duke of Connaught takes place on March 13. The steamer Chimborazo has arrived at Plymouth all well.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

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

Auckland, Saturday.

Mrs Alley’s store and dwelling at Whangarei Heads were totally destroyed by fire on New Year’s night. The affair looks suspicious. Mrs Alley is a widow, with five children, and is at present on a visit to Auckland. From vai’ious settlements news, comes that the new harvesting - machines are working well and giving every satisfaction to the owners of crops. Should the pre sent highly favorable weather continue for a fortnight longer the greater portion of the wheat in the Auckland district will be secured in first-rate condition. The crops at Whangarei and Otahuhu present just now a very encouraging spectacle. During the month ending Dec. 1878, there were 22 deaths registered within the City of Auckland. The number during the corresponding month of 1877 were 18 deaths. There were nine deaths in the Hospital in the month of Dec. 1878. An inquest was held on Friday after noon, before Dr Goldsbrough, upon the woman Bridget Connolly, who poisoned herself by taking carbolic acid. The jury returned a verdict that death resulted from taking poison, but there was no evi dence to show in what state of mind deceased was in at the time. Messrs Stewart and Bure, engineers, are now at the Thames, laying off the sections of the Thames and Waikato railway. Various local authorities are working hing£ with the Maoris and others to secure the land free.

New Plymouth, Saturday. A new township called Vogeltown, ad joining New Plymouth on the South, i§ to be sold ip quarter acres on Wednesday, and is expected to realise a large price. A standing crop of grass has been sold at £7 per acre, and 10s to 12s a day is being paid. Mower’s Cobb’s coach, the first wheeled vehicle which has ever passed behind Mount Egmont by the road through the heavy bush, has reached Inglewood, driven by Clievannes. The Hon, G, M. Waterhouse is re* ported to have sold his Wairarapa estate, comprising 30,000 acres of freehold, with stock, to the Hon. John Martin, for £60,000. Mr. G. E. Barton denies the published statement of his intention to leave Welling ton for Auckland.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Wellington, Monday, Mr. Jas. Gilligah, the well-known horse owner, was found dead in his bed at the Occidental Hotel this morning. He died quietly. His attendant, who was sleeping in the same room, heard nothing.

MONDAY, January 6, 1879.]

THE EVENING ECHO.



Ashburton. S. Saunders, b Clissold 6 Pearce, lb\v, b Chapman 5 It. Buchanan, c Bailey, b Lovell... 11 Denshire, b' Chapnian 2 E. Saunders, b Lovell 21 Priestly, run out 3 Field, hit wicket, b Chapman 1 Fooks, not out 9 Harris, hit wkt, b Chapman 5 Crisp, b Chapman... 12 Grant, absent 0 Extras • ... ... 10 Total 85 Mount Somers. Bailey, st Priestly, b S. Saunders 15 Hood, not out 4 Taylor, not out 1 Extras ... 7 Total 27



General Stores. COAL AND FIREWOOD, OATS AND CHAFF, IN LARGE OR SMALL QUANTITIES, j F. DOHERTY, BEGS toj remind his Customers and Friends that he is Selling Every Article in Stock at the LOWEST Possible PRICE for CASH. SPRING & SUMMER DRAPERY . . ■ wr * "AND - ~ ! & ‘ready-made clothing, • Just Arrived, OF THE LATEST STALES ONLY. ■; WASHING MACHINES Just Imported, of the Latest'. Improvements , . * for Saving Labor. AMERICAN TUBS, all Sizes, Iron & Wood. 'CAMBRIDGE ROLLERS in Stock. FARMERS’ "REQUISITES GARDEN TOOLS, 'And Seeds of every description. In Stock and to Arrive. F. DOHERTY, GENERAL STOREKEEPER, IMPORTER WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANT. Peter Street, Ashburton. gANDO AND QLSEN, FAMILY GROCERS, TENT, TARPAULIN, AND HORSE CLOTH MAKERS, and GENERAL STOREKEEPERS, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. Orders Delivered to allJParts of the Town.



FLAGS of ALL NATIONS Sup plied to Otd'er and Let out on Hite: Note the address— SANDO & OLSEN, EAST S2REET, ASHBURTON. mmmmmamamrnmmmmmmmmmmmmmcammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Business Notices. THE HORSE BAZAAR, f LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES ' BURNETT-STREET, ASHBURTON. ,~, W. B. COMPTON, Proprietor. First-class accommodation for Horses and Vehicles on most liberal terms at these Stables, with every attention and civility. Saddle Horses or Buggies on Hire. • Horses Bought and Sold on Commission. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS , s » Tuned and Repaired. J. C. HUGHES, TEACHER of Pianoforte and Harmonium Cox Street, Ashburton. Orders can be left at the Echo Office. SPECIAL NOTICE. WE ARE NOW LANDING— Exp.s. “ Tongariro,” 8 x Totara for Wells Ex “ Clifton,” from Invercargill, 240,000 feet first-class Boards and Scantling Ex “ Drover,” from Bluff, 120,000 ditto ditto Ex “ Wave of Life,” from Thames, 50,000 feet Flooring, Lining, &c. Ex “ Flora,” from Kaipara, A splendid assortment of 95,000 feet Kauri Timber MONTGOMERY & CO. (Limited), CHRISTCHURCH, And EAST STREET, ASHBURTON.



Special Notices. 20 FENCING WIRE. TONS Just Received and on Sale at LOWEST PRICES. A. 0. AITKEN & CO., Havelock Street. PRELIMINARY NOTICE. Alfred 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 ANNIVERSARY. TEA-MEETING POSTPONED TILL THURSDAY, January 16th . Particulars in future advertisement. 199 THE JJj'CHO NEWSPAPER AND GENERAL PRINTING OFFICE, Has Removed to new buildings, East street North, near Post Office, and next Quill’s Hotel. ASHBURTON FIRE BRIGADE MEMBERS are requested to meet at the Somerset Hotel on TUESDAY EVENING, 7th inst., at Eight o’clock. Business : To discuss the Draft of By-laws. J. M. CAMBRIDGE, 227* Hon. Sec.