ROBERT DICK, BAKER, OF THURSO, GEOLOGIST AND BOTANIST.

Dr. Samuel Smiles has given to the world another of his inimitable biographies of self-made men. The hero of this, his latest literary effort, was a humble but sturdily-independent Scotchman, who through his whole life maintained himself by the trade of a baker, and yet acquired a position as a scientist which was readily acknowledged by the most eminent of his contemporaries, notably Hugh Miller and Sir Roderick Murchieson. Robert Dick was born at Tullitody in Jan., 1811, his father being placed there as an officer of Excise. Young Robert was an apt scholar in the barony school of'lullibody,, and made the heart of the auld dominie glad by his achievements. The advice of the teacher was that the lad should be trained for college, so that he might enter one of the learned professions, but the father’s purpose was prevented by a second marriage, when his son was ten years of age. The family having removed to Dann’s Burn, a hamlet at the foot of the Ochils, Robert was sent to school at Men strie, but under the new master little pro gress was made. Family dissensions having also arisen, the boy left home and was apprenticed to a baker in Tullibody, were he remained for nearly four years. During brief intervals from incessant toil the future geologist read and studied hard, and while making his rounds of the vil lages scattered at the foot of the Ochils strengthened a love which had been earlier imbibed for nature and all natural objects. At the age of seventeen he left Tullibody aiid worked in Leith, Greenock, and other towns as a journeyman for three years. At twenty years of age he went to Tourso, I where his father had been settled for some I time as supervisor, and started business as a baker. From this time, in the sum mer of 1830, until a few days before his death, in December 18G6, at the compara tively early age of fifty-six, he toiled in cessantly at his manual labor, but appro priated as much time as he could to study, and to scouring the country in search of botanical, geological, conchological, and entomological information. His journeys by night and by day to the most inaccessi ble points of the sea coast, and the most distant parts of the county of Caithness are all vividly sketched, “ The deluge sometimes caught him. One afternoon in August he walked 32 miles amidst soaking rain. He had gone up to the top of a mountain and found only a plant of white heather. He walked and ran all the way back through the moors, mosses, and heather, jumping the flagstone fences, and at last reached home after nine and-a-half hours’ walking and running. Yet he was up next morning at six, and went through his day’s work as usual. ”

A description of another adventure, written by Dick himself to his sister, con cludes thus :

“ The night became windy and stormy ; tremendous sheets of hailstones and rain impeded my progress, so much so that I thought, as Burns says, that * The deil had business on his hand,’ and that he was determined to finish my course with Morven. But no ! In spite of hail, rain, wind, and fire (in fact I had them all), I got home at three o’clock on Wednesday morning, having walked with little halt for about twenty-four hours. I went to bed, slept till seven o’clock, then rose and went to my work as usual. Sixty miles is a good walk to look at a hill. Oh ! those plants ; those weary plants ! ”

Bigger Men !—The Duke of Cam bridge has issued a special order direct ing that the standard height for recruits shall be raised by half-an-inch for engin eers and one inch for infantry of the line.

FRIDAY February f,

THS EVBNINfi ECHO,



New Advertisements, Grapes \ grapes ! grapes ! Just arrived; Is. 6d. per lb. —H. M. JONES, next Friedlander’s. 350 Goal and Firewood. ON SALE! ON SALE. AT HAYES’S TIMBER YARDS, g AWN piREWOOD, at 375. Gd. Per Cord, Cash. Apply, MR. F. PAYITT, Adjoining. NEW BUSINESS. COAL & FIREWOOD MERCHANT F. P. LeBRETON, In commencing business begs respectfully to solicit a share of public support. Burnett Street, near Friendlander’s Grain Store, and opposite Montgomery’s Buildings. Coal and Firewood supplied in any quantity to suit customers, and delivered to all parts of the district on the shortest notice. NOTICE. HAYES’ TIMBER YARDS, ASHBURTON. IN consequence of the WAIMATE MILLS having been BURNED, the above Yards will be Closed for about Six Weeks, until Re-Erection of same. Mr. F. Pavitt is authorised to collect all outstanding accounts until further notice. ALPHEUS HAYES, per W. H. COLLINS, Manager. Ashburton, Nov. 23, 1878. G 7



Partnership Notipes. USSOLU7ION OF PARTNERSHIP. ry J]E Partnership hitherto subsisting A between S'am. B. Nelson and. T. H. Weddle is dissolved by mutual consent. Dated Gth February 1879. SAM. B. NELSON. T. H. WEDDLE. Witness— Robert Hill. All persons indebted to the late firm of Nelson and Weddle are requested to pay their respective accounts to the under signed. SAM. B. NELSON. PARTNERSHIP NOTICE. have THIS DAY entered int CO-PARTNERSHIP as Barristers and Solicitors, under the style, or firm, of “BRANSON AND PURNELL.” Dated at Ashburton this first day of February, 1879. GERALD D. BRANSON. 331 CHAS. W. PURNELL. DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP. FROM and after this date the partner ship hitherto subsisting between H. Firth, J. H. Pass, and W. Stringer (trading under the name of “ Firth, Pass and Co.”) is DISSOLVED by mutual consent. The business will in future be carried on by J. 11. Pass and W. Stringer, trading in the name of “J. H. Pass and Co.” H. FIRTH, J. H. PASS, Witness- W. STRINGER. C. W. PURNELL, Barrister, Ashburton. In reference to the above, persons indebted to the late firm of Firth,_ Pass and Co. are requested to pay their re spective accounts to J. H. Pass and Co., whose signature alone will be sufficient discharge. 320 J. H. PASS & CO. - Business Notices. BREAD. BREAD. BREAD 6d. per 41b. Loaf. THOMAS HICKS, Baker and Con fectioner, Tailored Street, is now supplying First-class Bread, at Cd. per 41b Loaf, delivered to all parts of the District, or at the Shop. note— THOMAS HICKS, THE PIONEER BAKERY, Tancred Street, Ashburton



HAMS. HAMS. SPLENDID CHRISTMAS HAMS At ORR & CO.’S Engineers and Foundries. UNION SmK IRONWORKS. ■J^D WARDS AND J^EE, ENGINEERS, MILLWRIGHTS, MACHINISTS, Etc., BURNETT .STREET, ASHBURTON. 316 JOHN CANTERBURY FOUNDRY BEGS to notify that he has been appointed SOLE AGENT for New Zealand for MESSRS AYELING & PORTER, ROCHESTER, Whose Traction Engines, Ploughing Machines, Steam Reaping Machines, and Road Rollers have gained for them a world-wide reputation. An early exhi bition will be made of an 8 h.p. Agricul tural Locomotive Engine, which can be used either for Steam Cultivation, Thresh ing, Sawing, or Removing Agricultural Produce. Catalogues and prices can be had on application. The following Machinery and Goods are now ON SALE at the Canterbury Foundry for the season : MCCORMICK’S REAPER & BINDER WOOD’S do. do. OSBORNE do. do. Extras and wire for each of the above. McSHERRY GRAIN DRILLS. English and American Mowers, by Samuelson, Hornsby, Howard, Wood, McCormick, and Osborne; Clayton and Shuttleworth Thresh ing Machines, Elevators, Hay Loaders, Pacific Hay Cutters, Seed Strippers. ALSO, FOR SALE, Fencing Standards, Best Fencing Wire, Cambridge, Crosskill, and Mixed Rollers, Broad-cast Seed Sowers, Millstones, Grindstones, Flour-dress ing Silk, Leather and India-rubber Belting and Hose, Reaper Sections, Plough Fittings, Machine Oils, Field Gates, &e., &c. Estimates and Drawings for any kind of Machinery furnished on application. D. MIDDLETON, Agent, Ashburton. 63



Drapery.



H OOPER, A ITKEN, & c o. HAVE BEEN APPOINTED SOLE AGENTS IN ASHBURTON FOR THE WELLINGTON SEWING MACHINE, and are daily expecting Consignments of them. Do not Buy till you havj inspected the “ WELLINGTON,” which is a First-class Machine.



Fruiterers. COME AT LAST. NEW FRUIT. FRESH FRUIT. From Geraldine. J. MOOAR & CO., HAYING purchased a Fine Orchard at Geraldine, are now in a position to supply Fresh Fruit and Vegetables every day. PLUMS, per lb., only ... sd, APRICOTS „ ... sd. GREENGAGES, per lb., only sd. HONEY PLUMS „ sd. APPLES, per lb., only 3d. and 4d. POTATOES, per lb. and 2d. W. BIRTWELL, East Street (next Orr & Co.’s), WHOLESALE & RETAIL FRUITERER. ) CASES of NEW FRUITS of all kinds to arrive. IN STOCK ORANGES, 8 for is. COOKING APPLES, 3d. to 4d. per lb. EATING DO., 6d per lb. PEARS, 6d. * „ PLUMS, 6d. GREENGAGES, 6d „ SIBERIAN CRABS, 6d. per lb. APRICOTS, 6d. „ PINE APPLES, &c., &c. BEST NEW POTATOES. CHEAPEST SHOP IN TOWN. DEFY COMPETITION W. T. DAVISON, GREENGROCER AND FRUITERER, IS PREPARED to supply fruit and vegetables of every description, fresh from the gardens, Wholesale and Retail, at Christchurch Prices. NOW ON SALE FINE EGG PLUMS, per lb., 6d. ORLEAN „ „ 6d. GREENGAGE „ „ 6d. For I2lb. and upwards, sd. per lb. The cheapest house for fruit for jam-making. COOKING APPLES per lb,, 3d. and 4d. GOOD EATING Do. „ 6d. ONIONS. NEW POTATOES, various kinds. At reduced prices for Quantity. Fresh vegetables, salads, herbs, etc. Orders Delivered Regularly. W. T. DAVISON, Wholesale and Retail Greengrocer and Fruiterer, Moore Street, Ashburton. 315



Ironmongery. OR R & CO. Would call Special attention to THEIR STOCK OF IRONMONGERY. A Fine assortment of Carpen ters’ Tools now landed. Ironmongery. 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. IRONMONGE 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 & Go EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. •>



Auction Sales. TO-MORROW. SATURDAY, February 8, At 12 o’clock. PRODUCE, MERCHANDISE, FURNI TURE, Etc., Etc. ALFRED HARRISON Will sell by public auction at his Rooms, Baring Square, the following : JJORSES, FIREWOOD Apples, Pears, Soap, tons Fowl Feed, Blacking, Furniture, Pictures, Drapery and Clothes, Machine Castor Oil, Fencing Wire, Sacks (new), Sacks (old), no reserve, Etc., Etc., Etc. Also— -24 Gas Shares, Ashburton. ALFRED HARRISON, Auctioneer, Etc.



SATURDAY, February 8, At 12 o’clock. THREE VALUABLE GREYHOUNDS. ALFRED HARRISON Has been instructed by Messrs. Saunders and Walker to offer for sale by public auction, at his rooms, Baring Square, 3 VALUABLE GREYHOUND Q PUPS, 0 by Blue Cap, out of Ouida. Further particulars on application to the Auctioneer. 346 ALFRED HARRISON. ALFRED HARRISON, AUCTIONEER, ASHBURTON, IS open to conduct Sales by Auction, at his Rooms, or elsewhere ; also Sales by Private Treaty of any description upon the lowest possible terms. SEND IN YOUR PRODUCE such as PIGS, FOWLS, CHEESE, EGGS, &c., &c., &c., Also, FURNITURE, EFFECTS, and GENERAL MERCHANDISE, for SATURDAYS’ WEEKLY SALE, at 12 o’clock. The following Farms and Properties are upon his books among many others : Lot 1.—619| acres, fenced, 4-roomed Cottage, well, whare, good roads. Lot 2.—300 acres, fenced, 4-roomed Cottage, store room, and stable. Lot 3.—200 acres, part fenced, ploughed Lot 4. —800 acres, fenced, stable, two whares ; 10 acres in grass. Lot 5. Cottage, garden, well, stable; Lot 6.—A Large City Boarding-house, on Easy Terms, tenanted, and paying a good rental SALE YARDS attended every TUESDAY. TOWN SECTIONS AND HOUSE PRO PERTIES ON EASY TERMS. Properties entered for sale free of charge. fISTDON’T FORGET SATURDAY’S SALE, at 12 o’clock. ALFRED HARRISON, AUCTIONEER, STOCK, ESTATE, AND COMMISSION AGENT, BARING SQUARE, ASHBURTON. Public Notices. COALS. COALS. COALS. A LL kinds of COALS & FIREWOOD delivered at the shortest notice in any quantities and at reasonable rates. GEORGE PARKER & CO., Springfield Coal Depot, 138 Ashburton.



Wants, &c. WANTED, a SECRETARY for the Ashburton Templar Hall Com pany (Limited). For particulars, apply MR. K. SANDO, 349 Ashburton. WANTED, an APPRENTICE to the Cabinet-making. Apply to T. A. GATES, Peter-street. 344 WANTED four respectable YOUTHS as Apprentices. Apply to T. R. HODDER & CO., Ashburton. 339* WANTED, a respectable BOY, to make himself generally useful in office. Apply . ECHO Office. WANTED KNOWN—That the cheap est and neatest CARDS may be had at EVENING ECHO OFFICE. East Siheet. For sale cheap, two dwelling HOUSES ; one five rooms, one four rooms ; situate East Town Belt. Terms liberal. Apply at once to T. BULLOCK. 324 TO LET, A. FOUR-ROOMED HOUSE and a Five-Roomed House, Three minutes walk from the Union Bank. Also, 6| Acres of Cultivated Land, with House. Is suitable for Market Garden. Apply to H. M. JONES, Stationer, East Street. 337



Tenders. UPPER ASHBURTON ROAD BOARD TENDERS are invited for RENTING the Road Board Reserve, No. 2,064, (adjoining Messrs. Fooks and Son’s large paddock, Tinwald, containing 15 acres, more or less) for two years from this date. Written tenders, addressed to the Chair man, to be sent in on or before noon of ‘ TUESDAY, the 18tli inst. For informa tion apply to ROBT. D. PULLAR, Clerk to the Board. Road Board Office, Westerfield, \ February 4th, 1879. 34$} Public Notices. ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. TAKE NOTICE. THE Ashburton Borough Council in tend to object to the whole of the Valuation List for the Borough of Ash burton, now open for inspection at the Council’s Office, at the next sitting of the Assessment Court for the said Borough, upon the ground that many properties are omitted from the list, and that several are of greater value than in the said list set forth. Dated this sth day of February, 1879. By order of the Ashburton Borough Council. CHARLES BRADDELL, 343 Town Clerk. UPPER ASHBURTON ROAD BOARD. VALUATION LIST, 1879. PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the Valuation List for the current year is now completed, and will be open for inspection until the 15th February proximo, at the office of the Board. Any objections to the above List must be made in the form and manner prescribed by “The Rating Act, 1876,” and a copy of every such objection lodged with the Clerk of the Board at least seven clear days before the sitting of the Assessment Court, the date and place of which will be duly announced. ROBT. D. PULLAR, Clerk. Road Board Offices, Westerfield, January 15th, 1879. 267 Watchmaker. jjj- ROBERTS, MANCHESTER-ST., CHRISTCHURCH. ENGLISH & AMERICAN WATCHES, By the best makers, guaranteed for 2 years. Watches and Clocks cleaned and repaired cn the shortest notice. 106 Business Notice. CHEAP TOYS. OHEAP Q-OODS Of every description, at MRS. MORE Y’S, Tancred-street, Ashburton. 233 LADIES’ AND CHILDREN’S RIMMED JJATS ONE CASE JUST OPENED, From 2s. lid. each. MRS. MOREY Tancred Street, Next Mr. Chapman’s. 262