TO EDWARD SAUNDERS, ESQ.

Ashburton, August 16, 1878. SIR, —We, the Undersigned Ratepayers of the Borough of Ashburton beg to request that you will allow yourself to be Nominated as a Councillor, and hereby pledge ourselves to do our utmost to secure your return. We are, Sir, Yours respectfuily, Donald Williamson, storekeeper Thomas Quill, Commercial Hotel F. Doherty, storekeeper William Anderson, saddler Gerald D. Branson, solicitor R. J. Friedlander, merchant J. M. Cambridge, chemist Horace J. Weeks, journalist Joseph Hess, journalist William Gavin, draper J. H. Pass, storekeeper John Orr, merchant Daniel Plenderson, storekeeper G. Compton, builder. J. R. Steel, blacksmith M. Smith, builder Francis Thompson, blacksmith G. E.’ Pike, coach proprietor. j.- George Parkin, builder m H. 11. Bowers, artist George Kidd, blacksmith John G. Anstee, boarding,house keeper. Thos. Dudson, saddler To the gentlemen signing the above requisi tion : • Gentlemen, —I fully appreciate the honor of being requested to represent the ratepayers at the Borough Council, and shall do my utmost, if elected, to deserve the confidence placed in me. • E. SAUNDERS.

ASHBURTON TRADE DIRECTORY.

ft ;COUNTANTS AND COMMISSION AGENTS— Charles Braddell, Montgomery’s Buildings H. J. Bristo, Prospect Buildings, East-st. W. R. Boyle, Moore-street. ft. -tCHITECT AND CIVIL ENGINEER — S. W. Brown, East-street * S. Farr, Montgomery’s Buildings B. Mountfort, East Street

AUCTIONEER? — Bullock and Co., East-street Saunders Bros., Ashburton Barristers and Solicitors — Mr. Branson, East-street Mr. E. G. Crisp, Montgomery’s Buildings Bakers, Confectioners, Etc.— Thomas Hicks, Tancred-street Taylor and Lill, East-street, Banks — Bank of New Zealand, East-street Union Bank of Australia, East-street Boarding House Keepers— J. G. Anstee, East-street Eagle’s Dining Rooms, Havelock Street Builders, Contractors, Etc.— James Baker, Havelock-street Geo. St. Hill, Burnett-street West G. Parkin, Steam Saw Mills, Moor-street Matthew Smith, Moor-stieet Thos. Williams, Tinvvald Booksellers and Stationers — A, Weston, Prospect Buildings, East-street Furr.ess and Dixon, Stationers’ Hall, East street South

Bootmakers— T. Chambers, Prospect Buildings, East-street M. Nealas, East-street Brewers—- Wood and Co., Cameron-street Cabinetmakers and Undertakers— James JBaker, Haveiock-strcet G. Parkin, Moor-street Thomas Williams, I inwald

Carrier— G. F. Scott, Cameron-street

Chemist and Druggist— J. M. Cambridge, Montgomery’s Buildings Coal and Firewood Merchants— G. Parker and Co., near Railway Station A. Piayes, Firewood and Timber, near Rail .way Station F, P. Leßreton, Burnett-street. Drapers and Clothiers— Ait ken and C 0.,. Havelock-street Orr arc Co., East-street John Fowler, Tancred-street * Firth, Pass, and Co., Old Bank Store, East sttreet -

W. Gatin, East-street T. Quinn & Co., Moor-street Engineers and Founders— Edwards and Lee, Engineers, Smiths, etc., Buraett-street W. J. Hessty, Central Foundry, Peters-st Furniture Warerooms— A. Spillard, Tancred Street Grocers, General Dealers, Etc.— Aitken and Co., Havelock-street Orr and Co,, East-street Firth, Pass, and Co., East-street John Fowler, Tancred-street K. Sando, East-street Greengrocers— W, Birtwell, East-street J. Mooar & Co., East-street Hairdressers— E. A. Garnett, East-street A. Pearse, Moore-street Hotels— 'Quill’s Commercial Hotel, near Railway ■Station Slvotstriian’s Somerset Hotel, East-street Ironmongers- Orr and ( Co., East-street Aitken and Co., Havelock-street Si- Hardley, East-street Fames’ Clothing Establishment— . Mrs. Morey, Tancred Street.

PA2N!I)£R, &.C.— J. XL Chapman, Tancred-street Printers and Publishers— Furness and Dixon, East-street Plumbers, Gasfitters,'Tinsmiths, Etc.— J. G Dolman, Tancred-street Joseph Hyde, Tancred-street vS. Hardley, East-stieet Saddlers— • j Thomas Dudson, Burnettlstreet Surveyors— \ C. E. Fooks and Son, Eatet-street Tailors— 1 Aitken and Co., Havelocli-street Tentmakers— K. Sando, East-street _./ Tobacconists— A. Pearse, Moor-street E. A. Gi.mett, East-street A, Weston, East-street

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF LYTTELTON.

ARRIVED. August 19 —Taupo, s.s., from South,

' .sailed. August 19 —Taupo, s.s., for North. August 19— -Tui, s.s., for Wellington.

Auckland, August 17. Arrived —Lady Jocelyn, ship, from London, with 350 immigrants, 91 days out. Westport, August 17. Captain Bascand, of the Luna, reports the loss of tne schooner Merlin, on the south side of Stevens’ Island. The crew were saved.

The Evening Echo. MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 1878. THE MAYORALTY.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. A public meeting, called by Mr. Bul lock, to give the electors an opportu nity of hearing his opinions on things in general re the borough, was,.held on Saturday night in the Town Hall. About 500 -persons were present, and on the platform were Messrs. Bullock, A. Orr, F. Doherty, Dr. Stewart, T. Quill, and others. Mr. Donald Wil liamson, the other candidate for the position of Mayor, was also on the plat form. On the motion of Mr. St. Hill, Dr. Trevor was called to the chair. Just as he was proceeding to open the business of the evening, Mr. Quill asked if the Dr. was a ratepayer, urging that it would be better the chair were occu pied by a ratepayer than by a gentle man residing on the belt, and having no interest in the borough.

Dr. Trevor said he w'as not a rate payer, but that was no legal impediment to being chairman of the meeting, which had been called by Bullock’s committee, and was therefore Mr. Bullock’s meet ing. The object of it was to hear Mr. Bullock’s views on matters of interest to the borough, and when that had been done, any other candidate could speak, or questions could be asked. Mean while, the meeting had elected him chairman, and that. position he meant to hold, and discharge its duties impar tially. It was pretty evident the may oral contest would be a stiff one, but he hoped it w-ould ’be conducted as it had been so far, without any display of ill-feeling. He was glad to see such an attendance, as it betokened that interest which ought to be taken in the election of the first mayor of an important bor ough like Ashburton. The honor of the mayoralty was one that ought not to be lightly thrown away, as some of the best interests of the borough lay in the hands of the holder of the office, and care should be exercised in elect ing a suitable person to hold it. He then called upon Mr. Bullock, who said that at the request of the ratepayers he had come forward as a candidate for the Mayor alty, and would that night express his views on matters of interest to the borough of Ashburton. It gave him great pleasure to see so many present. At a former meeting, to petition the Governor for the municipality, he had complained of the small attendance, but that night he had no such cause for complaint. This was a good sign. There \vere several important and ex pensive works requiring to be under taken by the Borough Council, and upon these he meant to speak as briefly as he could, so as not to detain the meeting any longer then was necessary. There was a large number of new rate payers in Ashburton thisyear, and for their information he would explain the steps taken to secure the declaration of Ash burton a municipality. Mr. Bullock then recapitulated the proceedings in stituted by himself and others to secure the proclamation. While he was doing so, Mr. Edw. John Walsh, who has signified his in tention of standing for the Mayoralty, entered the platform from the commit tee’s door, and received a perfect ova tion of vociferously good-humored ap plause. After strutting backward and forward in front of the audience, bowing grotesquely the while, he took. a seat beside Mr. Quill. Mr. Walsh’s panto mime over, and the laughter it pro voked subsided, Mr." Bullock resumed his address. First among the public works he had referred to was a

WATER SUPPLY for the borough. This was a work of very great importance which he thought should be undertaken by the County Council, which body had already taken steps in that direction. It would be injudicious for him to go into a de tailed explanation of how the work should be done, but he thought they would all agree with him that however it was done it should be done speedily. He would prefer- to have the water brought into a reservoir at the domain, so that it might be available for fire prevention and for flushing the chan nels of the streets. The latter sug gested the matter of

DRAINAGE,

which was a question equally pressing, and claiming immediate attention. He thought surface drainage, with two or three of the channels in the principal streets flushed, would be sufficient for a time. An efficient drainage system of this character would do for a time, but it was difficult to lay down any definite plan, as, considering the rising place Ashburton was, no one could say what changes might take place in a few years so that to be able to lay down a per manent scheme that would suit the wants of the town for many years, and would require to have a very clear pro spect of Ashburton’s future. STREET LEVELS. The Borough Council should, imme diately on taking office, prepare a map showing the town levels. Proprietors on the lower levels found their proper ties depreciating in value, while those on the higher levels had benefited. A map would enable builders to work accurately as regards levels, but just now persons building were bound to be guided by levels taken almost hap hazard. . WOODEN HOUSES. He had been asked if he was in favor of wooden houses continuing to be built? He was of opinion that blocks should be declared in which no new buildings should be. erected of wood. The blocks from Messrs. Fried landers’ premises to that of the Messrs. Orr, and from the Union Bank to Montgomery’s buildings, he instanced in illustration. The hall in which they then were might in time be another block, but this block system need not be extended to other parts of the town where the buildings were not so danger ously close to each other as to jeopar dise a large amount of adjoining pro perty in the case of fire. PLANTING RESERVES.

He had been asked if he was in favor of planting the railway reserves ? He said, No, now, but two years ago he would have said, Yes. The reason why he had changed his opinion was that he saw the reserves would all be wanted for railway purposes. He thought only the squares in town should be planted, so that people from a dis tance should not say we lived in a wilderness. Ho would be prepared to support the establishment of a cab stand at each end of Baring Square. He would also be in favor of planting a line of trees along the Belts. ‘ He would be only too glad to see Trevorton included in the Proclamation, but at any future time, .the Act "provided, those settlers could be included in the borough if they so wished. They could not expect the Road Board, to do for them u footpaths, &c., what the Borough Council would do for the town ; and then they would probably, when they saw the nice footpaths with in the township’s boundaries, think of joining the municipality. Of course, the liberty to keep pigs enjoyed by settlers outside the borough would have to be surrendered when they joined the municipality; but the actual matter of joining lay with' the outside settlers themselves. FIRE BRIGADE. He had every confidence in the Fire Brigade, and had no doubt they would do their best when; called upon, but their hand engine was not powerful enough to do satisfactorily the work re quired of it. What was wanted was a steam fire engine. To supply water, for such an emergency as a fire in the town he would suggest the sinking of six .of seven wells, in the more> populous streets throughout the town. Water flowed freely through the shingle at a depth of 12 or 14 feet. By going down so far as to secure a depth of 6 ft water in these wells, they would have a. supply that would not readily be exhausted. STREET LIGHTING. No doubt the Borough Council would be expected to provide the town with street lamplight. This could be done as soon as the Gas Works were erected, and that would be in about nine months. In that time he thought the Company would’ be -working. Mr E. G. Wright had telegraphed home for that portion of the plant requiring to be imported, and everything would be pushed on with expedition. It would be unwise to touch the question of lighting till these works were finished. COUNCIL BY-LAWS would require to be drawn up and sub mitted to the ratepayers for approval. BORROWING. He was not irl favor of any loans being incurred for a year or two. It-was not wise to borrow until large works re quiring heavy expenditure became abso lutely necessary. FOOTPATHS. Regarding footpaths, he thought as phalting should be adopted as the best system. It should be carried out all over the town and not in East Street only. By payment of J /$ or 2 /z of the cost, proprietors could obtain asphalted pavements past their properties, This

would avoid all cause for grumbling. RATES. The Council had po-wer to levy an ordinary rate of is. in the pQi, but special rates required the voice of the people to be taken before they could be levied. RESERVES. At a meeting of the County Council seme time ago he had got the chairman to forward a map of the reserves to the Government, and recently he had re ceived-information that they had been set aside. He should advise their being let, say at 25 per cent for the first seven years, and at 50 per cent for the next seven. The number of reserves they now had would bring in a very respect able sum. CEMETERIES. '. . ‘ The old cemetery should be closed at once. Twenty acres had recently been granted by Government for the purpose of a cemetery, and that ground would be opened for sepulture as soon as ready. . The old ground,, however, ought not to be allowed to go to waste, but should be fenced and protected.

CONCLUSION. Having taken the interest he had in local matters, it was not neccessary for him to repeat of himself what they all knew. Tf his past conduct had been satisfactory, by all means give their to him, if. not, give it to whomso ever'they considered better.- If elected he would give his best attention to the affairs of the town, and he hoped the election would be conducted with good feeling, and that no private interest would interfere with the voting. QUESTIONS. The Chairman then said the time had come when questions might be put to Mr. Bullock

Mr. Quill asked why, in the event of a fire, the block Mr. Bullock had'men tioned should be burned down, that block should be favored with a restric tion regarding re-erection in wood.

Mr. Bullock —It is no favor. It is a hardship. Concrete, stone, or brick will cost hundreds more than wood. I only instanced these blocks ; but before such a restriction can be placed upon these blocks a byelaw must be passed to that effect.

Mr. Quill —Why object to planting now, when some years ago you wanted it ? Why favor only- fencing now ? Mr. Bullock did not object to plant ing at all, but the railway reserves would all be required for railway purposes. Mr. Quill desired to know if foot paths would be laid down at the town’s cosq because if they were to lay down their own footpaths they would be no better off under the Council than they were now.

Mr. Bullock owned two-thirds of the property in the town, and he would be willing to pay one-half the cost of lay ing down footpaths. He did not advo cate laying down asphalt footways in streets of only one house perhaps. Mr. Quill asked what interest Mr. Bullock had in Ashburton to claim the people’s suffrages. It had been said that-he had sold his whole interest and gone over to Tinwald.

Mr. Bullock would never sell out of the Ashburton. Thirteen years ago he: had passed through this place, and he had' taken to it strongly. He did not at that time think that a doxen years after a magnificent hall like the Town Hall would be erected, and he the first to speak in it at a large meeting like that. He then went on to speak of the Mount Somers railway, when Mr. Quill said he was disgressing. Mr. Bullock, having appealed to the meeting, went on to say that soon the Government would make a great line of railway from Oxford to Mount Pleasant, and branch lines would run down between the various rivers crossing the plains. It was better, he thought, to make light railways to open up the country than to levy rates to make roads. The people ought to be careful to see that the, rail ways did open up the country. Mr. Quill asked |if the office of Mr. Bullock'had been the place where the meeting was held to decide upon the site of the show ground. Mr. Bullock had. done his best to have the reserve near Mr. Hay Smith’s ground, but Messrs Reed and Grigg had got it to the South side of the ‘river.

Mr. J. Bradley asked if Mr- Bullock was in favor of opening up the streets' closed by the railway? ....... Mr. Bullock had fought the Engineer on that matter. He was in favor of every alternate-street being open. In answer to a voice from the crowd, he said money expended on the sinking of an artesian well would be entirely thrown away.

In answer to Mr. Quill, the candidate denied any instrumentality in taking, the Mount Somers line up the soutffi side of the river.

Mr. Bradley, re footpaths, asked if, in the event of an unoccupied section lying behveen two houses, the Council would make three chains of pathway ?

Mr. Bullock would have the unoccu pled speculation ground pay the same as that occupied by the bona fide settler. Mr. Leggett looked upon ail Mr. Bullock had said that night as re garded works as tantamount to promi ses. How was the revenue to be raised to carry them out?

Mr. Bullock The Council could levy rates to the amount of is. in the fii, and then there were reserve rents. Mr. Leggett—How could Mr. Bul lock solicit the suffrages ot the working men when his whole political action had been adverse to their interests. Doubtless he had been kind to them in a 12 per cent, sort of way, but he had supported Wason and others in their policy of taxing the working man to the relief of wealth and land. Mr. Bullock was not aware of hold ing any political views adverse to the working men. If he did he would be glad to amend them. Mr. Legget was glad to hear Mr. Bullock promise amendment, and hoped it'would not,rest at simple speech;

- Mr, Bullock was not in . favor of taxing properties and under, nor improvements, and he was pleased to se£ Government moving in the direc tion of reducing direct taxation on the necessaries of life. Dr. Stewart said Ashburton was the centre of a large area of country that must ultimately support thousands where now it only supported hundreds. It was’right, therefore, to have an eye to securing a share of immigration. Their barracks had been made a recep tacle for the Canterbury paupers, and it would* be well to know if their future Mayor was in favor of this pauper station being a permanent institution.

Mr. Bullock—There was some mis understanding with reference to this. Mr. Marsh had said this arrangement was only temporary, and soon the house would be open for use again as an immigration depot. He would strenuously' oppose the depot being used as a workhbuse.

Mr. Ivess then rose and poured out a brilliant exordium on Mr. Bullock’s public spiritedness, congratulating the ratepayers on securing a candidate whose intimate acquaintance with the Municipal Acts would be beneficial, for in a young place like Ashburton much ignorance of the technicalities and details of such Acts were sure to exist. This statement was received with howls, hisses, and cries of “ sit down.” Mr. Ivess explained himself, and finished with a proposition that Mr. Bullock was a fit and proper person to be returned as first Mayor of Ash burton, and that he had the entire confidence of that meeting., , During Mr. Ivess’ speech, Mr. Walsh made an unsuccessful attempt to hug the speaker. Mr. Doherty seconded. He was averse to saying complimentary things of a man before his face, but he had known Mr. Bullock for seven or eight years, and had always found him a straightforward and honest gentleman. The resolution was carried, with only one dissenting hand held up. Mr. Williamson being called upon to speak said he had only attended at the kind invitation of Mr. Bullock. He had no intention of speaking that night, but would take an early opportu nity of calling a meeting, and laying his views before the ratepayers.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.

The Hew Courthouse. —At the meeting on Saturday evening it was in tended by Mr. Cookson to have asked Mr. Bullock whether he favored or would oppose the'expenditure of £l5O upon a structure in the bed of the river to do duty as a Courthouse, the more especially that ground is reserved in the centre of the town for Court house purposes* and an outlay of per haps another £IOO would give a building creditable to the town. Mr. Bullock desires us to state that the question has beejii put to him, and he will strenuously use every effort to se cure a respectable Courthouse in a good situation.

Gas Company— A meeting of the provisional directors was held to-day in the office of Messrs Bullock and Co. to allot shares, and for other business. The directors present were Dr. Stewart (chairman pro, tern.), . Messrs. Quill, Doherty, Friedlander, and Ivess. It was resolved in the allotment of shares to grant the full number applied for by local applicants, but to reduce the ap plications by iq per cent, of those froni outside the county. An account of to the engineer, was passed for payment. The next general meeting of shareholders (preliminary to which would take place a meeting of directors) was resolved to be galled within a month from the election of per-* manent directors, voting power for which purpose would be exercised in the fol lowing ratio.:—l to 20 shares, one vote; go to 50 shares, two votes ) 50 to jsoq

shares, four votes; 150 and over, five votes. A vote of thanks to the chairman termi nated the meeting.

TELEGRAPHIC.

London, August 16. Parliament was prorogued to-day. The speech from the throne praises the patriotic offer of military aid from the. colonies. , , t Affairs in South Africa are causing anxiety, but it is thought serious troubles are ended.- Constantinople. August 18. Thirty Turkish battalions have joined the Bosnians. St. Petersburgh, August 15. It is semi-officially stated here that a Russian expeditionary force was to. Have been dispatched to Central Asia, whert relations between England and Russia were critical.. , The order was subse quently cancelled.' The Austriansin Bosnia, are 'still' retreating. .\. „. . : ; .. ■ August 17. - The Director-General of Police has* been stabbed by an assassin and killed. (Special to the Wellington Post.) London, August 15. In view of the Austrian occupation of Herzegovina an agitation has been commenced in Italy, with the counte nance of Signar Corti and Crispe, for the rectification of the frontier. * Albania has been offered to Italy but refused, and a demand made for Trieste and the Istrian Peninsula. ? 1 ' The Turkish officials are unable, to maintain order in Canca, a fortified seaport in Crete, and the safety of the Christian population is threatened! Two Turkish men-of-war and English and French gunboats have entered the harbour to prevent an outbreak.

Bismarck has sent an ultimatum that Turkey must comply with the Berlin treaty, and withdraw all support from the Bosnian insurgents. Turkey is yielding. The English Government are in favour of the establishment of a large arsenal in an inland town in New South Wales as the only means of effective Australian defence.

The Queen’s speech at the proroga tion of Parliament stated that peace was satisfactory, and likely to be dur able and that Turkish independence was secured against aggression.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Bluff, Monday. .. The Arawata left Melbourne oh the' 14th with the Suez mail. She had strong westerly winds the first two days, then light southerly till her arrival at seven this morning. She brings 36 saloon and 20 steerage passengers, and 400 tons of cargo for all ports. She leaves for Dunedin at 4 p.m, • Passen gers for Lyttelton—Mrs Taylor, Mr*and Mrs Warner, Messrs Blake and Osborne, six steerage passengers and 40 tons cargo.

The Evening Echo, Monday, August 19, 1878.



BREAD. BREAD. BREAD. are now prepared to supply Bread at ; SIXPENCE per LOAF. :C , 1 . SAUNDERS BROS. BOARD AND RESIDENCE. ~ A CCOMMODATION for a few respectable xi. Young Men. Apply at Echo Office. - - TENDERS. TENDERS are invited for the erection of Shop and Dwelling House. Plans and specifications to be seen at my shop, Tancred Street. ' Tenders to be sent in not later than 6 p.rn. on Thursday. . .. JOHN FOWLER, - JOB L 0 T; ' 9 DO?. Ladies’ Colored Josephine" RID; (JLOVESj slightly spotted, will be sold A I/- PER PAIli. ’ ' 1 ORR & CO, W' ANTED—A Smart, hSgent BUY. Apply at Echo Office, WANTED KNOWN. —That all SEW. ING MACHINES left at EAGLE’S Dining Rooms, will be carefully REPAIRED by T. C.' Villiers, Engineer and Sewing Machinist, of Christchurch, who will remain until Tuesday, August 20. • TO THE BURGESSES OF ASHBURTON. AT the request of a number of gentlemen, I consented to offer myself as a candidate for a seat in- the Borough Council. Circum stances have arisen in the meantime which pre clude the possibility of my acceding to their request, and whilst thanking them for the honor they intended doing, pie, beg to assure them should my services be required at some-future time I shall be happy ,to place the same at their disposal, • ; I am, gentlemen, Yours obediently, GEORGE ST, HIM*