SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF LYTTELTON.

ARRIVED. May 20 —John Knox, barque, from New castle. May 21—Taupo, s.s., from North. .Sailed. May 21—TTawea, s.s., for North. May 20 —i aupo, s.s., for South.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Timari’, Tuesday.—Wheat, 3s iod to 4s 2d; oats, 3s to 3s 3d ; barley, 4s 6d to 4s qd ; potatoes, £2 7s 6d. In cattle the market has been well supplied, at £l2 per head, equal to 30s. per icolbs. ; milk cows were in good demand at £l2 to ,£l3 15s. ; Very few sheep are offering, Soo cross-bred hoggeits sold at 7-s. 9 ( 1- > 4°° cross-bred lambs at 7s. 411. Staunch heavy draught horses at £4O to £6O ; medium, £4O to' £4B ; light, £2S to £36 ; hack, light harness, £5 to £3O.

ASHBURTON RETAIL PRICES, PROVISION, &c., LIST.

The Evening Echo. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1878.

“ An old fashioned prayer meeting” is annonneed as the subject of Rev. B. J. Westbrooke’s Bible Reading to-night in the Primitive Methodist Chapel. “ The manly art of self-defence, in all its grace and beauty,” is to be a specialty of the tent erected in Ea t Street by Mr Charles Burton. The rudiments of fencing and shooting will also be taught.

Not long ago a certain colonial bishop, meeting a bright intelligent boy, and, being struck with his appearance, accosted him thus : “Well, my little man, and what’s your name? ’ The precocious youngster promptly responded, “Freddy Johnson. What’s yours?” “My name is Augustus,” as quickly responded the worthy prelate, “ Well, Augustus,” said the little fellow, taking a very quick glance at his lordship’s gaiters, “ what makes you wear knickerbockers now you’re so b'g? Why don’t yon wear trousers ?” The answer to this per tinent question is not reported, but it is under stood his lordship turned away reflectively. A very singular phenomenon was observed by Mr. Vye. of Lawrence, one Sunday morning recently about three o’clock, A brilliant body about half the size of the moon was witnessed by him for a coup’e of minutes, travelling from east to west in the heavens at a speed faster than the apparent motion of the luminary of the night. It was so bright that he could rot steadfastly gaze upon it, and the beams it spread around were more of the bright sunlight than the soft silver light of the moon. The Tuapcka Times say that some six or eight weeks ago a similar object was observed by Mr. Nor man, of the Blue Spur,

THE MUNICIPALITY PUBLIC MEETING.

Last night a public meeting, called by advertisement, was held in the Library Hall to consider the propriety of taking steps to have the town ot Ashburton proclaimed a borough under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. Though the attendance was not so large as the importance of the object of the meeting would have led one to ex pect- the most of the. leading residents were present, and the meeting seemed quite unanimous as to the desirability of securing the point aimed at. On the motion of Mr. W. R. Boyle, Mr. Thomas Bullock was called to the chair, and said that he was sorry to see so few present. He theffght-Mhat the question-of whether or not the town should be made a municipality was of sufficient impoitance to have brought to the meeting most of the settlers in Ashburton, but he presumed that, from what he knew of the feeling of the public in the matter, the absence of many might be taken as a sign that they were in favor of the movement, and that its necessity was so apparent as not to require their attendance at a public meeting to say so. In August last a petition praying that Ashburton should be proclaimed a municipality had been prepared and forwarded. As chairman of the public meeting from which the petition took its rise, he received a telegram in reply to it asking if the number of householders in the town numbered 250. To which he had answered, “ Not quite, but daily in creasing.” G. S. Cooper, Esq., then forwarded to him another telegram, slating that in the absence of the re quisite number of householders the Governor could not be advised to pro claim the borough. On the 4th of May, in consequence of repealed leaders and local paragraphs in the Ashburton newspapers, he had again written to Mr. Cooper, and had received for answer that proceedings would have to be opened afresh, and all the old ground gone over. There were many reasons why the attempt to secure the munici pality should he made. Many questions of vital importance to the township could be dealt with by a Borough Council that neither County Council nor Road Board were in a position to attend to. First, the matter of drainage was of very great importance, and was one in which every one was deeply interested ; then the question of light ing the streets had been suggested" to him that day by a townsman as a very necessary thing, and wholly matter fo the attention of a Borough Council ; then there was the water supply, which did not seem to make progress in the hands of the County Council; and last, though not least, as a borough Ashbur ton would become entitled to a reserve of 2000 acres of rural land, and the control of reserves within the township. With the latter they were not then in n position to deal ; but those fronting the railway and East Street would be a valua ble source of revenue, if let even on the short leases that the law allowed. Most of the settlers were satisfied with wha! had been done for the town by the Road Board ; but there were matters, such as the making of improved footpaths and street lighting, which that board could not undertake. He would have perfer red that some of the owners of sec tions just outside the town belt had gone in with them in this matter of the municipality, but they could do so at a future time, if they wished to be in cluded in the boundaries of the town, by setting the same machinery in motion they were doing that night. Meanwhile the boundaries of the proposed ' orough would be the town belts. The Borough Council would have power to levy rates ; but they could not borrow money or levy a rate for gas or water systems without the sanction of a public meeting of the ratepayers for such special rate. It would be necessary to pass the re quisite resolutions to forward to the Governor, and that was about all the meeting could do. He would call upon Mr. Williamson, who moved the first resolution, as follows : That, in the opinion of this meeting, as Ash burton now possesses the requisite number of householders, it is desirable that the town be proclaimed a Borough under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1576.

The resolution was similar in every way to the one passed in August, and he

knew of nothing to cause a change in the town’s opinion since then. He said, at the time when the municipality was refused that he did not think anything would be lost by a. short delay, and nothing had been lost, for a great many streets had been made. The chairman had stated that the County Council meant to throw over the water scheme— The Chairman desired to correct Mr. Williamson. He did not say the scheme was thrown over, but that it was not being proceeded with at present. Mr. Williamson then went on to say that the reserves were a great considera tion, and if not secured now, from the way in which land was being taken up, he questioned if at a future time they couid be got at all. Mr. Bullock had a large interest in the town of Ashburton, and they weic indebted to -hitr.-foi his labors in their interest, both in this matter and as their representative at the County Council.

Mr. Robinson seconded the resolu

Mr. St. Hill, on the question of water supply, remarked that the Road Board had successfully slopped water from getting into the river. Mr. Williamson replied that, though a member of the Road Board, he was there that night as a private individual, and spoke as such. The resolution was unanimously carried.

Mr. Robinson had pleasure in moving the second resolution. The 2000 acres was an object to be secured, and as his friend Mr. Williamson had said, if they were not secured now they would be difficult to secure at all in future. A Town Council could better look after many things in the township, that the layge area of ground for which their oversight was required prevents the other bodies from seeing to. The reso lution read as follows :—• That a memorial, signed by at least cne hunched householders, be presented to the Governor, praying him to proclaim the town a Borough under the Act. Mr. St Hill seconded.

The Chairman hoped that though they had received a fair share of atten tion from the Road Board, that body would divide the funds in hand with them.

Mr. Williamson : They won’t have anything to divide if we take all the money. (Laughter.) The resoulution was then put and carried unanimously.

Dr. Kesteven moved the next reso lution :

That the Chairman take the necessary steps to have the foregoing resolutions given effect

In the course of his professional jour n ys through the town he had taken notice of its sanitary state, and had found it very unsatisfactory indeed. It was as bad as some towns he knew in India, and these were the worst he had ever seen. On many of the Ashburton sections wells and cesspools were within a few feet of each other, and the wells being of course lower than the cess pools, the water was anything but a healthy thing to drink—in fact, its use was slow poisoning. He would not drink a drop of it if he could help it. While such impure water was used the town was in imminent danger of an epidemic. Mr. Boyle seconded the resolution. The Chairman was sorry to hear of their likelihood of being poisoned. Drainage was an important question, and many places in East Street and elsewhere in town wanted it badly. A borough would have power to raise a loan for the purpose of laying down a drainage system. Drainage, lighting, and water supply, were some of the im portant matters, loans for which must have the sanction of the people. The resolution was put and carried.

Mr. St. Hill would be glad if some steps were taken in re the pound ; and Mr. Compton desired that something should be done in regard to the cemetery.

The Chairman was glad the subject of the cemetery had been mentioned. Twenty acres had been reserved for that purpose, and it had now been gazetted. The last Superintendent had set aside ££o for the purpose of fencing the ground, and he himself had asked ££so from the City Council, but they thought that was too much to give to the township alone. He had no doubt, however, they would get a good sum.

Mr. Boyle asked if a rate could be struck by the Borough Council without a meeting of the ratepayers. The Chairman said the Borough Council’s powers in regard, to rating were the same as those of the Road Board. They could fix any rate not over a shilling per £, but could, with consent of the ratepayers, strike a special rate for water, lighting, drainage, etc. Mr. Ivess corrected the chairman, pointing out that a special rate not exceeding one shilling in the £ could be levied, but the sanction of the rate payers was required for any further special rate.

.A vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and the meeting ended, the petition to the Governor being signed by many of those present.

LATEST CABLEGRAMS SUMMARISED.

In consequence of cable interruptions we receive our Home telegraphic news by fits and starts, and to-day we have to publish a summary of cablegrams in arrear. The recent gales have also in terrupted the working of the New Zealand lines, and for some days past we have been receiving our telegrams too late in the evening for publication in the Echo of the same day. We hope, however, now that the weather has be come a little more settled, that the in provincial telegrams will reach us with more regularity.

Our latest London dates are to the 18th May, and there are also dates as old as the 10th. In regard to the position of affairs at Constantinople, the situation remains unchanged, the L us sians evincing a tendency to draw nearer Constantinople, and the Turkish forces are actively employed on the work of preparing the defences of the capital, while the English squadron still holds its position in Turkish waters. The feeling between the Porte and the Russian Commander in Chief is being intensified respecting the evacuation of the fortresses. The Turkish Govern ment hold that the stipulations of the San Stefano treaty provide for Shumla and Varna being surrendered, not to Russia, but to Bulgaria. Count Schouvaloff, who recently left London on an important mission to the Czar, is still at St. Petersburg, waiting for the Emperor’s decision. A Russian < solution of the question of preserving the vitality of Turkey is the administra tive autonomy of the Christian popula tion as tributary to the Porte, and the cession of Bosnia to Austria.

The cause of the attempted assassina tion of the Emperor of Germany has not yet been discovered. Austria is strengthening her forces on the north, south, and east frontiers. Russian agents are purchasing ships in the United -States for privateering purposes.

England is working hard at warlike preparations.

The Queen has held a review at Aldershot of 16,000 troops; and the Indian forces occupy the attention of Parliament.

In the wool market the afternoon at tendance of Home and Foreign buyers was large, but the usual eagerness characterising opening sales was absent. Prices compared with last series show a slight relapse. Combing wool is un changed; cross-breds, faulty, J4d. lower.

In the general news the Lancashire strikes occupy a prominent position in the telegrams. Serious riots had oc curred at Blackburn, and the military had been summoned to restore order. The mob had been fired on, and several persons wounded. Mills had been burned and windows smashed. Arbitra tion had been refused by the men on strike.

Twenty persons were killed by an ex plosion of a powder mill in Paris ; and an earthquake at Venezuela had des troyed 600 people. The Australian Cricketers had arrived all well. Lord John Russell was alarmingly ill and not expected to recover. Canada was taking precaution against a Fenian rising.

THE EVENING ECHO, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1878,



s. d. s. d. Tisitter, inferior to best, Iff lb o S to 1 0 Bggs, {:>' dozen 2 6 to 0 0 Bacon, pi imc smoked, If lb o 10 10 0 0 Hams in cloth, l)f lb - i 0 to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, l|f lb o S to 0 10 Flour in bags, 18’ ioolb 15 0 to 0 0 Oatmeal, Ijf ioolb - 26 0 to 0 0



SONS OF TEMPERANCE. OWING to Friday next being a holiday, the usual meeting will be held on THURSDAY EVENING at 7.30, at the House of Mr. T. Andrews, Town Belt. A. J. ANDREWS, Secretary. A BIBLE READING will be given by the Rev. B. J. WESTBROOKE, TO NIGHT, at 7.30, in the Primitive Methodist Chapel. Subject : An Old-fashoned Prayer Meeting. A BONING, FENCING, and SHOOTING TENT is now opened at the Corner of East Street and Beach Road. ADMISSION FREE. Use of Gloves, or Single Sticks, One Shilling. Pools shot for every five minutes. CHARLES BURTON. A THISTLE LODGE, ASHBURTON, A LODGE of INSTRUCTION, in con nection with the above Lodge, will be held TO-MORROW (Wednesday) EVEN ING, at 7.30 sharp, at the usual place of meet ting. when all Brethren are requested to attend. By order of the R.W.M., JOHN R. BLAND, RUBBER STAMPS. 'JMIESE Useful STAMPS, with Ink and Pads, are now being Manufactured at the 1 ECHO ’ OFFICE, and can be supplied any shape or size at reasonable prices. STAMPS FOR Receipts, Labels, Societies, Books, Marking Linen, Ac.



TH'IVK SHILLING PACKETS of COP -*• PERS to be had at the “ Echo ” office.