COMMERCIAL

Wellington, Tuesday. New Zealand L°an and Mercantile Cable Message : London, Jan. 29.

Wool— There has been a little private in quiry. Trade in the manufacturing districts is dull. Up to date 95,000 bales have arrived. The wheat market is quiet. Californian arrivals are heavy. Adelaide, worth 495. per quarter; New Zealand, 445. Tallow market quiet, with a low speculative inquiry ; mutton, 375, 6d. j beef, 34®* bd. Leather, best lines, 9X d -

The Evening Echo. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1879.

In yesterday’s issue we published, in our notice of the Hoad Board meeting, a letter, marked “ private,” addressed to the Chairman of the Board by Joseph Ivess. In that letter the writer made a spiteful charge against the Board’s over seer of keeping back, from a three-times-a week publication which the writer owns, advertisements which ought to have baen sent to it, and sending them to this daily paper. Joseph Ivess is perfectly at liberty, so far as we are concerned, to fight his own battles, and Mr James Wilkie wants no help at our hands against a puny opponent like the one who, in a private letter to the Chairman of the Board, made a cowardly attempt to injure the overseer. But when Ivess, with no knowledge what ever of our affairs, takes upon himself to claim by implication a right to the Board’s advertisements, and attempts to cry down our credit by an impudent falsehood, we think we are doing our duty to him, to ourselves, and to the public when we tell him so. We are set down by “ Joseph Ivess” as a paper having “ no circulation,” and we presume the coxcomb who so sets us down feels that he has honored us by condescending to notice us at all, far less considering us worthy to be traduced and slandered in a private letter to the Chair man of the Road Board. Had the letter been written to other than a thorough gentleman, and a man who is above a mean thing, there is a probability we should never have known who was the adder in the path, nor the egotistical snob who stabs behind. But as the Chairman happens to he a gentleman, the overseer and all concerned had the fullest opportunity of -knowing what was said against them. Our “no circulation” charge needs no refutation. We have only to point to the extensive use made of our advertising columns by business men and others—so extensive as to compel us within a week or two to enlarge our news sheet—as a proof that Ivess’ slander can do us no injury, and the public of the district who know our pages so well are the best judges of whether we have “no circula tion.” Tilly-vally, Mr Ivess.

Mr. Inglis’ Lecture Entertainment. —We beg to remind our readers of the excellent treat in store for them to-night in the Town Hall. Mr. Inglis brings with, him a high character as an elocu tionist, and to-night, his lecture “Pen and Ink Pictures of the Past,” will be less a lecture than a grand selection of gems from the literature of our country.

The Ashburton Resident Magistrate. —The legal gentlemen in Ashburton have dispatched to the Minister of Justice a memorial to institute a public enquiry into the manner in which business is conducted in the Ashburton Court under the Resi dent Magistrate, Mr. A. Le Grand Camp bell. The scenes of last Friday have evidently been the last straw to break the back of legal patience, and is certainly high time an enquiry, for which due cause haß long existed, should take place, and if it results in .the reform we have all along urged as necessary being brought about, a source of complaint will have been removed. The question of the Ashburton R.M. Court is no new one to the Minister of Justice, It was laid before him last session of Parliament by Mr. Alfred Saunders, but the memorial now sent to the Minister by the barristers and solici tors of Ashburton shows that, whatever promise was then made by Government, it has not been acted upon. We hope in the interests of justice the Minister will see fit to grant the enquiry, which we are certain, whatever else may happen, must result in an improvement upon the Court.

Borough Council. —A special meeting of the Borough Council will be held to night in the Council Chambers.

The Choir Union Practice will be held to-night instead of to-morrow night.

County Council. —The meeting of the County Council will be held to-morrow forenoon at eleven o’clock in the Road Board office which, as we before stated, is now 'the head quarters of the County Council,

Death by Poison at Ashburton. —A man named Oliver Goldsmith Colville Armstrong was found dead in his bed at the Ashburton Hotel this morning by the housemaid. Deceased, who was a surveyor, had been somewhat addicted to drinking, and it is supposed that last evening, when he retired to rest, he had swallowed a heavy dose of chloral and chlorodyne. Empty phials of each drag were found by his side when he was discovered this morn ing by the maid, and a tumbler with a chlorodyne sediment was found on a chair by his bed. Deceased was well known in Ashburton and the district. The Ashburton Magistracy. —We (“ West Coast Times ”) understand that Mr Warden Broad, who for some time past has had charge of the Buller and Lyell districts, is shortly to be transferred to Ashburton. Mr Charles Broad is a brother of Mr Lowther Broad, District Judge at Nelson, and was appointed R.M. and Warden for the Charleston and Brighton districts in 1866; was subsequently removed to Reefton, which districts he held during the whole of the stirring times of the Inangahua quartz reefs. As a magistrate and warden he was an aquisi tion to any district he was appointed to, and his removal was always looked upon as a severe loss.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

special to association.]

London, Feb. 1

The sentences passed on the Glasgow Bank directors were : Potter and Stronach, 18 months ; Taylor, Ingles, Wright, Sal mon, and Stewart, eight months’ im prisonment each. Counsel urged that they were not guilty of making false balances, and had no motive for falsifying the accounts.

New Zealand Fives are one higher. All Colonial securities are buoyant. Consols, 97. Market rate of discount, 1A; Bank reserve, 12J millions. The money market is rather firmer, and the Bank reserve is stronger, being nearly 13 millions. The market for Australian securities has ex perienced a strong revival. The wheat market is unchanged. A quantity of in ferior New Zealand is in the market. Wools are quiet at current rates. There is a recovery in the demand for fine wools, and business is less depressed. Cetewayo not having submitted, war is declared against him.

Arrived—Cuzco. The Zulu war has commenced. The King refused to listen to the British ultimatum, and our troops immediately crossed the frontier, and attacked and carried his principal outpost. Owing to repeated inroads on the settlements on the Guinea Coast, the Portuguese Government has declared war on the hostile tribes, and a strong expedi tionary force is being fitted out.

AUSTRALIAN

[By Submarine Cable.]

Sydney, Feb. 3- Owing to the heavy rain the English match at Bathurst was not played out. The body of Captain Fraser, who was burned aboard the brig Iserbrook six weeks ago, was discovered on Saturday, when the vessel was pumped out. It was almost unrecognisable. It is rumored that Mr. Weld of Tas mania, will be our new Governor. A man named Wilson, alias Smith, was arrested on board the Francis Thorpe, from London, on Saturday, on a charge of fraudulent insolvency at Hull. Brisbane, Feb. 3. Mr. Thompson, Minister of Justice, has been re-elected for Ipswich by a majority of 14. The prize essay was awarded to Carl Fieldburg, a popular journalist. An aboriginal has been arrested for a murder committeed in 1866. Melbourne, Feb. 3. A scandal in connection with the Re form League is reported. An officer is alleged to have accepted £IOO to get a person appointed Magistrate. More cor ruption in the Land office is also alleged. Adelaide, Feb 3. Breadstuffs are unchanged.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

From the New Zealand Press Asso CIATION TO THE “ECHO.”

Napier, Monday.

On Saturday night John Hare was arrested at Farndon, charged with burglary upon the premises of Mr. White of the Farndon Hotel. On Saturday evening something in the manner of Hare, who is in White’s employ, aroused suspicions in Mr. White’s mind, and he kept watch upon accused’s movements. About ten p.m. he saw him go round the house, open the store, and go in. Mr. White was on the balcony at the time, but quickly slid down, and fastening Hare in, sent for Constable Motley. Hare was then found to have a bottle of brandy in his posses sion, which Mr. White alleged to be his property. It is stated that Hare obtained entrance to the store by the aid of a skele ton key. Hare was brought to the Napier Hospital to-day, as he was suffering from the effects of a fit. He is now in a very precarious condition.

Wellington, Monday. The Hon. Mr. Buckley has resigned the Governorship of the College, as ha is dis satisfied with the management of the majo rity of the governing body. Miss Jones, of College fame,is announced as the lecturess of Mr. Cary’s Arctic Pano rama.

Timaru, Monday.

The Hospital Commission held an en quiry to-day into the circumstances attend ing the death of Peter Cassidy about a week ago, and the result was that they decided that the Visiting Surgeon was to blame for not informing the steward as to the nature of deceased’s complaint, and not visiting him later in the evening. The steward -was also very much blamed for allowing deceased to be entirely neglected for some five hours at night. Dunedin, Monday.

A tender lias been accepted for the sur vey of the Waimea Plains railway. Mr. Higginson it the successful tenderer, the amount being £219. Marion Johnston, one of the principal witnesses in the Hit or Miss sly-grog sell ing case, and in the charge of perjury arising therefrom against Mrs. Reid, was charged at the Police Court this morning with perjury. The further hearing of the case is adjourned to Thursday next. A man named Neil Reid was kicked in the stomach by a horse at South Dunedin on Friday night, and died on Sunday morning. The cricketers leave on Friday for Christchurch to play there on Monday. Messrs. Fulton, Spring, and Rose were appointed delegates from the Dunedin Association to confer with Christchurch re the settlement of the future dates of the Interprovincial matches. Akarqa, Monday.

The master and crew of the schooner Clyde abandoned the vessel with a boat at 2 a.m. on Saturday, and fetched Long Bay near Island Bay. They then started over the ranges in two parties. One reached Little River the same evening, but the others lost themselves, and camped on the ranges all night, and finally reached Little River about 11 a.m. on Sunday.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS.

Londonl Feb. 5. The British troops advanced into the Zulu country on the 12th January, and advanced so far without opposition. Paris, Feb. 2. The President of the Council and Min isters resigned. Dufaure also persists in resigning. Waddington forms a new Ministry. Melbourne, Feb. 4. The creditors of McClure, Valentine, and Co. are chiefly local. Liabilities esti mated at £IO,OOO.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, Tuesday. Government are expending £4OO in the renewal of Government House and grounds, in anticipation of' the arrival of Sir Hercules Robinson.

Ah Hung, on behalf of the Chinese gar deners, has made an offer to lease land from the Domain Board, which has been accepted. Wellington, Tuesday.

The annual meeting of the Wellington Trust and Loan and Investment Com pany, was held last night. A dividend of 12| per cent, for the year was declared. The annual meeting of the Wellington Gas Company has been held, and a divi dend of 15 per cent, for the year declared. The chairman stated the directors were carefully watching the progress of the electric light at Home, and if it became necessary they would ask for power to purchase patents and adopt the right to use it in Wellington. There are a great number of applicants for the secretaryship to the Exhibition Commission. Government surveyors have found an easy gradient for the West Coast Railway over the Paikaruki. Commissioners on Higher Education propose to go to Auckland as soon as the examinations of the Chancellor and Regis trar of the New Zealand University are concluded, which will be this week. One million ova of white fish are ex pected per next San Frrncisco steamer. An ice house is being built ou the Hine moa, which will lake the south portion to Canterbury and Otago, the main portion going to Southland. An inquest on the fatal fire at Taita showed that the lamp exploded when on the floor, ond M‘lCenzie was working by its light. The lamp had not been cleaned for two months.

The Australia, with the London mail of 2nd January, left San Francisco on the 21st January, one day late. The City of New York, with the January Colonial mails, arrived at San Francisco on the 29th January, one day in advance of contract time.

A sale of reclaimed land to-day at tracted an attendance of about 400 people. Three blocks, Nos. 1,2, and 3, already sold, comprising 18 sections at prices ranging from £42 to £7O per foot, one lot passed at £4O. The total proceeds of the the lots sold, so far, are £54,116 15s. Dunedin, Tuesday.

A deputation, including the Mayor and the Chairman of the Clutha County Coun cil, waited on the Minister of Public Works to-day, and asked that a loan of £IO,OOO should be granted by Government re-payable in five years, for the erection of Clutha Bridge. The loss and incon venience caused by the stoppage of com merce since the bridge was swept away was represented in pathetic terms, and it was stated there was sometimes a difficulty in getting the corpses of old residents ferried across to the cemetery. The Minister expressed his heartfelt sympathy, but referred to the heavy demands of a

similar character made on the Govern ment, and said he did not think more than half of the amount asked for could be advanced. Eventually he promised to give a definite reply to-morrow. A member of the Albion Cricket Club, named David Thompson, was sen tenced to seven days’ imprisonment for breaking into the box where the cricket ing material was kept, and stealing there from a pair of cricketing boots belonging to another member.

Thomas Mead, who had his legs broken and afterwards amputated, through a fall of rock in a quarry, died in the Hospital last evening.

CAPABILITIES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Sir Julius Vogel, the Agent-General for New Zealand, sends the “Times” the following extracts from a letter he has re ceived from a highly respectable firm, whose business and experience in the colony enabled them to speak with authority as to the value of the land : “ As regards the capabilities of the land, that in the North Island is, when laid down with English grass, as fine grazing pasture as there is the world, but until it has been cultivated a few years it is not such good grain-growing land as there is in the South. Last year the writer was on a farm of 500 acres in the Waikato which had carried 1600 longwooled sheep, 160 head of cattle, and 60 head of horses the whole year, and the sheep [clipped 9| lb. wools.

“In Canterbury all the land will grow wheat, and 30 bushels per acre without any manure is quite an ordinary crop, while 60 and even 70 bushels per acre are frequently obtained off really choice land. We have purchased a farmer’s oats, which have yielded 102 bushels per acre. As an instance of what is done here at times, we purchased last season the produce of 98 acres from a farmer in the Ashburton district, and the yield was 45£ bushels per aero. This man had purchased 102 acres of land 18 months previously from the Government at £2 per acre, and with only two ploughings and within 18 months he obtained the results above stated ; and as he as received j ss. per bushel, it will be seen he grossed £lllls. 3d. per acre, and at a cost of some £3 per acre. This, of course, is an exceptional case, but we know of many similar, and, in fact, it is only necessary to look at our prosperous and increasing class of farmers to be satisfied that farming here pays hand somely since the development of the rail ways under your successful public works scheme has enabled produce to be taken to market at a reasonable rate. In addition to wheat, oats, and barley, the land in Canterbury grows roots most prolifically. For instance 20 tons of turnips, or 15 tons of potatoes per acre is a fair yield on good land. Cattle do remarkably well here, and the land carries stock so well that a handsome return is made when butter realises 9d. to lOd. per lb., and cheese 6d. The paying price realizable for products is, perhaps, the best .test of the soil’s capabilities. Thousands of tons of potatoes are grown here for export to Australia, and £2 per ton leaves the farmer a very handsome margin. “That land here, notwithstanding the rapid increase of late in its selling price, is still far below its intrinsic value is unquestionable, as we are wanting in capital to keep pace with the rapid develop ment of the country. The result, then, is that, instead of having capitalists willing to buy land and farm it, to get, say, an income of 6 per cent, on the cost, or who will let it to a farmer on a 6 per cent, basis, every farmer buying new land here hopes to make the cost price out of it in from three to five years. Large tracts of land are taken up by farmers who have ploughs, teams, etc., from land specula tors, on what are termed merely purchas ing-clause leases. The farmer has no cash, and he merely covenants to pay a stated rental for three to five years, and with an agreement to purchase at a fixed price at the end of the term. In every instance the farmer hopes not only to make his rental (based by the way on a 10 per cent, valuation), but. also to make enough out of the soil to pay the whole or major part of the purchase money at the end of the term. In nine-tenths of the cases he is successful, if a prudent and industrious man.

“ Thus, then, it must be evident that land here is below its intrinsic value, and, as the colony increases in wealth, there will be buyers who will give a value for it that will not stand more than a moderate rate of interest.

“It is only since the railway scheme has been so successfully carried out that our farmers have been able to make any great progress, and in a very few years, at the present rate of progress, we shall have capitalised sufficient wealth to buy land at something nearer its value ; but, in the meantime, there is a fine opening for all classes in this favored land, and we really believe that, taking climate and soil into consideration, it is the most fertile and pleasant country to live in on the globe. Our business being grain and produce merchants, we naturally have an excellent opportunity of estimating the prosperity of the farming class, and we confidently assert that in no other place in the world are they so prosperous as here.”

Chess. —Mr. Chas. Janion, of Kumara, is at present playing a match of three games of chess by correspondence with Dr. Giles, It.M., of Hokitika, and the latter gentleman is also playing a match with of three games with H. H. Lusk, Esq., recently one of the representatives of Auckland in the General Assembly. Dr. Giles and Mr. Lusk were old chess opponents nine years ago at Nelson, so this match will help to revive old associa tions and knit together old friends in the brotherhood of chess.

CONSUMPTION OF PAPER.

The greatest quantity of paper is used in the United States, and the smallest quan tity in Scandinavia. Italy’s consumption is small, but that of Russia is very much less, as might have bean expected from the condition of her people, form of govern ment, and state of manufactures. The quantities used per head of population in the principal countries are given in the Exhibition catalogue as follows :—United States, 30 - 8 lbs. ; Germany, 13'2 lbs. ; England, 11 lbs.; France, 7-92 lbs.; Aus tria-Hungary, 5'5 lbs.; Russia, 1-98 lbs.; Italy, 3'oßlbs.; Scandinavia, IT lbs.; Bel gium, 11‘22 lbs.; Switzerland, 13‘86 lbs. The quantity used by the Spaniards is not given, but as Italy’s consumption is so small the influences at work in each coun try probably reduce the consumption in the former country to an unnoticeable quantity. China is not mentioned, but it is stated that 600,000,000 people use Chi nese paper, 366,000,000 use European paper, and 130,000,000 Arabian, 24,000,000 write on leaves, etc., and 280,000,000 are happy without any paper or writing material. Sixty years ago the paper manufacture in the United States occu pied 5,000 persons, and the annual pro duct was valued at 6,000,000 dols. In 1873, the last year for which there were complete statistics, there were 1,000 mills employing 33,000 persons, and the product was worth over 66,000,000 dols.

The Amberley Railway Extension. —Tenders for this line, we learn from a private source, ■will be advertised fot to morrow.

The Wellington Tramway. —Since the tram cars have been running they have carried 397,000 passengers, and each engine in use has traversed 6,000 miles.

The Sydney Exhibition. —The Govern ment have placed a sum of £2,000 at th* disposal of the Royal Commissioners for the Sydney Exhibition, as a first contri bution towards the cost of securing a suitable representation of this Colony. Second Thoughts.— “ Now, boys,” said a Sunday-school teacher, who was trying to impress the doctrine of repentance on the class ; “ now, boys, Judas, as I have told you, betrayed his Master, and then went and hanged himself. What was the very best thing he could have done before hanging himself 1” “ The very best thing he could ha’ done,” said the worst boy in the class, “ was to change his mind.” His “ Sunday School Advocate ” was at once stopped.—“. Keokuk Constitution.” It Would Stop, When ?— “ Stop that car !” cried old Mr Noserigale, chasing a flying car up Davison street, the car fresh as a daisy and Mr. Nosengale badly blown, and the distance pole not a minute away. “ Stop that car !” he shouted to a fleet limbed boy. “ Certainly,” hrieked back the obliging boy, “ what shall I stop it with ?” “ Tell it to hold on,” shouted the abandoned passenger. “ Hold on to what 1” yelled the boy. “ Make it wait for me !” puffed the. Mr. Nosengale, “ You have got to rinicK weight now,” said the boy, “ that’s what is the trouble with yom” “ Call the driver!” gasped the perspiring citizen, and as the car got round the comer and passed out of sight, the mocking echoes of the obliging answer came floating cheerfully back. “ All right ! what shall I call him V ’ — “Hawkeye,” Strangers coming to reside in Ashburton ire often at a loss to know which is the best Establishment to visit for the purchase of Drapery, Clothing, and House-furnishing Iron mongery, and General Stores. Orr & Co. offer special advantages to the public that can be met with nowhere else in Ashburton. They keep at all times the largest and best-assorted Stock of every class of Goods, imported direct from the, leading manufacturers at home, which beinp bought entirely upon cash terms, they are enabled to ofler goods of such sterling value as cannot be equalled by any other house in the trade. Every article in stock is marked at the lowest price, from which no abatement is made so that the most inexperienced buy their goods at the same piices as the best judges.—Advt i Strangers coming to reside in Ashburton need not be at any loss to find the best estab lishment to visit and purchase their drapery clothing, and general stores. Leaving the Railway Station and turning down Havelock Street, they will see the establishment of A. O. Aitken & Co., who are now offering special advantages, which exceed any before offered to the public. Keeping at all times z very large and exceedingly well assorted stock of all classes of goods, bought in the best mar kets and on the most favoiable terms, enables them—to use trade parlance—“ to do the thing well ”; in fact the goods offered by them are such as cannot be excelled either in quality or price by any house in the trade and are marked at such prices that making any abatement is unecessay, and the most inexperi enced are enabled to buy their goods as favorably as the best judges.— Advt.

TUESDAY, February 4, 1879.]

THE EVENING ECHO.



General Stores,



o u T Tj 0 O X for SANDO & OLSEN'S NEW ADVERTISEMENT. Orders left at any of the following Agents will be promptly attended to Waxawttt J. W. McClure. Wakanl'l Creek G. Ledley. Seafibld T. Jones. „ ... ... M. Bruce. Charing Cross ... G. S. Brown. Nkwrand ... ... Edwin Watkins.' Goods and parcels delivered every Tues day and Friday. BREAD. BREAD. BREAD. SANDO AND OLSEN, GROCERS, ETC., EAST STREET, Ashburton. gUPPLY really Good BREAD at sd. per Quartern Loaf, Cash, and Monthly Accounts. Families in Town and Suburbs waited on daily. Note the address, SANDO & OLSEN, GENERAL STOREKEEPERS & BAKERS East Street.



New Advertisements. WANTED, a respectable BOY, to make himself generally useful in office. Apply ECHO Office. WANTED four respectable YOUTHS as Apprentices. Apply to T. R. HODDER & CO., Ashburton. 339* KEY LOST. LOST, between the Union Bank comer and the Somerset Hotel, a PATENT LOCK KEY. Five Shillings Reward will be paid to anyone returning the same to this Office. 340 TO LET. A FOUR-ROOMED HOUSE and a Five-Roomed House, Three minutes walk from the Union Bank. Also, 6| Acres of Land, cultivated; House. Is suitable for Market Garden. Apply to H. M. JONES, Stationer, East Street. 337



New Advertisements, TO-MORROW. FIFTY CASES APPLES! APPLES! APPLES ! COCO AN UTS. BULLOCK & CO. have been instructed to sell, at their Rooms, East-street, To-morrow (Wednes day), a consignment of KA CASES APPLES gQ g SACKS COCOANUTS g 1 CASE MACHINE WIRE. Sale at 12 o’clock. BULLOCK AND CO., Auctioneers. 338