The Evening Echo. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1879.

Ashburton Herald, Volume I, Issue 248, 16 January 1879, Page 2

The Evening Echo. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1879.

Tea Meeting in the Wesleyan Chapel. —We would remind our readers again of the Wesleyan tea-meeting, which is to be held to-night in the Cameron-street Chapel. Tea will be on the table at six o’clock, and besides addresses at the after meeting, a concert of sacred music will be given.

Police Court. —At the Court yesterday Mr. James Campbell, J.P., fined Richard Day £1 for being drunk at the railway station, and J. Reid £1 for drunkenness and indecency. To-day Mr. Campbell sat again, with him on the bench His Worship the Mayor. Robert Wilson, a first offender, was let off with a fine of ss. for drunkenness. John Croft, was brought up on a charge of being .drunk and disorderly. He is in regular receipt from the old country of a considerable amount of money, which it was stated he as regularly “ knocked down” in the most- approved station-hand fashion. Yesterday he had drawn money from the bank, and was “knocking it down” lavishly actually giving away the notes in his drunkenness —when, to save him from sharks, he was taken into custody by the constable. Sergeant Felton told the bench that Croft had got rid of £3O within a day or two, and that he (the Sergeant) believed the prisoner was suffering from delirium tremens, as, when apprehended he was foaming at the mouth and had since shown other signs that led to that conclusion. He was even now suffering, and the Sergeant recommended a remand till the doctor saw him. It would be a mistake to fine the man and let him away as he would only get drunk again. The Magistrate remanded prisoner as suggested by the Sergeant. A first offender, who, out of mistaken kindness for Croft, had foolishly interfered with the constable whilst that prisoner was being apprehended, was let off with a caution and a sensible advice from the Mayor to become a teetotaller. He expressed his intention of taking his Worship’s advice. The San Francisco Mail. —The City of Sydney arrived at Auckland this morning early. She made the trip from San Francisco to Honolulu in six days 21 hours 24 minutes, leaving the former port on the 23rd December, and arriving at Honolulu on the 30th. Left Honolulu on the 31st, after a detention of seven hours by a southerly gale ; and 460 miles from Auckland, on the 11th January, the after crank pin broke. A temporary repair was made, and the steamer came on under canvas, arriving at Auckland this morning. For the 17 days before the engine broke down the City of Sydney averaged 301 miles per day, an almost uuparalleled run. She brings 24 passengers for New Zealand and 105 mail bags. A summary of her news is telegraphed.

Titin Weather.-— Plcasant'sunahine lias succeeded the rain of the early part of the week, and to-day the weather has been excellent. The effect of the recent rain upon pasture is already folt, and everything green has taken a fresh start. The wet will not of course advantage many places where the advanced state of the grain wanted rather dry weather than rain, but still a considerable acreage of latesown wheat will profit by the showers, and to turnip land they will be a godsend. The acreage this season under turnips is no mean item, and the rain came most opportunely for that kind of crop. The rainfall on Monday and Tuesday, as registered at Christchurch, showed 2 14 inches. District Court. —Judge Ward was in Ashburton yesterday. No cases were set down for hearing at the District Court, now appointed to be held in the Town Hall on the 15th day of each month, and the Judge and Mr Buchanan, Clerk of Court, busied themselves for a short time in making necessary arrangements for future sittings. School Committee. —Owing to the wetness of the night the meeting of the Committee on the 14th lapsed for want of a quorum, only'the Chairman and Secretary being present. It was decided, to meet again on Friday to despatch a large accumulation of business, so that a clean sheet may be left for the new Committee, who are to be elected on the fourth Monday of this month, viz.—the 27th inst.

The Attempted Suicide at Washdyke. The Alcaroa chemist, Chadwick, who so determinedly attacked himself recently with a surgical instrument, inflicting upon himself some 28 stabs, is now, strange to say, out of danger. The attempt to destroy himself was made by Chadwick at the Washdyke railway station, whence he was removed to the Timaru Hospital, and, under Dr. MTntyre’s care, he is now so far recovered as to be pronounced out of danger. As soon as he is well enough to appear before the magistrates his case will be disposed of.

The Reaper and Binder Trial at Riccarton. Our own correspondent telegraphs this afternoon that at the Riccarton trial of reapers and binders the McCormick was first and without a rival. The Marsh “Harvester King” had the last place in public opinion. The trial took place on a field of grain running 25 bushels to the acre, 3 feet high in stalk, and not very ripe. The Mataura Election.— All the returns are now in, and the figures are— Shanks, 300; Kinross, 250. Both are supporters of the Grey Ministry. .

A Relic of Burns the Poet. At a meeting on Tuesday, in Dunedin, of the University Council, Rev. Dr. Stuart (Vice - Chancellor) stated that he had received through Dr. Smith, of Otepopo, from his relative—James Hurnard, Esq., of Colchester, England, a snuff mull presented in 1790 to Robert Burns, by Ferguson of Craigdarroch, in memory of the famous “ whistle contest,” for presentation to the Council of the University of Otago. He had much pleasure in making the presentation. Sir. Harris moved —“ That the valuable gift be thankfully received, and that the Council record its thanks to Mr. Hurnard for his gift, and authorise the Vice-Chancellor to communicate the same to the donor. ” The Vice-Chancellor further stated that the President of the Caledonian Society had expressed to him the pleasure the Society would have in placing the mull on a suitable pedestal, to be placed in the University library. Wages in Otago. —The “ Otago Daily Times ”of yesterday says : —A number of immigrants were engaged at the Caversham Immigration Barracks yesterday, as follows :—Six harvest hands for three months at £2O, and one for the same time at £l9 ; one farm-labourer at 24s per week, two at 22s 6d, one at 21s, eight (by the Australian and N.Z. Land Co.) for six months at 20s per week and 30s during harvest time, one at £55 per annum ; two shepherds at £6O per annum and one ploughman at the same rate. The single women will be engaged to-day; but the supply is not likely to meet the demand, most of them having found work, or gone to their friends immediately on arrival.

Non - Ratepaying Proprietors. Maoris pay no rates. At the Wellington District Highway Board, last week, it was stated that the Hon. Wi Parata had obtained a grant for the Taupo Block at Pahautanui, and had advertised it for sale. He had refused to pay rates, and the narrator of the incident added that if a European —be he ever so poor and his family ever so large—rented a couple of acres from the Maoris, the collector pounced upon him at once for rates. Though using the public roads, the Maoris contributed nothing to their maintenance, and the law as it at present stands has no power to compel them to do so. Determined Suicide. —At Newton, Auckland, on New Year’s eve, Bridget Connolly, a married woman, committed suicide by taking poison. She had been reclaimed from horrible habits of drink for the past two years, and became temperate, She recommenced to drink at Christmas, and returned home on Monday quite drunk. The following morning she asked her husband for money to obtain drink. He refused to give her any. She then said she would ‘take a bitter cup during the day, and shortly afterwards took a bottle off the phelf containing carbolic acid, and drank it. Two girls who were present at the time were taken by surprise, and the act was done before it could be prevented. The woman died a few hours afterwards. When sober, deceased was an industrious kindhearted person. A noble heart will disdain to subsist, like a drone, upon others’ labors.—Barrow.