POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close 15 follows : For Christchurch and North at IO a.m. I p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10 a.m. daily. For Rakaia at 10 a.m., and 4 p.m. daily. For Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.15 a. m. daily. For Temuka, Timaru, and South at 10.15 p.m. and 3 p.m daily. , For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m. For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, a 3.1? p.m. daily. J J * W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST

The Evening Echo. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1879.

Mr Grigg, at the County Council meet ing yesterday, made a complaint for which good grounds exist. He called the Council’s attention to the large number of unregistered dogs lept by people in and about the town, and to the fact that those dogs did much serious injury to the stock of neighboring farmers and others. That there is an altogether superabundant supply of useless curs loafing about the town is a point that any man with even one eye will concede, and every honest citizen will allow that when the keeping of luxuries like those curs becomes a dangerous thing to the flocks of peaceful farmers, the time has come for something to be done. It was only a few days ago that a crowd of mangy mongrels made a raid on a flock of sheep belonging to Mr Hay T. Smith, killed and wounded seve ral, and chased the remainder up and down the paddock with such persistence as to seriously injure them. Mr Smith himself came upon the scene, and caught the dogs, hlood-mouthed at their work. One brute was comfortably feasting on the flesh of a live sheep, which he had got down upon its side, and was holding in the most approved canine fashion while he enjoyed his bloody meal. Other cases of a similar nature have reached our ears, and complaints of the kind made by Mr Grigg are by no means uncommon. A few months ago quite a host of keepers of unregistered dogs were pro ceeded against by the police, and the Magistrates before whom the cases were tried happening to be Justices of the Peace, convictions were ebtained, and the offenders were fined. When the police set about getting another lot of “free doggists” together and took proceedings before the higher light of the Magistrate’s ideas of law, it was found that the law was unworkable, and that a conviction could not be obtained. The result is a natural one—an increase of the dog nuisance. It is of little use Mr Grigg or anyone else complaining that un registered dogs are about when the owners of such cannot be prosecuted even with two, if not more, Acts of Parliament in existence; but owners of dogs, in com

mon justice to their neighbors, ought to keep their wandering and lawless pets at home. A chain does not cost so much as a dog license, and might be indulged in from a spirit of neighborly regard for the lives of the farmers’ sheep. The farmers, it is just possible, may discover that it is easier to get at a dog’s viscera with a charge of shot than at his master’s heart with representations as to the danger of allowing the unmannerly brute to roam at large.

Fike Brigade. —A meeting of the menL bors of the Ashburton Fire Brigade was held in the Somerset Hotel on Tuesday evening last. Mr G. Compton, superin tendent, occupied the chair. The hon. secretary read a draft of the proposed by-laws, which, with a trifling alteration, were considered very suitable for' adop tion, and it was resolved to submit them to the Borough Council for their approval. It was resolved that the Secretary request the Council to provide them with suitable accommodation in the municipal buildings they purpose to erect, and also to provide a more efficient alarm .in. ease of lire, the bell at present in use being only heard by those in the immediate vicinity. As many of the members How on the roll seldom appeared either at practice or meetings, it Avas resolved to notify to them by circular of the annual meeting to be held in February next, and to request them to signify their intention of remaining on the roll or otherwise. After some routine business, the meeting ad journed.

Tossing the Cabar. —This old Scotch trial of strength Avill be appealed to by Mr Hay T. Smith and a gantleman resid ing in the county. Arrangements for the match. are being made, and the contest will come off on a day to be yet fixed, but before the 15th of January. For the benefit of those unacquainted Avith the sport of tossing the cabar, Ave may state that the modus operandi is for the com petitors to raise on its small end to a per pendicular position a sapling of from 15 to 30 feet long, tapering from an eight or nine inch thickness at the butt ; to place their hands under the loAver end, sup porting the Avhole tree, still upright, upon their shoulders ; and then to make the cabar turn a complete somersault by toss ing it from them. The most complete somersault turned by the cabar proclaims the winner. It is usual to begin with a very large sapling, shortening it till it comes Avithin the strength of the best athlete in the competition to “ toss.” Y.M.C.A. —At the usual meeting of the Ashburton Young Men’s Christian Asso ciation held last night, the question of tract distribution in the toAvnship Avas considered, and a committee appointed to complete the necessary arrangements. The Secretary (Mr. J. E. Buchanan) re ported having received a communication from the Bev. Mr. Waddell, of Prebbleton, acceding to the desire of the Association to give his promised lecture in the early part of next month. The rev. gentleman is Avell knoAvn as a lecturer of no mean ability, and a rich treat is in undoubtedly in store for the citizens of Ashburton. The date of the. lectuTe Avill be duly announced.

The Gas Company. —At a meeting of the directors held on Monday, in the Secretary’s office, Mr Causey (late Avork ing manager to the Christchurch Gas Works) Avas appointed manager to the company. Mr Weymouth Roberts re signed his position as overseer of the com pany’s works, and Mr James Bradley was appointed to take his place. The contract for building a manager’s house was let to Messrs Pearce and Coutts. Notice of motion Avas given by Mr R. Friedlander to ask the banks to tender for the com pany’s account. Sacrilege by Boys. —Five schoolboys of Camden London, aged from 7 to 12 were charged Avith being concerned to gether in breaking and entering Trinity Presbyterian church, Kentish-toAvn-road, and stealing therefrom a dulcimer, lllb. of wax candles, a pocket ink-stand, a pad lock and key, and tAVo books, the property of William Dawes, of 114, Bayham-street, Camden ToAvn, elder and chapel-keeper.— William Dawes stated that he and his Avife were in the chapel on Friday morning, and left it securely shut up at 12 o’clock. At six in the evening he received information that the church had been broken into, and going there he found the articles men tioned taken away, together Avith money from the' boxes ; a harmonium that had cost £ls was broken all to pieces. Those Avho had entered had lit a fire, and burned a number of books and a quantity of music. A boy must have gone on to the vestry from a Avail, dropped doAvn into a piece of ground, broken the windoAV, entered the chapel, and then opening-the door from the inside let the others in. Charles Wallet, a lad, said he met the prisonor Cassell on Friday evening Avith a stolen book in his possesssion.—The boys, it appeared sat in the road and distributed the unfermented Avine.—Walter Jennings, another lad, gave similar evidence.—The prisoners, Avhen arrested, implicated each other, and they were remanded for a Aveek.

Australia and Ngav Zealand have the largest commerce per capita carried on by any people on the face of the earth. Their enormous exports enable them to purchase largely in the markets of the Avorld.

Professor Hutton has made some ex traordinary statements. . He said that it Avould take 120 millions of years to form the crust of the earth, and that man had existed upon the earth 100,000 years. From Scotland Yard. Sergeant: How’s this, Jones ? What do you mean by coming on dooty unshaved 1 Jones : I’m a-growin’ of my beard, sir. Sergeant: Then you must get up earlier and do it, or _or Anyhow, you must not grow it while on dooty. •

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

CANDID GIRLS!

To the Editor of the Evening Echo.

Dear Sir, —May I have a few lines to ease my feelings in 1 In the Tues day’s issue of the less-than-every-otlier day sheet that the Ashburtonians get meagrely served out to them is a scurrulous item re the gentler sex that are among us. It is the bilious effervescence of no gentleman, and savors strongly of some poor knock-kneed, sat udou “Caudle,” who, writing under the tongue of his may-be justly jealous spouse, thus meanly vents his spleen on our towns women. It is shocking that any production should sanction such a wretched, sweeping slan der as the one contained under the heading “ Candid Girls ” in Tuesday’s “ Mail,” and it would be a crying shame to us Benedicts, who have sisters and mothers, to allow it to pass unchallenged.

It is such cowardly meannesses as we had on Tuesday under the above heading that almost makes a man regret the free dom of the Press, and that would have caused honest old Caxton to have hesi tated ere he gave to Britain and the world the invention of printing, could he have foreseen the possibility of the printing press being prostituted after so villainous a fashion.—l am, sir, Your Disgusted Benedict. January 8, 1878.

REWI AND THE HON. SHEEHAN AT KIHIKIHI.

[By Telegraph.]

Te Awamutu, Thursday. A deputation of settlers at Kihikihi pre sented Rewi with an address.

Rewi replied—My coming here has not ori ginated with Mr Sheehan. I said to him “Let us go to Kihikihi”—and lam here. I have come that I may become better ac quainted with you. I will not be in a hurry to say much at present, things being arranged between Mr Sheehan and myself that will not be made public now. Subsequently Rewi made a long speech, in which he said he had come there to visit the graves of his hapu. He then gave a long account of how he lived there before the war, and how he was drawn into it, and what he did. He concluded by saying—l have come to see you, the Europeans of Kihi kihi, as the persons who fought against me in the past. Let your dealing with me be fair and straightforward, and let mine be the same towards you. What I wish you to do is to look on and see the proceedings which are taking place between Mr Sheehan and myself. If our dealings are not satisfactory I will tell you, and if they are satisfactory I will also tell you, that we—Europeans and natives —may look upon each other as brothers. This is what I have to say to you. May we live long. Cheers were given for Rewi and Mr Sheehan. Mr. Sheehan spoke as follows :— ‘' I thank you for the hearty welcome you have accorded to me and to my friend Rewi. A stranger would perhaps wonder why we attach so much importance to this small gathering of both races, but we who know the past history' of the colony, and you who went for years with your lives in your hands, know the deep signi ficance of what is now taking place. There is something exceedingly affecting in this. return of the old chief to the spot where his own set tlement formerly stood, and from which he has been an exile for the last 15 years. He fought against us valiantly from the beginning to the end, and always bravely and chivalrously, and as became a soldier and a gentleman, and his hands are unsullied by any unfair or treacherous acts. I repeat it was an affecting sight to see this old man standing this morning over the graves of his ancestors, every outward vestige of which has been obliterated. At present the incidents of the struggle between the races seem tame and uninteresting, but in the mellowing light of centuries our New Zealand wars will furnish ample material for our painters, novel ists, and poets. I hope and believe that the hostilities between the races are a thing gone for ever, and that we shall have their friendship for the future. I anticipate good results from such occasions as this. The only obstacle in the way is the interfering of those who, for some reason or other of their own, are opposing the endeavors of the authorities to bring about a successful state of things. Ido not see why the peace of the colony should be endangered and her interests sacrificed because a few per sons may wish at once to obtain a particular block of land. Let us get general questions settled first, and then start fair. lam glad to see so many settlers present to welcome Rewi, and I again thank you for the reception you have given him. ”

The Agave Americana. —The “ Otago Daily Times ” states that three or four weeks ago an American aloe in Mr. Matthews’ ground, Moray place, Dunedin commenced to throw up a gigantic flower stem, which has now reached a height of 20 feet, tapering from 6 inches at the base to 4 inches at the apex and bear ing near the summit a number of bractea. The “Times” says the plant will probably bear 3000 or 4000 blooms, and is probably the first to bloom in New Zealand. It may be interesting to the “ Times ” to learn that in Nelson city Mr. Joseph Garrard, wharfinger, had a plant of the Agave Americana in bloom two years ago, and that several residents in that city have had blooming aloe plants. Mr. H. C. Daniell, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Nelson, also had one in bloom many years ago, so also had Dr. Renwick —in fact the thing is common in the genial climate of Nelson. Aloe Fibre. —Aloe fibre Is becoming popular as a material for rope-making, and is beginning to force itself into notice in England. Rope made from aloe fibre is said to be as strong as wire cordage, infinitely more supple, and almost im perishable in salt water. The best fibre is obtained from the kind of aloe known as “Adam’s needle,” which grows luxu rantly in some parts of New Zealand.

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The following is a summary of the business done at the County Council yes terday after our report closed : HIGH SHOOL GOVERNORS. Messrs. Wason and Grigg were reported as the Governors of the High School for the Board of Education, and Dr. Trevor and Mr. C. P. Cox for Government. RIVER CONSERVATORS. The consideration of a letter from the Mayor on the advisability of constituting a Board of River Conservators was held over, lien ding a report from Mr. Fooks, engineer. r foUND AT RAKAIA. Resolved to establish a pound at Rakaia, subject to the same fees and bye-laws as the Ashburton pound. MOUNT SOMERS VALUATION. Mr. J. C. Bell was notified to the Coun cil as valuator for the Mount Somers District. UNREGISTERED DOGS. Mr. John Grigg complained of the num ber of unregistered dog 3 roaming about the town, and the mischief they did amongst sheep. He thought the A. and P. Association would have written to the Council on the subject. NEW OFFICE. Mr.. Wright moved to rent the Road Board office for a meeting-place, at £6O a year, for 12 months, the next meeting of the Council to be held there.—Carried. RANGITATA ROAD BRIDGE. The Committee’s report on this bridge was received. After referring to the diffi culty with the Geraldine County Council, who were liable under the Public Works Act for half the cost of the work, the Com mittee advised that no contribution should be received from Government towards making the bridge available for railway traffic, as the site was only seven miles from the main south line, and not one that should be used for any inland line of rail way connecting Oxford and Temuka ; in order to keep up communication by this bridge at all times, it was essential to extend the bridge to the main terrace, a distance of seventeen chains ; that 760 ft. of this be constructed at once, the remain der from time to time as the river encroachments rendered it necessary, care being taken to keep the piles driven 100 ft. in advance of every encroachment, the embanked approach admitting of this-; to adopt the design No. 5 for extending the bridge on wooden trusses of 40ft. span on wrought iron piles of 6in. in diameter, and 30ft. long, and to proceed at once with the work, asking Government to withhold from the subsidies payable to interested bodies in Geraldine County a sum sufficient to meet half the cost, for which those bodies were liable.

The Committee were empowered to order the necessary material from Eng land to go on with the work, which was estimated to cost £IO,OOO, and the whole question of the bridge was left in the hands of the Committee. ASHBURTON BRIDGE. The Ashburton Bridge Committee ob tained an extension of time. COUNTY ENGINEER. Applications were considered from 26 individuals for the office of County En gineer. The list was reduced to four, and a special meeting will be held next Tuesday to finally settle the matter.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[By Submarine Cable.]

[SPECIAL TO THE “ PRESS ASSOCIATION.”]

London, January 4.

Sir M. Hicks Beach, at Gloucester, said the reports of distress existing were much exaggerated. His party intended to main tain peace. . Lord Derby, at Rochdale, said the reports were exaggerared, although, through the state of trade, the distress was severe.

AUSTRALIAN

Sydney, Jan. 8.

The Government have approved of a magnificent design for the Exhibition building, covering several acres. It is stated that Prince Heinrich, son of the Princess Royal, is in a German frigate bound for Australia.

The action of the Bulli Company in locking out their men has been followed by the Mount Keira and Mount Pleasant Companies. Nearly one thousand men are affected.

It is proposed to form a society for the introduction of English song birds.

Four seamen of the Minnie Lorn, con victed of assaulting the captain in New Guinea, were released on the Court rising, as it appeared the captain had been guilty of brutal conduct and drunkenness, and had nearly set the ship on fire. Nearly £3OOO has been subscribed to the recent trade fund.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

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

Auckland, Wednesday.

Two new weekly papers are to appear on Saturday, both named “Auckland Free Press.” The two proprietors are carrying on a lively advertising squabble. It is likely that Father Hennebery’s advice to Catholics to start a paper of their own will be soon carried out. The paper is to be something like the Dunedin “Tablet.”

The race horses Agent and Eversly went South in the s.s. Wellington to-day.

New Plymouth, Wednesday.

The Courtney’s township of Vogeltown, of 60 acres, about 10 minutes walk from town, sold to-day, in quaiter-acre allot ments, some as high as £45. The whole property was purchased for £750 about two months ago. To-day’s sale of 33£ acres realised £1760. '

A meeting is called to establish a Temperance Alliance. The electric light was exhibited in town last night. A number of friends to-day presented the Rev. Mr. Isitt, a Wesleyan minister, with a purse of sovereigns on his depar ture for the hot springs. - James Allan Mackie, the late manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Hutt, was convicted to-day of forgery by filling up a cheque signed in blank with- £I3OO in stead of £BO. It was done to pass the inspection. The jury recommended him to mercy on account of his youth, the apparent negligence of the bank autho rities in conducting inspections, and the insufficiency of his salary to maintain his position. _ _ .. All the drapers but one in this" city have agreed to try the Wedhesday holiday. The Hon. John Martin intends cutting up a large portion of the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse’s run into small agricultural farms.

Mr Kempton has been elected first Mayor of Greytown. Regulations are in course of prepara tion, and will shortly be gazetted, setting forth the conditions under which exhibits can be forwarded from New Zealand to the approaching New South Wales Ex hibition: The Government are deter mined to use every effort to secure that New Zealand shall be properly repre sented.

Timaru, Wednesday. Mr. Wakefield, M.H.R., addressed his constituents at Geraldine last evening. There was a crowded meeting, many, persons being unable to obtain admit tance. Mr. Wakefield’s speech was very similar to that delivered at Temuka, but he went more fully into the probable course of politics next session, and severely criticised the Premier’s speech as the Thames.. He met with an enthusi astic reception, and at the close of his speech a cordial,; ; vote of confidence wat carried unanimously. Mr. Lancelot Walker, formerly “’M.H.R., was in the chair. £-;

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, Thursday.

A movement has-been made to bring under the notice of Government the desirability of removing, at stated inter vals, the officers of the Customs Depart ment in a similar manner to the police.

The San Francisco mail service ,is to be increased. It lias, been found recessary to provide a mail agent and assistant. An agitation is going on by crews of coasting steamers for an advance of wages to £7 per month, which owners refused. The men’s places have been supplied. Applications have been received from the Thames by a sufficient number, of men to man the whole of the coasting steamers sailing out of Auckland. In the case of the man English, tried yesterday for wounding a native at Ohiwa, counsel handed in two testimonials —one in Maori, praying for leniency of Court towards the prisoner ; another from Euro peans, expressing sympathy and approval of the prisoner’s conduct, and speaking of a purse of sovereigns to be presented to him. The Judge indignantly condemned the latter, which was not read. Bishop Cowie authoritatively denies the statement current that he-was initiat ing a movement to oppose the present education system. Wellington, Thursday. .

In sentencing Mackie for embezzlement, the Chief Justice said the jury had .been misled by the prisoner’s youthful ap pearance, who, in point of fact, was 31 years of age. His Honor, while depre cating the placing of .men in positions of trust in fwhich they handled large sums of money, receiving themselves salaries less than trademen’s wages, he would not allow that question to affect the sentence, which would be four years’ penal servitude. Two children playing beneath the house occupied by Mr. Bacon, father of a lad named William Bacon, aged 15, employed in the Anchor Company’s office, found a pair of new blankets made up into a swag, new Martini rifle, 200 rounds of ammuni tion, a haversack, and £2OB in notes. William Bacon, on being-arrested,. ad mitted committing the recent .robbery, and said he had planted an additional £45 in a pocket-book near Wadestown, and had bought the things found, intend ing to take to the bush, evidently a la Kelly. ' •-.dU/ Dunedin, Thursday. Dr. Copeland, in the Presbytery yester - day, moved an overture tq the Synod, suggesting that steps should be taken to secure daily reading of the Bible in school. Dr. Copeland drew a terrible picture of the colony’s future with the secular prin ciple in power. The Presbytery resolved to transmit the overture. The “Daily Times ” to-day recommends the adoption of the Irish national system. .. A water famine is again anticipated. There is said to be only 3 weeks’ supply in the reservoir, and a proposition is made to stop the supply to machinery. The abolition of free railway passes has interfered with important road works between Dunedin and Port Chaimers, carried on by prison labour. Mr Stout, following tlie Premier s ex ample, has declined to allow the dress circle of the Queen’s Theatre to be re served for ladies, and gentlemen accom panied by ladies, at his meeting on Friday night. • h. William Rowe, 15 years of age, em ployed at the “ Daily Tunes ” office, was charged to-day by the publisher, R. N.

fWURiBAV, Jaj*va#v 9, »8?t.3

THE IVINWQ BCHG.



s. d. s. d. Butter, inferior to best ¥? ft> I 0 to I 2 Eggs, ¥ dozen I 6 to 0 0 Bacon, prime smoked, $ lb o 10 to 0 0 Hams in cloth, lb i 0 to 0 0 Flour in bags, 1? ioolb 12 6 to 14 0 Oatmeal, $ ioolb 26 0 to 0 0 Lard, $ lb - - - . O 9 to 0 0



.' Jyonmongeyy, ORR & GO. Would call Special attention to THEIR STOCK OF IRONMONGERY. A Fine assortment of Carpen . ters’ Tools now landed.. I ’R O N M ON GERY. 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. . I RO N M O N G E 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 McCORMACK, AND SAVE YOUR STRAW. 200 DOZEN HORNSBY’S PLOUGH SHARES, Landing ex “ Hurunui.” OR R & Co., EAST STREET, ASHBURTON,



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. Special notices can be received up to 3.30 p.m. for insertion over the .Leader, but will be charged double scale. S; social Notices. 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 THE ~jp]cHO NEWSPAPER AND GENERAL PRINTING OFFICE, Has Removed to new buildings, East street North, near Post Office, and next Quill’s Hotel. THE LARGEST STOCK OF MACHINE CASTOR OIL IN ASHBURTON!! COME to SANDO & OLSEN’S if you want to buy really good machine castor oil, and oil-feeders. 246 ETTE have much pleasure in intimating W to our friends and the public generally that we have this day taken into Partnership Mr. Thomas Hooper, who las for some time past been connected vith our Firm. The Business will in future be carried ori mder the name and style of “HOOPER, UTKEN, & C 0.,” who will carry out all rrangements made by the late firm. Dated at Ashburton, this 9th d*y of lanuary, 1879. A. O. AITKEN & CO.