SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF LYTTELTON.

SAILED. July 2 —Flora, schooner, for Kaiapara.

Wellington, Tuesday. I The Hinemoa has gone out to the Heads to if tow in the ship Pleione, which has been nearly ' a week outside the Heads, unable to get in. Sailed—Tui, for Kaikoura. Arrived—Wakatipu, from Sydney. Pas ■ sengers for the South—Miss Ogden, Mr. Cairns, 5 steerage, and 60 Chinese. She sails South to-morrow at 3 p.m. _ Port Chalmers, Tuesday. Arrived —Denbighshire, ship, from London. Bluff, Tuesday. The Ringarooma left Melbourne on the 27th at 3.15 p.m., and experienced strong S.W. and j westerly winds, with thick weather, till arriving P off the Solanders at 3 p.m. on the Ist, when £ the fog was so thick that she was forced to jv stand off and on till daylight this morning, and arrived 4 at the Bluff at 2 p.m. She brings 20 ®aloon and 27 steerage passengers, and 403 tons I' of cargo for all ports. The saloon passengers I for Lyttelton are- —Miss Hill, Messrs. Curnow, Smith, Selwyn Smith, Sunday, and 4 steerage, J. with 88 tons of cargo. The Ringarooma does | not sail till to-morrow at 2 p.m., having a lot | : of cargo to discharge.

POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close i follows :

for Christchurch and North at io a.m., p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10 a.m. daily. 4 For Rakaia at 10 a.m., and 4 p.m. daily. For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at [ '.15 p.m. daily. | For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount j Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays [ lad Fridays at 10.30 a.m. I For Temuka, Tirriaru, and South at 10.15 I Lm. and 3 p.m daily. I For Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, IRangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, lit 10.15 a.m. daily;

UNCLAIMED LETTERS.

f The following letters are advertised at the Post Office, as having been received from places beyond the Colony, during the month of April, and remaining unclaimed on the Ist July, 1878 : |V Banks, Williiam Bimler, L. C. | Cadle, W. C. . Cairns, John, care of David Johnston Christie, Samuel i ; Dunne, William s; Fitzgerald, John (2) I Hall, John : ~ Harris, Mark JJarris, Joseph f Hayward 8 William “ V-Leahy Patrick (2) Leggatt, W. L. | Orr, Robert Tourgis, A. (2) • j Letters originating in New Zealand are not aow advertised, but are sent to the Dead KLetter Office, after having lain for two clear Imonths.

ABSTRACT OF AUCTION SALES.

Thursday, July 4.

R. Walton and Co., Christchurch,—2so acres, ' at Ashburton, close to town ; rural sections : f Nos. 25587, 50 acres ; 25603, 100 acres; 25668, 50 acres : and 25704, 50 acres. 1 1 Saturday, July 6. -Bullock and Co., AsTiburton,—36 t. ing allotments, adjoining township of Ash jr burton, about 10 chains from North-east town r belt. ' T , •Miles, Hassal, and Co., Chnstchurch,—Land at South Rangitata, within half-a-mile of the - Railway Station, rural sections : Nos. 24163, a:. §o acres; 24164, 24 acres; 24165,, 4 2 f- acres ; 24166, 43 acres j 24167, 29 acres.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE .

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST.

The Evening Echo, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1878. THE ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

ttte Council met In their Chambers £lrill 7 s Hotel) to-day at eleven o’clock, fee members present were— r Messrs W. . Walker (chairman), Bullock, Wright, r *sen } Polhiil, Coster, and Keed. Mr

apologised for his absence-on account of indisposition.

chairman’s remarks.

The Chairman, in his opening re marks, said that since last meeting a decision had been suddenly come to by the Government respecting the Rangitata Bridge. The Government announce that the works now carried on by their District Engineer would be handed over to the Council on the. ist of July. As the Council was not in a position to take charge at such short notice, and had no official qualified to take the necessary supervision, he- tele graphed to Wellington, asking that the time be at all events extended to 15th July, which request Government have acceded to. The Council would see by the opinion of then own solicitor that the proposal of the Government relative to the collection of the Dog Tax is not illegal. '1 he Governor may appoint any one to collect that tax. Another Government proposal.of ur gency was before the Council viz., charitable aid. The County was pe cuniarily interested to only a small ex tent, there being at present only one re cipient, at a weekly cost of ros. The Council had accepted the management of this aid, and would doubtless be as judicious in its management and as little demoralising as possible. Under Section n of the District Railways Act, 18.77, the Council will have sub mitted to it the plans and documents of the Rakaia and Ashburton Forks Railway. The inspection by the Coun cil was one of the preliminaries required by the above Act. At a Conference on the Sheep and Fencing Bills at Christ church it was resolved to press the im mediate payment of the surplus land fund accrued after 31st December last. The Wellington Conference had been postponed till ist August. CORRESPONDENCE. From the returning officer announc ing Mr E. S. Coster’s election unop posed to a seat at the Council for South Rakaia. From the Public Works Secretary, enclosing report on the Mount Somers Railway plant. DOG TAX. • ' From Mr Broham, Commissioner of Police, stating that after ist July the police would cease to collect Dog Tax, but would continue to enforce the Act, and suggesting the appointment of a collector. It was decided to request the chair man of the Road Board to nominate some one to collect the dog tax, whose name would be. sent to the Governor for confirmation. RAKAIA GORGE FERRY. From Selwyn County tive to the Rakaia Gorge Ferry. It was resolved to forward to the Chain man of the Selwyn County Council letters and telegrams on this subject pointing out that statements contained in the letter of Quinn were not in ac cordance with facts as the contract of the ferry was accepted unconditionally by the Council. CHARITABLE AID. i?e administration of Charitable Aid, a letter from Mr. Marsh was read stating that the Government would hand over the administration to local bodies, and saying that the Government will give an equivalent to the sum raised in each district; also that the amount which had been annually expended heretofore would not be reduced, but the money would be more judiciously expended. Mr. Wright thought the Council were bound by its resolution for twelve months, but after that he would be in favor of supporting their own charitable institutions. From the agent of the Union Bank, stating that the sum of had been placed as a fixed deposit for twelve months. WATER SUPPLY. From Messrs. Thornton and Bull, relative to water supply. UNSURVEYED. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, relative to the unsurveyed por tion of the town, and stating that a recommendatien was forwarded to the Crown Lands Office.

COUNCIL OFFICES. . From Messrs. Montgomery and Co., offering the Council an office in their new buildings. It was decided ,to ac cept Messrs, Montgomery’s offer for three months, and give Mr. Quill a' week’s notice. CHRISTCHURCH CONFERENCE.

From the Chairifian of the South Rakaia Road Board, calling attention of the Council to resolutions passed at a conference of Chairmen at Christ church, and requesting the Council’s co-operation. It was resolved to ac knowledge the letter, and say that the Council will co-operate if necessary. SLAUGHTER HOUSES AND POUND. On an application for a slaughter house license, Mr Wason moved that Messrs Reed, Bullock, and the Chair" mn fee £q Jpqls info the

whole question of licenses, • and report at next meeting, which.was agreed to. From Mr Compton, stating that the Pound would be finished in a day or two, and requesting to know when it would be passed. Mr Bullock .thought it would be right to make the scale of charges the same as those in Christchurch, and ad vertise for public tenders for the office of poundkeeper. It was resolved to call for tenders, to be considered at next meeting, the officer’s duties to commence ist prox. The passing of the Pound was left to a Committee. ABSTRACT OF -ACCOUNTS. The balance sheet for six months was ordered to be published. LETTER 80X.,. The Clerk to the Council stated that he had applied to the Postmaster for a letter - box for the use of the Council, but there were none to be had.- He was instructed to communicate with the Chief Postmaster on the sub ject. OFFICE HOURS. It was arranged that the office hours of the Council be from 10 am. till 4, p.m. [Further business held over.]

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We have received from the pub lishers a copy of the Christian Recot d, a religious paper published in Dunedin, which admirably bears out its title. It is edited conjointly'by the Revs. Lindsay Mackie of Dunedin, and Elms lic of Christchurch. Mr K. Sando has been appointed agent for Ashburton.

The Pound is so far advanced that the contractor has applied to the County Council for information as to when his work is to be passed. Supreme Court, —Mrs. Sarah, Steele, for the alleged murder of her son on the 2oth April, has been acquitted. The schoolmaster Woodford, for .rape on one of his pupils, has been sentenced to penal servitude for ten years; and the Ashburton nasty case has been disposed of -by a jury’s case •of “ Not Guilty.” All the other cases tried yes terday were dismissed “Not guilty,” with the exception of the charge against C. J. Carter, for breach of the Registra tion Act. - He. got ten days’ imprison ment.

Potatoes. —Hitherto we have been accustomed to import potatoes in large quantities from Tasmania, but the recent drought in that island has turned the tables, and we now have to export potatoes and wheat to Tasmania. A cargo of 1022 bags of potatoes and 183 sacks of wheat recently left the colony for Hobart Town.

Gold Exports. —The following is a comparative return of the quantity and value of gold entered for duty on exportation from this colony during the quarters ended 31st March, 1878, and and 31st March, 1877 :

The quantity and value of gold entered for exportation from April i, 1857, to March 31, 1878, were—

Railway Accident—At Frederick Junction, on the main line of the Balti more-and Ohio Railroad, in the United States, a brakesman on a freight train left the engine a short distance from the junction and went forward-to adjust the. switch. He then signalled the train to approach, when to his horror he found himself a prisoner, his foot having been tightly wedged in the “ frog.” The train was swiftly approaching, and the wretched man, realising his perilous position, struggled desperately to free himself, but without effect He shrieked loudly, but the noise of the moving train drowned the sound of his voice, and, as the night was dark, the driver of the engine could not see him. When the locomotive was nearly on him he gathered all his force and hurled his body over the side of the track. Just as he did so the wheels passed- over his leg, crushing it to atoms. His body was also twisted round and fearfully mutilated. He was, however, still alive, and lingered for two days before death put an end to his suffering. The Victoria Boundary Line. —The boundary dispute between South Australia and Victoria is likely to be revived at an early date, as the Attor ney-General' of the former Colony has intimafed that a despatch on the sub ject jms will h& far*

warded at once to Mr Berry. Should the Victorian Government be unfavor able to a reference of the dispute to the Privy Council, the South Australian Ministry will take immediate, steps to force the question to a decision. The despatch referred to has not yet been received by the Government, but Mr Berry, on a fotmer occasion when the question was raised, expressed strongly the view that Victoria should not assent to any proposal which would have the effect of reducing the limited territory of the colony. Sic Julius Vogel.—The Otago Daily Times, referring to the Agent-, Generd’s recent article in. the Nine teenth Century says : — u Whenever the colonies, or any matter affecting their welfare, are adversely criticised by foe men worthy of his steel, New Zealand’s talented Agent-General is quickly on the heel of the aggressor; and with the great advantage on his side of a tho rough personal acquaintance with the vast stride in material power and wealth which these colonies are making at the. present day, and a more accurate per ception' than most of our English states men possess of the vital importance of hfcr colonial possessions to the Bri tish Empire, Sir Julius Vogel, with his shrewd perceptive facultiee and his valuable experience, replies with such vigor, earnestness, and convincing force that his arguments.appear well-nigh un answerable, In none of the pape'rs.he has lately read or the magazine articles he has written, are his ability to grasp the true light in which to view import ant questions, and to place his views in a. clear and convincing manner before the public, more prominently brought forward than in the valuably contribu tion to the magazine literature of the day to which we have just alluded.”

TELEGRAPHIC.

[By Submarine Cable.]

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, July 2. Arrive d—Rotorua. Obituary—Mr. Michael Quinlan, a merchant of Brisbane.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per Press Agency.]

Alexandra, Tuesday.

The Waipa candidates are canvassing vigorously. Mr. McMinn, one of them, says he has the Premier’s authority for stating that no lands on the west bank of the Waipa are to be returned to. the Natives south of Kofikoriki, below Whatawhata. ■ .

New Plymouth, Tuesday,

As the Waitara train was coming in this afternoon, the valve spindle of the engine broke, and the passengers had to walk to town. As one engine will have to do all the work for a day or two,'passenger and goods traffic will be partially suspended. People com plain of the inefficiency of the plant. Mr.. Sheehan will probably go to Opunake in the Waitara tug. , The Natives are gladly returning to their pahs. The Parihaka Natives, with their empty carts, passed through to day. Wellington, Tuesday. The Hinemoa returned here this afternoon with Sir George Grey. The ship Pleione brings a portion of the plant for the Wellington Tramway Company. The surveyors who inspected the Hydrabad for the Insurance ' Coriipany speak so hopefully of getting the vessel off that it is said the insurance agents intend to call for tenders for unloading the ship, which is said to float at high water, though nine feet in the sand at the stern and five feet at the bow. The captain and crew still» remain by the ship. Wednesday.

A deputation from ..Blenheim met Messrs. Macandrew and Ballance this morning. . After a lengthy interview, Mr. 1 Macandrew promised to have tenders immediately called for, for‘the construction af a railway into the town, and a combined bridge over the Opawa River. Probably the station will not be on the site originally intended, as the deputation pointed out that another site, equally central can be obtained, at much less cost. Regarding a bridge over the Clarence River, Mr. Macan drew promised to have the matter in vestigated, with a- view to having the amount required for bridging the Cla renct River placed on the Estimates; At the Supreme Court Walter James Smith, attempting to' ravish, was sen tenced to 12 months hard labour. Thomas Hogan, charged with indecent assault, at Greytown, on Ellen Smith, was found guilty of common- assault, and sentenced to six . months hard labor. Greymouth, Tuesday. One of the largest public meetings fffi? h§l4 Greymouth jook placg last

evening, for the purpose of considering certain resolutions relating to the un foreseen and unexpected cessation of the harbor works. In the absence of the Mayor the county chairman took the chair, '{'he following resolutions were carried with acclamation —fist.) That this meeting views, with alarm the stoppage of the GreymouthV harbor works withouth any apparent provision for their continuance. (2nd.) That the suspension of the works in the face of positive assurance of the Government given to the Corporation, when that body surrendered its wharfage and ton nage dues, that yrorks .would be con tinuously prosecuted would be considered by this meeting as a breach of the terms upon which such dues were handed over. (3rd.) That the -works already constructed having had the beneficial effect of deepening the water on the bar, confirm the opinion that that with out doubt, if continued, .they would make the port accessible to shipping of large tonnage, and thus provide for the export of the vast mineral resources of the district. (4th.) That it is desirable a deputation, consisting of the members for the Grey Valley, the Mayor, the Qounty Chairinan, arid Messrs. Kerr, Kennedy, and Harrison be appointed to wait upon the Ministry, for the pur pose of urging upon the Government the necessity of prosecuting the harbor works without delay. Blenheim, Tuesday.

A deputation has left to' interview the Government -te the Picton railway extension and the Opawa bridge. A foot race has been arranged for £,160 a side between Mclvor and Hart. The distances are - ioo, 150, and 200 yards, and the race is to be run on the 17th August. Forty pounds has been deposited on account of the stakes. Dunedin, Tuesday.

It is contemplated to form a com pany with a capital of. 10,000 to establish steam communication with the peninsula side of the harbor. A document is about to be presented for signature expressing confidence in Mr. Bathgate’s administration of jus tice, and attributing the present dis pute to the jealousy of the lawyers. . Mr. Henry Driver will probably, contest the vacancy for Roslyn. • The case of C. E. Haughton v. Reed and Fenwick, appear in the list of common jury cases for Monday next. The candidates for Taieri are Messrs Robert Gillies, W. ; H. Cutten, and W. Shawj a local man. In the Supreme Court the following sentences were passed:—Robert Gar-, dineiyfor- lai-ceny, nine months-}— Henry. Page South, for larceny, six months ; Thomas George Smith, for incendia rism, four years; Henry Sutherland, for larceny, two years; James Fane, for forgery, two years; William Rus sel, for larceny, was acquitted. This concludes the calendar.

Timaru, Tuesday.

In the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day the Bench refused to grant a re hearing in the rate ease of Borough Council against Royse, Stead, and Co., lessees of the Government Lauding Service-, in which judgment had been given for the plaintiffs. During the month of June forty-two births, fourteen deaths, and four mar riages were registered in Timaru. Four hundred and ninety acres of land, five miles south of Timaru, were to-day sold to Mr. Joynt, of Christ church, at £2‘o per acre. - Waitara, Monday.

After a fortnight’s almost incessant raining, the weather at last shows signs of improving. A special train went from here to New Plymouth, Inglewood, and back yesterday to convey the Natives attending the meeting on a pleasure trip. They were highly delighted, and on their return to Waitara there was great excite ment; • Telephoning was the order of the day with those left behind. There Was a meeting between the chiefs during the afternoon, at which 'the Hon. Mr' Sheehan was a listener, but nothing of any importance was said. The talk was mostly “ chaff” at Rewi about his seat in Parliament. #£ Tuesday. The dinner yesterday was a grand success. Sir George Grey presided. About iooo sat down. The whole con cluded with a war dance, in which a Pakeha-Maori took a prominent part, much to the disgust of all Europeans present. The band paraded the streets last night. The Southern Natives had all. their drays packed early: this morn ing, and left en'route for Parihaka. The Waikatos remain a few days longer. Sir G. Grey left Waitara yesterday. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan and Major Brown go overland to-day to meet Titokowaru at Parihaka. : Rewi dispatched a special messenger to the King at Perhawihki yesterday, stating his very great satisfac tion at the cordial welcome he had re ceived, and the mutual agreement he had made, which he hoped would lead jfcg the union 1 of the two race? tor ever,

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PerWakatipu, via Wellington.)

Brisbane, June 30.

An extraordinary meteor, with its head as large as the apparent size of the sun and the tail of immense length, passed over Georgetown and burst like a hund red rockets. Sydney, June 27. A woman named Mary Padbury, was picked up by. the police in a s'treetjat the back of the Town Hall about 5 p.m., with a wound on her head, a‘broken elbow, and other severe injuries. She said her sister had thrown her out of a window twenty feet from the ground. Melbourne, June 27.

The Government will have to contract a new loan for the purchase of the Hob son’s Bay railway and construction -of other lines.' The > price for the former is ,£13,000. It is rumoured that the Governor has received a dispatch by the last mail in which his action is not altogether ap proved by the Secretary of StateL A nugget, found by Chinamen on private property near Bealiba, weighed 400 ounces.

A movement has been started for the formation of an Infant Asylum, to pre vent infanticide and-baby farming. T. B. Payne, of South Yarra,- has given ;£iooo to Trinity College for the foundation of a scholarship.

Intelligence arrived from the scene of the Loch Ard wreck states that much cargo was being recovered, and that it was intended to work from the seaward as soon as boats are procured. Thomas Pearce has been presented with the Humane Society’s gold medal. The press are urging the Government to send a vessel to the scene of the Loch Ard disaster, in the hopes that survivors may yet be found in the numerous caves on the coast, which are only approach able from the sea. It is thought the. Government intend to remove the prohibition of imported stock. A lighthouse is to be erected atCarri Harbor, King’s Island, at. a cost of Adelaide, June ay. A man named Askley, who has been sentenced to death in Victoria, but had the sentence commuted to twenty years, having served his time, was convicted of forgery three days after his- arrival here, arid sentenced to- seven years.

Per Ringaroonia via Bluff.- Melbourne, June 27. Professors Pearson arid. Mason, as -the iwvj iTienrbers,. will move and second the address in reply on the meeting of the Assembly. .■ - •* f Two donations of 1 odo each have been given towards the foundation of a scholarship in connection with Trinity College. . ' ' The Government are making, a num ber of reductions in the public service, but in a legitimate manner, providing compensation to those whoVetire>Q : The question of the prohibition on imported, stock has been much dis cussed lately, and memorials pro and con have been presented to the Chief Secretary. In New South Wales an d Queensland the Act expires next month, but in Victoria prohibition is only by proclamation. Mr. Berry says this colony must follow the example. of its ' neighbors, as it would be,. useless if-pro hibition is removed to keep our port closed. Most of the principal breeders and owners of stock favor the with drawal of prohibition.\ ? -j The libel action brought Jby the Hon. Alex. Fraser, M.L.C., against the Age, resulted in a- verdict for arid costs against the defendant. It is generally thought that the newspaper got off very cheaply. Dr. Hope, formerly M.LC., and Chairman of Committees is dead. 1 He had been ailing some time.' ‘ John Fisher Dean, charged with felony under the Insolvency Act of New -Zealand* is likely to be reiriarided - back under the Governor’s warrant. The solicitor who appeared for accused objected on -the grounds that the Act under which the charge had heen laid was repealed by a new Act passed in 1876, which contained no provision making the conduct of prisoner a felony. After some discussion, it was ascer tained that a subsequent Amendment Act existed. \ A..valuable shipment of draught stock left per Hero for Auckland on Tuesday last consigned to Richardson of Hawke’s Bay. It includes the entire Stockman, sold for 700 guineas. ’- -

STEAM CONVERTED INTO GAS. IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.

(From the Worcester Chronicle.) Gas can be produced by such profit able means that the manufacturers can afford to absolutely give it away. The discovery to which we are about to allude will naturally be Upon the Hineifenth »nwry.

The Evening Echo, Wednesday, July 3, 1873.



| ' . . s. d. s. d. Batter* inferior to best, j o to 1 2 Eggs, W dozen ; - 2 cr to 0 0 Bacon, prime smoked, fib o 10 to 0 6 Hams in ; cloth, # lb * 1 0 to 0 b Cheese, prime W lb o 8 to 0 10 Flour in bags,. W loolb 15 0 to 0- 0 (Oatmeal* $ ioo£& - 26 0 to 0 0 Lard, $ H> - - - 0 9 to 0 0



March 31, 1878. -March 31, 1877. oz. £. oz. £• Auckland,.... 15,446 61,246 10,067 39,742 Nelson 1,139 4,276 10,215 72,665 West Coast..47,161 189,410 20,978 83,909 Otago 38,684 156,254 32,981 133,851 Totals.... 102,630 411,484 82,241 330,167



Ounces. Auckland 4,254,412 Wellington •... 3° 120 Marlborough 46,427 179,850 Nelson ... 1,616,270 6,418,338 West Coast ... 2,183,071 8,639,513 Otago v*. 3,736,031 14,687,642 Totals • •• 8,752,496 34,179,875



Extension of isme for receiv ing TENDERS FOR LIVERY STABLES, ASiIBMTON. time-for receiving:' TENDERS for the /I Erection of Livery Staiaks, in Wills •eet, Ashburton, for Mr. Edward Cookson, is until SATURDAY, July 6th, sp to sp. m. Plans and specifications may be “ten at my office, East-street, up lo .Saturday, %6th. lowest or any tender atecessaaily :cepte<L W. S. BROWN, Architect, Ashburton,