POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails for United Kingdom and Australian Colonies, per Arawata, will close at the Bluff To-morrow (Saturday) at II a.m. Feb. 28.—United Kingdom, via San Fran cisco.

The Evening Echo. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1879.

The report on the Ashburton school by the Board’s Inspector is not a complimen tary one, but it is just what might be expected when the exceptional circum stances of the school are taken into con sideration. Fourl years ago, said Mr. Williamson at the last meeting of the Committee, the school numbered 100 scholars. Now it has reached 400, and virtually no provision worth mentioning has been made to meet the increase of children by an increase of the strength and teaching power of the staff. The accom modation afforded by the school building was for long miserably short of the require ments, and the report itself goes to show that the authorities were actually cruel —for it states that in a3O x 18ft. room 150 young children were crammed together. It is easy to imagine what the atmosphere of such a “ Black Hole of Calcutta ” would be, but it is not easy to imagine how the Mistress succeeded, even so well as she has done, in keeping the crowd of little ones, packed together as they were, under anything like control. The increase in the attendance at the school has been so marked as to be almost unprecedented in the history of any school in the colony, but the rapid increase con tains nothing to wonder at, for it is only natural to expect} that where adidt popu lation has increased as it has in this town ship there should also be a corresponding influx with it of children.

An unexpected and extraordinary in crease of scholars, insufficient accommoda tion, the staff not increased adequately to meet the demand upon its labor and ability, the Committee powerless for want of funds to doanything of themselves, and the Board of Education similiarly hampered, are the causes combining to produce the report we last week published of the unsatisfac tory state of the school as an educational institution, though, with the facts of its history befoie us, that report was a good deal better than might have been ex pected. The Inspector recommends an increase of the staff, but an increase the Com mittee will find it difficult to supply. A Second Master, we have no doubt, will be easily secured if “ sufficient inducement offer” in the item of salary ; but pupil teachers are not so easily obtained at the miserable pittances offered by the Board. Fancy a young fellow commencing duties as a pupil teacher and finding, when he

has reached the age of 16 or 17 that receives less money from his employers than the actual cost of his board and lodging. Town-bred boys do not care to follow the teacher’s profession, and lad from the country have to face the money difficulty referred to. The Board ought, at least to make provision for special cases of this kind ; but under any circum-' stances, if .the Ashburton school is to rise to a state of efficiency, the staff must be increased to such a strength as shall make efficiency possible, and the Committee, alive to this necessity, and with . their hands strengthened by the report, will not fail to keep the school’s wants before the Board until supplies are voted. The new room has removed for the time the com plaint of inadequate accommodation, and the only real want now is the one on which so much stress was laid by the In spector, viz., more teachers. This want supplied, other causes of complaint will rapidly disappear.

The Charbonnet Entertainment. — We would remind our readers and the public of the grand treat in store for the audience likely to assemble in the Town Hall to-night to hear the talented Char bonnet, the Hoskins, and Mr Marshall.

T. R. Hodder & Co.' publish their opening announcement in our columns to-day. Templar Hall Company. —At a meet ing of directors held on Wednesday even ing, to receive applications for the office of° Secretary, Mr. Alfred Harrison was duly elected, and the office is shortly to be removed to his auction mart, Havelock Street.

Rechabites. —Last night a public meet ing was held in the Town Hall, at which there was a fair attendance, to hear ad dresses by leading members of the Order of Recliabites in the Canterbury district, on the subject of the Order they repre sented, and benefit Societies in general. The Chair was occupied by Mr Isaac Scott, who introduced the speakers. Mr. J. T. Smith, District Chief Ruler of Can terbury, gave an account of what the Re chabite Order was, viz., a benefit Society for total abstainers. In the course of his remarks, he said the statistics of insurance societies k and benefit societies were now easily got at, and were authoritative, so that he could be easily tracked in any mis statement he may make as regards the death and sick rates of those associations. He then went on to quote from the pub lished statistics of the Salford Unity of Oddfellows, the Salford Unity of Reclia bites, and the Scottish Widows’ Life As surance Society, to show that the total abstainers in those societies enjoyed a greater immunity from sickness than members who used alcoholic liquor, even in moderation. The Salford Unity of Oddfellows’ tables showed the sick rate per man per annum for five years of thirteen days, against the Rechabites’(in the same place) three days per ni&frper'* annum for the samejxn'ipA —-ThcTmeeting was by Mr. Harding from IfepjgrfMi’. Clark from Dunedin, and Mr. Bennet, from Christchurch. At the close of the public meeting, a new tent of the Rechabite Order was instituted, with 13 members. After the institution, the usual routine business was transacted, and the following officers were elected and in stalled : Chief Ruler, A. O. Aitken ; D.C.R., Joseph Leggatt ; Secretary, Mac Lean Dunn ; Levite, Gordon Hodge ; Treasurer, George Leggatt; Book and Cash Stewards, J. Teague and J. Bradley ; Guardian, C. Braddell ; Supporters, Messrs Elston, Smith, and Shirlock.

C ONGREG ATIONAX CHURCH EXTENSION. — A meeting last night with the above object was held in the room of the Young Men’s Christian Association, when there were present the Revs. E. Walker, of Christ church, and T. B. Hallowes, 8.A., of Timaru, several Corigregationalists of Ash burton, and a number of gentlemen from other churches, who are desirous of seeing the ordinarily recognised churchejs insti tuted in this growing locality, and to welcome any proper agencies into the city for the promotion of the common tian cause. The chair was occupied by the Rev. E. Walker, and the meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev.' B. T. Hallowes. The meeting was stated to be simply deliberative, and preliminary to another meeting to be held in the same place on Monday evening next, at half past six p. m., when it is intended to take some practical steps for the advaueement of the object in view. The hope was expressed that other Congregationalists in the town who were not aware of the pre sent meeting would then be in attendance. Meanwhile such persons may obtain of Mr. J. R. Chapman, Moore-street, any information they may need. The general opinion of the meeting was that there was. growing room and necessity for additional Christian agencies in the town, and that as the Congregationalists were sure, sooner or later, to be represented here, it would be as weir that they should immediately anticipate their requirements by a few uniting to form a nucleus, and secure a suitable site for a future church. Mr. Walker stated that on Monday next Mr. Hallowes and he hoped to be accompanied by Rev. J. Robertson, M.A., minister of the Congregational Church in Auckland, and possibly by the Rev. R. Tout, minis ter of the Congregational Church in Phil lipstown, Christchurch. It was, therefore, suggested that at the close of the meeting of Congregationalists on Monday evening a public evangelistic meeting should be held by these gentlemen at 8 o’clock, in which the several ministers and churches of the town should be invited to unite. A few gentlemen undertook to arrange for such a meeting, and it was announced that Sankey’s Hymn-book would be used, and that particulars of the place of meet ing would be duly advertised.

TO-DAY'S COURT.

Before A. Le Grand Campbell, Esq., R.M.

RAILWAY TRESPASS. George St. Hill was charged with this offence. Mr. Ireland appeared for the defence. Benjamin Yerden, sworn, said : I saw Mr. St. Hill endeavor to cross the line on February Ist, when I was driving on the engine of a train towards Ashburton from Tiinaru. I whistled in the proper manner before I approached the station. St. Hill was crossing a level crossing leading from one part of the town to the other. He was close to the line, approaching the crossing, when I first saw him. Cross-examined by Mr. .Ireland : I first saw him when about two chains from the crossing. He was somewhere about a chain off the crossing at the time. There was a heap of coals in the way that temporarily stopped my view of St. Hill. I commenced to whistle after leaving the bridge, and kept on for eight seconds. The crossing was that opposite the So merset Hotel. There was no wind that day. The regulations warn us to whistle before approaching a crossing but do not mention any distance. We usually whistle a quarter of a mile, from a crossing to give all a chance. I saw St. Hill cross the line in front of the engine, and went very close to him.

H. Stevenson, locomotive foreman, said : The whistle of the engine could be heard from a great distance. The train in question was an ordinary one. Cross-examined by Mr. Ireland : One long whistle is sufficient for crossings at Ashburton. Sometimes we whistle right across the crossings, but not. usually, as it is no good and only disturbs the town. There are heaps of coal by the railway, ten feet high. In the engine we are eleven feet high, and can see over the coal. It is difficult to see when carts ap proach in a certain way. G. Herbert St. Hill, the defendant, said he remembered driving across the line on February Ist. He was across the line some 30 times a day. Owing to the heaps of coal and timber and other obstructions it was impossible to see a train from the crossing in question till you were on the line. He heard no -whistle till his horse’s nose was on the line, when there was a furious whistle. Had his horse not turned he would have been dashed to atoms with the horse and cart. As it was, the wheel of the cart was grazed by the engine. S. B. Nelson said he was close by at the time. He never heard any whistle till St. Hill was on the line. It was impos sible to see the train coming. The engine was two chains off when St. Hill was on the line, The case was dismissed, His Worship Galling attention to the danger atjw&sgiTtT existing. He suggestwyjjatfSoiions shoiild be issued drivers to whistle _tli ejjsfejie way from the bridge' to. the station. LARCENY. John Irvine, remanded from last Court day, was again remanded in the absence of an important witness. Accused’s own recognizances were accepted. ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE. Charles M‘Carthy, on remand, was accused of attempting his own life by try ing to cut his throat, and also by throwing himself down a well on Mr. Sutherland’s farm at the Hinds. He was sent to gaol for three months. This is the fourth time he has attempted his life, and he has several times been before a Court for lunacy from drink. CATTLE TRESPASS. Charles Gardner, Rakaia, was fined 3s. and costs ; W. Sutton, also of Rakaia, was fined a similar sum.

Mr. John Lewthwate, formerly of Nelson, but now of Halifax, Yorkshire, has recently invented what he terms a ‘ £ .Champion Printer. ” We learn from the prospectus that this is the greatest im provement yet discovered in the art of multiplex printing. With the aid of a common-letter-press, fifty copies of a letter may be printed in eight minutes. Inks of vaiious colors may be used. The inven tion seems to recommed itself to persons requiring copies of letters, specifications, plans, &c.

A Human Body in an Aerolite.— We have grand news, which may be well termed important, if true, and news, too, of another world, by way of Peru. The “ South Pacific Times,” (Callao) contains a long account signed <C A Serrag, chemist,” of his finding an immense aerolite which he due- into, passing through several layers of mineral sub stance, described with scientific accuracy, and finally discovered in the centre a human body 4i-ft. long and perfectly pre served. The "body is exactly depicted, and is very wonderful according to the discoverer, who adds that he infers from hieroglyphs on a silver plate at the side of the human figure, that he or she came from the planet of Mars. Acclimatisation. —Some Cape Pearce chickens are on board the Australia for the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. They come from Topeka Kansas. There is great disappointment in Auckland at the non-arrival of the white-fish ova by the Australia.

A Frenchman who died recently left Garibaldi and his two sons, Menotti and Ricciotti, his heirs to all his property, which amounts to a considerable sum.

Mrs Mack ay, of Nevada, has become the happy owner of some of the most gorgeous jewelry in the Paris exposition. She has bought diamonds and sapphires costing £39,000. Mr. Edison has such faith in his in vention respecting the electric light, that he is spending fully £20,000 in the con struction of a machine-house at New York.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

SPECIAL to association.]

The Cape, Undated,

The Fourth and Tenth Regiments and 600 natives were almost completely an nihilated by 20,000 Zulus. Sixty British officers and 200 soldiers were killed. London, Feb. 12.

At Liverpool serious riots have occur red, and the military were called out for the protection of the city. The engineers’ strike has extended to London. Feb. 11. Six hundred men two British cavalry regiments, and two batteries leave im mediately for the Cape. The reinforce ments will be sufficient to terminate the struggle. They leave within a week. Feb. 10.. Twenty thousand Zulus attacked a por tion of the 24th Regiment and six hun dred Native levies at Rouak’s drift, cap tured a hundred waggons, a thousand rifles, a quantity of ammunition, and the regimental colors. The Zulus lost five thousand, and the British five hundred whites killed and all the officers. The Cape Government have applied for an extra infantry and one cavalry regiment. There is a panic at Natal. Feb. 11. The Zulus have defeated and massacred over seven hundred British and Natives infantry, enticed from their camp. Thirty officers were killed. Natal is imperilled. The agitation in England is increasing. Wheat, 475. to 495.; flour, 31s. Bombay. Reinforcements have been ordered to Natal. Twelve thousand men will sail instantly. . Cape Town, Feb. 10. Natal is in great danger. The Govern ment and High Commissioners have de manded instant reinforcement. The Zulus lost 5000.

AUSTRALIAN

[By Submarine Cable.]

Brisbane, Feb. 13. Mr. Truly, Under Secretary for Lands, becomes Surveyor-General ; Mr. Barron, Chief Clerk of the Police, takes the port folio of Mines ; and Mr. Geary succeeds. It is probable that Mr George Lukin, Minister of Mines, will take the portfolio, of Lands. < In conseo nencXL jof —virulent cases of Sfflitil'pox on board the steamer Somerset, she is quarantined here. Sydney, -Feb. 13. In the Assembly last night, Mr. Watson, the Colonial Treasurer, estimated the ex cess of revenue over expenditure for the present year at £126,000. He announced the intention of the Government to intro duce a Bill to abolish gold duty, and also to introduce a scheme for railway exten sion. Melbourne, Feb. 12. Arrived.—Claud Hamilton ; Hero. Nothing further is known of the move ments of the Kelly gang. The manager and teller of the bank which was robbed have arrived here. Feb. 13. Dan Kelly has been seen alone ten miles from Beechworth. The verdict of the jury blames Dr. Crooke for making a “ post mortem” ex amination, and considers his conduct sus picious. The depositions have been sub mitted to the Attorney General.

THE DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS.

There are few subjects on which people are slower to learn from the teachings of experience than in the matter of the des truction of forests. France, Spain, and Italy have suffered seriously from this interference with the natural storage of rainfall : whole districts have been ren dered barren which were formerly fertile, owing to the wholesale destruction of trees. In India, as we are daily discovering to our cost, the wasteful cutting down of timber without proper replacement has largely contributed to those dangerous alternations of flood and drought, drought and flood, which have so much to do with the occurrences of famines. In some dis tricts the rainfall has decreased not less than 30 per cent, during the past twenty five years, otving, it is believed, to this cause. In Australia the same effects are being observed, and the result of the de nudation of the hill-sides without any attempt whatever at re-plantation will be felt more and. more as time goes on. Now, too, we hear that in California and Nevada tlie'same process is bringing about similar climatic changes. The streams which for merly flowed with tolerable equality in winter and summer now have ups and downs which are most injurious, and droughts and floods have commenced on the plains. The snow, instead of melting gradually under the trees, is exposed to the full heat of the sun, and rushes down in torrents. In short, all over the world the condition of forests and the necessity of tree protection lias become a serious question, and it is clearly one of those matters which can only be effectually dealt with on a large scale and at the expense of further interference with the rights of private proprietors to injure the community. — 11 Pall Mall Gazette.”

Mu. Conyers was able to proceed by special train from Gore this morning at six o’clock for Christchurch direct. He is so far recovered as to be able to talk about business.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

r Auckland, Friday. The block of city endowments near the General Post Office realised £1,804, being an increase to the Corporation’s revenue of £1,232. The original lessees paid £572. By the Australia 2,6000z5. of gold are exported from the Thames goldfield. A breach of promise case is on the tapis between a venerable couple who have fallen out before the knot was tied. The old gentleman jibbed at the last moment. The Rev. James Buller’s new book, “ Forty Years in New Zealand/’ was pub lished just as the mail left. Dunedin, Friday. Mr. Conyers, accompanied by Messrs. Grant and Armstrong of the Railway Department, passed through Dunedin for his home in Christchurch, in a special train at 11 o’clock this morning. The contractor is making rapid progress with the street tramways. The laying of rails is being prosecuted in the centre of the city.

A second information for perjury, laid by Reid, the sly-grogseller,againstMarian Johnson, wife of a coal-miner, who gave evidence against him, was withdrawn this morning by Mr. Dennison, attorney for the prosecution.

WAIRARAPA RACES.

Hurdle Handicap of 40 sovs:, 2 miles and distance Roebuck, 1 ; Ada, '2 ; Agent, 3. Splendid race. Won by a head. Time, 4min. 26sec.

EUROPEAN SOCIALISM.

A correspondent of the “ New Zea lander ” signing himself “ Agricola ” writes in a remarkably outspoken manner as to the causes of European Socialism. After enumerating some of the painful problems which present themselves for solution in the old country, as a consequ ence of the widespread distress there ex isting, he goes on to say : — ll But we need not go into the future while we have plain duties before us. Our plain duty as men and citizens is to see and insist that many of these indigent and hard working poor at Home shall have a chance to obtain food and raiment in the new lands that we are peopling, and that our land legislation shall take the form of settlement alone. ’An agricultural popu lation in a temperate climate is the most independent on earth, and their means of obtaining abundance and ease the least liable to instability. As freeholders on? be it rem emb ere ufiT from the EiEcThas ultimately proved first the bane and then the curse of every community among whom it has obtained. The land is as much the common heritage of all as * the rain from heaven ’ or the light from the sun, and in no country where the land is unequally distributed can social happi ness be generally diffused. The creation of large landed estates and the bondage of serfdom for our children ivas the leading, feature of the past Admin istration programme ; and they would fain re-produce in this South Britain the poverty and misery which exists in the older Britain, by giving over the lands of us all to the possession of a few, and inau gurate the inequalities of social life which in Europe have begotten Socialism. If we do not as a people individually resist such action the sin will be upon our heads, and the consequences thereof on our chil dren’s children. That thoughtful men entertain such opinions should make others pause before they contemptuously con demn them as “ nonsensical rubbish,” “revolutionary,” etc., epithets, so freely indulged in by a few whose interests are perhaps inimical to those of the million, and unfortunately also by many who are content to take their opinions second hand, and consider it highly “respectable ” that such opinions as they do profess shall be eminently “aristocratic.” The question of the acquisition and tenure of land is no mere theoretical idea, but one on which the welfare of the race pre-eminently depends.

Constable Purcell is blessed with a large amount of -very grim humor (says the Manawatu “Herald”), and effected a most rapid transition in the position of Dr. ltockstrow on Wednesday last, taking him from the Bench to the dock. It occurred in this wise. The doctor had just finished hearing a case for horses wandering, and the constable strolled to the door, when lo ! there was the J.P.’s veritable cow roaming the streets in the sacred precints of the Court. To take out a summons and serve it on Dr. BockstroW was the work of a few moments, and the Court was again opened to hear the case, resulting in a dismissal. The constable very blandly explained to the Court that he brought the charged “ entirely to show the public that there was no favoritism,” and the Bench expressed its opinion that he was right. Sundry coughs were heard, however, as the constable made his speech, which seemed to imply the public were trying to swallow it, but could not, and the merry twinkle which flashed across his eye rather suggested the idea that Purcell himself thought the whole affair a capital joke. Mississippi River Incident.—One of the great and comfortable steamships which the Yankees construct descends the Mississippi with a vertiginous rapidity. When lo ! a cry makes itself to be heard : “ A man in the waters !” “ Stops ! cries himself the captain. Then, turning him self towards the purser, lie demands : “ Has he paid his fare 1” “He has paid, replies the purser. ‘ 1 All rights ! howled .the captain, and the steamboat retakes its course, leaving the passenger .behind. If the unhappy one had not. paid in advance he might have been saved.—Paris paper,

Friday, February 14, 1579.]

THE EVENING ECHO.



T. R. HODDER & CO, B EG to inform the Inhabitants of Ashburton and Surrounding Districts that they intend OPENING THEIR NEW AND EXTENSIVE PREMISES IN SAUNDERS BROS.’ BUILDINGS, ON SATURDAY, MARCH ist, With a Large and Carefully-selected Stock, in the following Distinct De partments : GENERAL DRAPERY, MILLINERY AND SHOW ROOM, BOYS’, YOUTHS’, & MEN’S CLOTHING, TAILORING DEPARTMENT (under the CHARGE OF A FIRST-CLASS CUTTER FROM MELBOURNE), BOOTS, SHOES, AND MENS’ HATS, GROCERY & PROVISION WAREHOUSE CROCKERY, GLASSWARE, & FANCY GOODS. T. R. H. & Co., in respectfully soliciting a share of the business in the rapidly-increasing district of Ashburton, intimate that they can offer some advantages, -having had extensive busi ness experience in every branch, being DIRECT IMPORTERS, and well established in the Home, American, and Colonial Markets, and having purchased largely from an over stocked s, which will be Sold much under ordinary List Prices. They have se cured DS COMPETENT HANDS for each Department, and with these Superior Facilities for carrying on busi ness, they trust to give their customers the UTMOST SATISFACTION. WOOL, GRAIN, A DAIRY PRODUCE BOUGHT FOR CASH, AND TAKEN IN ACCOUNT. Indents received for every description of Agricultural Machinery, or any other commission promptly attended to by their LQNDON AGENTS. T. R. HODDER & Co., WHOLESALE AND RETAIL GENERAL MERCHANTS.



NOTICE



A travelling Post Office having been estab lished on the Southern line of railway, letters bearing a late fee of 2d. may be posted at any station in the mail carriage attached to the express train, and they will be included in the mails.made up in transit for offices on the main line and branches.



Sydney J. Dick, Chief Postmaster.



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 taken 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. Subscriptions. In Advance. If Booked.



AUCTION SALES. To-morrow, Saturday, Mr. Alfred Harrison, at his Mart—Furniture, &c., under Distress Warrant; also, General Produce, Merchandize, &c.



New Advertisements. WANTED TO PURCHASE* i ACRE OF LAND within the i Belt., For particulars apply to ALFRED HARRISON, 381 Auctioneer, etc. YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. A LECTURE will be delivered in the Town Hall on WEDNESDAY ■EVENINGNEXT, at 8 p.m., by the REV. R. WADDELL, M.A., Of Prebbleton. Subject :—“ The Victories of Christi anity a Proof of its Divine Origin. Doors open at 7 '3O p. m. Admission free. A collection at the close in aid of funds. J. E. BUCHANAN, 380 Hon. Secretary. IN PETER GOOD’S ESTATE. . A DIVIDEND of 5s in the Pound on all proved Claims is now Payable at Messrs Friedlander Bros. ’ Office, Ash burton. R. FRIEDLMjJER, For.ggjf'and Co., Trustee. *i4th Feb., 1879 384