SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF LYTTELTON.

isAU.KD. May 32—Tui, s.s., for North,

The Tararua left Melbourne on the 15th at 11 a.m. ; experienced strong head winds to Swan Island ; then fine weather till arrival at the Bluff yesterday. She sails at 4 p.m. to-day for Dunedin.

POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close as follows :

For Christchurch and North at 10.20 a.m., 4 p.tn., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m., and 4 p.m. daily. For Chertsey at 10.20 a.m. daily. For Ashburton South, Winslow, Ilinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine at 10.30 a.m. daily. UNCLAIMED LETTERS. Ihe following letters are advertised at the Post Office, as having been received from places beyond.the Colony, during the month of February, and remaining unclaimed on the Ist May, 1878 : Gooch, George C. Gray, George Hayward, Win. Inkster, Win, Judkins, Lucas

Letters originating in New Zealand are not now advertised, but are sent to the Dead Letter Office; after having lain for two clear months.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

ASHBURTON RETAIL PRICES, PROVISION, See., LIST.

The Evening Echo. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1878.

In reviewing the speeches at the pub lic meeting on Monday night, the first thing that strikes the reader is the prominence given to the fact that 2000 acres of rural land will be reserved for the town of Ashburton when it has been proclaimed a borough, besides 100 acres within the town’s boundaries. To the hard-headed man of business and matter of fact financier, this extent of ground, yielding as it must do a considerable revenue—and in itself of great value — is an argument in favor of the town becoming a borough not to be lightly overlooked ; and we give the settlers who kept it so well before the mind of the meeting credit for clearheaded common sense in estimating its value, liut it was not till the speech of Dr. Kestcven burst upon them like a bomb shell that it began to dawn upon those present there was something to be seen to of greater moment than all the acres of Ashburton, namely, the health of the people. The Doctor’s statement may have been the genuine state of affairs as patent to the keen eye of a medical man, or it may have been an unduly gloomy picture filled in on a correct outline. Whatever may be said of the Doctor’s statement and we neither gainsay nor acquiesce in all he put forward—there can be no blinking the fact that the drainage of Ashburton is nil, and its water supply a mere makeshift. Dr. Kesteven stated that his observation of the sanitary state of the town showed him cesspools and wells within a few feet of each other; the wells being sunk, of course, to a lower level than the cesspools, would naturally incur pollution from the filtra tion into them of liquid impurities from the adjoining cesspools, and impure water drinking is as great an evil, and as detrimental to health as impure food. Now the question of drainage is one in which every right-thinking man is interested—every man who cares for his own health. Till now, no attempt of any kind has been made to drain the town, and there, is no likelihood of any attempt being made for some time to come—certainly not while the control of the town’s business is in the hands of the County Council and the Road Board. We have seen the County Council run well for a while on the line of a water scheme, and when they had

paid ;£ioo for a plan, hang fire in carrying it out. It is not a natural thing to eupect that they will turn to the question of drainage and solve it at a sitting, nor can we with a good grace ask them to bestow their time and at tention upon two such bulky things, belonging to only a part of their juris diction, as the water supply and drainage of Ashburton.

But these matters are legitimate works for a Borough Council. Atten tion to them is imperative within the next year, or at farthest two years ; and we think a strong point could be made with Government in asking for a speedy declaration of the borough by represent ing the insanitary state of the town and its deficient water supply, and the desire of the settlers to take steps to have those evils speedily remedied. If Govern ment does not at once grant our prayer for a municipality, we shall certainly feel that an injustice is done to us, for, hopeless of an immediate commence ment of water works under the regime of the County, and no sign whatever in the future of a drainage scheme, how ever primitive, at their hands, we look to a municipality to place in the hands of the Ashburton ratepayers the power to initiate for themselves undertakings of this nature.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Up to 4 o’clock to-day 106 signatures had been obtained to the petition in re the Municipaliiy. Friday being the Queen’s Birthday, and a general holiday, the Ashburton Post Office will be closed. The San Francisco mail, timed in the table of dates for despatch on the 24th, will be made up a day earlier in consequence of the holiday, and the box will close at Ashburton for this mail to-morrow afternoon at four o’clock. In view of the holiday, parties having letters and papers to post for the San Francisco mail, would greatly expedite the postal work at the Ashburton office by posting these early in the day. Business men, tradesmen, and others will observe, from an advertisement in another column, that rubber stamps are now manufactured at the Echo office- These have now become almost indis pensible accessories of business, and for stamping books, papers, etc., with the owner’s name, are immensely superior to the old printer’s ink stamp. In some stores they are used instead of the signature of the firm, and they will als > be found exceedingly useful for marking clothing, and, in fact, almost any de scription of goods that will take on ink. Last evening, about five o’clock, a buggy accident occurred in which some parties had a narrow escape. While the vehicle, occupied by a lady and gentle man, was being driven down East-street, the horse bolted when opposite the store of Messrs. Orr and Co. The gentleman driving did all in his power to check the beast, but it continued its headlong course till it reached the lane adjoining Trickett’s boarding-house, up which it rushed. As it turned for the lane, the lady and gentleman were thrown out, but suffered no injury. A little girl, residing in the neighborhood, hearing the noise, ran round the corner of the lane at the other end, and only escaped running over by a miracle. The horse was brought up in the yard behind the boarding-house, where the shafts of the buggy were broken and the machine otherwise damaged. The prospectus is issued of a Jam and Fruit Preserving Company in Nel son. The capital has been fixed at in 5000 shares. The pro visional directors comprise some of the best names in the city and district of Nelson, and from the splendid fruit growing capabilities of the Blind Bay coast, we should say the venture ought to be a profitable one. The main object of the company will be the manu facture of jam, but the export of green fruit will also be carried on ; in time bottling and drying fruit will be in cluded in the operations of the com pany. .Should this venture succeed, such an impetus will be given to fruit cultivation in Nelson as will make that pretty little city the garden of New Zealand.

NOT LOST.

The look of sympathy, the gentle word Spoken so low that only angels heard; 1 he secret art of pure self-sacrifice, U nseen by men, but marked by angels’ eyes ; These are not lost. The sacred music of a tender strain Wrung from a poet’s heart by grief and pain, And chanted timidly, with doubt and fear, to busy crowds who scarcely pause to hear, It is not lost.

The silent tears that fall at dead of night Over soiled robes which once were pure and white ; The prayers that rise like incense from the soul, Longing for Christ to make it clean and whole ; These are not lost. The happy dreams that gladdened all our youth, When dreams had less of self and more of trufh ; 1 he childlike faith so tranquil and so sweet, Which sat like Mary at the Master’s feet; These are not lost. The kindly plan devised for others’ good, So seldom guessed, so little understood ; The quiet, steadfast lrtve ihat strove to win Some wanderer from the woeful ways of sin ; Those are not lost. Not lost, O Lord ! for in Thy city bright Our eyes shall see the past by clearer light ; And things long hidden from our gaze below ’1 hou wilt reveal, and we shall surely know These were not lost. —Danbury News.

TIMARU

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

May 21.

Tirnaru has had no reason to growl at a non-receipt of its share of the gales which have lately raged on the West Coast and at the Bluff, for on Wednes day and Thursday last those who were able were only too glad to remain in doors in shelter from the heavy north easter which attempted to work similar damage to our local buildings to that conferred upon our sister township of Oamaru. The only damage done, how ever, was to the roof of the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club grand stand, which was lifted off and carried some short distance away. The Government have at last deigned to send us an engineer to superintend the erection of the lantern apparatus in the new lighthouse on Le Cren’s Ter race, and I am glad to be able to report that the work is now making good progress. Of accidents during the past seven days we have had a few. On Saturday last a man named Poff, whilst riding up the main street, was thrown from his hoise and very seriously bruised. The horse bolted up the Great North Road, and quickly made its way to Whale’s Creek. The man Poff then returned to the livery stables where he had ob tained the horse, and informed the owner, Mr. Cornelius, who went in pursuit of the runaway on another horse, but on arriving at the creek referred to the animal he rode took fright at a man working cn the road and bolted. In doing so he slipped, and completely rolled over Mr. Corne lius, who was afterwa r ds picked up by a passing vehicle, and conveyed to town, where on medical examination it was found his left arm had been broken and his ankle severely injured. He is now on a fair way to recovery, though a long time must elapse before he can completely do so.

The most serious accident which I have to record occurred yesterday at Coal Creek to a man who was driving a dray loaded with tanks containing water. He was ran over and killed. No particulars of the matter are yet to hand; but I learn an inquest will be held to-morrow at the Point.

The cases against the publicans, referred to in my last, have not yet been decided upon, although the argument on behalf of the defendants has been given by Mr. Hamersley. On Saturday last a farmer named Richard Bell, who had been committed for trial at the .Supreme Court for sheep stealing, was charged on two other war rants with the same offence, and was remanded for trial to Geraldine, where the alleged larceny took place.

An American correspondent tele graphs from Vienna to a San Francisco journal that in the course of an interview with a great military authority there, the latter said that great Britain was the onlynation in the world that could bear the strain of a great war for more than a year

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

The Eastern Situation.

[By Suiimarine Cable.]

London, May 18. The money market is steady, and consols firm at 96J/Q There is great speculation and activity on the stock exchange. The market for Australian securities is remarkably firm. New Zealand five per cent consols dated now quoted; New Zealand 4j4 per cent, February-August, now quoted.

The wool sales exhibit considerable weakness as they progress. The lan guor has led to considerable withdraw als. Prices average a decline of id. The fall is most strongly marked in respect to washed and greasy cross breds.

The corn market is weak, with down ward tendency. The prospects of the wheat harvest at Home are favorable. ■ May 19. The Daily News states that General Todleben sent to the Porte an ultima tum demanding the evacuation of Shumla, Varna, and Batoum, and the Russian occupation of Bujukdere. A serious riot has occurred at Preston.

May 20. After a long and animated debate in the House of Commons, the Marquis of Hartington’s motion was adjourned till to-morrow. In the House of Lords, Earl Beaconsfield declined, under pre sent circumstances, to vindicate the policy of the Government.

There was a riot yesterday at Preston. The military interfered, and succeeded in dispersing the mob without using their arms.

May, 21. The Lancashire operatives refuse a settlement of the dispute. The Pririce and Princess of Wales have visited the Sydney section of the Paris Exhibition, and have complimented the Colony on its exhibits, and the tasteful manner in which tney are arranged.

{Special to the Wellington Post.)

London, May 17. The strikes among operatives have extended. Count Schouvaloff’s mission has been successful. The Czar consents to the principal demands of England, and the European Conference will meet shortly. May 18. A report found publicity in print yes terday that Earl Russell was dead. It turns out to be untrue, as Earl Russell, though dangerously ill, is still alive. [Per Press Agency.] Constantinople, May 18. Notwithstanding the pacific tone of the St. Petersburg news, Russia con tinues massing troops near Constanti nople and the Bosphorus, and they are advancing nearer Gallipoli. The Rus sian head-quarters still remain at San Stefano.

May 20. The Russian Ambassador here and General Todelben both assure the Ot toman Government that the movements of Russian troops have not a hostile intent

St. Petersburg, May 19. Schouvaloff has started for London,

Semi-official journals state that the movement of Russian troops is for rea sons of health. The occupation of Constantinople is not intended.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per Press Agency.]

Gisborne, Tuesday. The Patutahi block of 20,000 acres was sold to-day, cut up into town, su burban, and country sections. There was a large attendance, and competition was brisk. The quarter-acre sections, at the upset price of realised £2O and up to £3°. The portion laid off for a township, about 45 acres in ex tent, realised First class rural lands averaged ■£() per acre. The Ta potano portion of the block realised yip per acre. A small part of the second and third class rural land was sold at

THE EVENING ECHO, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, IS7B,



Butter, inferior to best, .r. tHb o d. 8 to s. I d. 0 Eggs, li? dozen 2 6 to 0 0 Bacon, prime smoked, P lb O 10 to 0 0 Ilanis in cloth, 1j? lb I 0 to 0 0 Cheese, prime cjuality, ll? lb o 8 to 0 10 Flour in bags, p ioolb 15 0 to 0 0 Oatmeal, H>' ioolh 26 0 to 0 0



SHILLING PACKETS of COP PELS to be had at the “ Echo ” office.