POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close a; follows : For Christchurch and North at 10 a.m. I p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10 a.m. daily. For Rakaia at xo a.m., and 4 p.m. daily. For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3,15 p.m. daily. For Greenstrect, Ashburton Porks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m. For Temuka, Timaru, and South at 10.15 a.m. -and 3 p.m daily. For Tinvvald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily.

UNCLAIMED LETTERS.

The following letters are advertised at the Post Office, as having been received from places beyond the Colony, during the month of July, and remaining unclaimed on the Ist September 1878 : • Anderson, James Clough, Robinson Doherty, Henry James Fergusson, J. H. (2) Gooch, W. Kelly, Cornelius Moyna, Joseph O’Donnell, Patrick Palmer, William Rilly, James Sweetman, Michael (2) Spencer, W. Wallace, John Letters originating in New Zealand are not now advertised, but are sent to the Dead Letter Office, after having lain for two clear months.

ASHBURTON TRADE DIRECTORY.

A JCOUNTANTS AND COMMISSION AGENTS- Charles Braddell, Montgomery’s Buildings H. J. Bristo, Prospect Buildings, East-st. \V. R. Boyle, Moore-street. A ICIIITECT AND CIVIL ENGINEER— S. W. Brown, East-street S. Farr, Montgomery’s Buildings B. Mountfort, East Street A JCTIONEERS — Bullock and Co., East-street Saunders Bros., Ashburton B VRRISTERS AND SOLICITORS — Mr. Branson, East-street Mr. E. G. Crisp, Montgomery’s Buildings B iKers, Confectioners, Etc.— Thomas Flicks, Tancred-street Thomas Taylor, East-street, Bvnks— Bank of New Zealand, East-street Union Bank of Australia, East-street Boarding Plouse Keepers— J. G. Anstee, East-street Eagle’s Dining Rooms, Havelock Street B'Jilders, Contractors, Etc.— James Baker, Havelock-street Geo. St. ITill, Burnett-street West G. Parkin, Steam Saw Mills, Moor-street Matthew Smith, Moor-street Thos. Williams, Tinwald G. Compton, Builder, Moore-street. B ’'OKSELLERS AND STATIONERS— A. Weston, Prospect Buildings, East-street street South Weeks and Dixon, Stationers’ Hall, East* Bootmakers— J, Chambers, Prospect Buildings, East-street, M. Nealas, East-street Brewers— Wood and Co., Cameron-street Cabinetmakers and Undertakers— James Baker, Havelock-street G. Parkin, Moor-street Thomas Williams, 1 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. Hayes, Firewood and Timber, near Rail* way Station F. P. Leßreton, Bumett-street. Drapers and Clothiers— Aitken and Co., Havelock-street Orr ard Co., East-street John Fowler, Tancred-street Firth, Pass, and,Co., Old Bank Store, East street W. Gavin, East-street T. Quinn & Co., Moor-street Engineers and Founders— Edwards and Lee, Engineers, Smiths, etc., Burned-street 1 W. J. Hessey, Central Foundry, Peters-st Furniture Warerooms— A. Spillard, Tancred Street Grocers, General Dealers, Eye.— 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 Shearman’s Somerset Hotel, East-street Ironmongers .Orr and Co., East-street Aitken and Co., Havelock-street S. Hardley, East-street Ladies’ Clothing Establishment— Mrs. Morey, Tancred Street. Painter, &c. — J. R. Chapman, Tancred-street Printers and Publishers— Weeks and Dixon, East-street Plumbers, Gaseitters, Tinsmiths, Etc.— J. C. Dolman, Tancred-street Joseph Hyde, Tancred-street S. Hardley, East-stieet Saddlers— , Thomas Hudson, Bumett-street Surveyors— C. E. Fooks and Son, East-street Tailors— Aitken and Co., Havelock-street Tentmakers— £ K. Sando, East-street Tobacconists— A- Pearse, Moor-street E. A, Gamed, East-stre*^ A. We.stpn, E«b!itrc& ’

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. Sept. 23 —Ringarooma, s.s., from North, Sept. 23 —Taupo, s.s., from North.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Evening Echo. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1878.

The Ashburton Magistrate.— Our own Wellington correspondent, telegraphing to-day, saj s: pages of the estimates went through the House last night, and this, too, without much examination. The item “Ashburton Magistrate,” was roughly handled by Mr. Fox, but Mr. Saunders said not a word, which shows very plainly that he is satisfied with some definite promises of the Government on the subject.” , Bank of New Zealand.— Mr. Roberts, agent in Ashburton for this bank, being about to start business in Ashburton in other capacity, has re signed his position in the bank, and his place is to be filled by Mr. Macfarlane, presently of the Kaiapoi Agency. Parliamentary.—Last night in the House, the Hon. E. Richardson gave notice of a motion that in future no contracts be let by Government until after passing of the Estimates. In answer to Mr. McFarlane’s request to substitute the Sydney Customs Regula tions for those now in force in New Zealand, the Premier said Government had the matter under consideration, and Would give their decision in a few days. On the Electoral Bill in Committee, clause 117 was amended to allow nomi nations to be made by telegram under the Telegraph Notice Act. “The report on the Electoral Bill is to be considered on Tuesday next.” Mr. Ballance said he would ask for a further Imprest Suyply to-day. The House then went into Committee of Supply. On the vote for Asylums, Mr. Fox said drink caused the half of New Zealand’s insanity and crime, and the best way to reduce this vote was to lessen the num ber of public-houses. The vote passed as well as many other items.

Poor Wanganui.—The Wanganui He?aid, of the 14th instant says Cases of lunacy are occurring with ter rible rapidity in this discrict. Within the last four weeks the medical gentle men of the town have been called in to report on no less a number than six cases.

The Waitotara Murder.— ln the the House yesterday the Hon. J. Shee han said he believed that this crime was a purely private murder, with no relation to the survey of the plains. The Maori chiefs, lately arrived in Wellington, owning land where the mur der happened had been astonished and horrified at the news of the crime. The chiefs had also appointed search par ties by telegraph at once, and Mr. Sheehan expected that the murderer would be arrested. Rewi telegraphed his regret, and wanted particulars des cribing the person of the murderer. Government believed that if the mur derer went into the King Country the first act of the Maoris there would be to give them up to the law. The criminal owned no land, and the surprise shown by the Native chiefs of the dis trict who were now in Wellington-was a convincing proof that it was unexpected tlif

HORSE PARADE.

At 12 o’clock the parade of stallions under the auspices of the A. and P. Association, was held in a paddock on Mrs. M'Lean’s property. There was a considerable attendance of farmers and others, and the day was everything that could be wished. Twenty horses were entered, but only 15 appeared on the catalogue. With all the time given to owners of entires to make up their minds as to exhibiting, five horses made their appearance to-day without warning, and though taking their places in the parade were not catalogued. The catalogue ran thus : Roadsters and carriage horses. (Judges— Messrs. Smith, Carter, and Jeff) Walleye, by Nana Sahib, dam Jessy, owner—Mr. Thomas Hunt; Dexter, by Talisman, dam Gentle Annie, owner— Mr. Thomas Foreman; Spot, by Cale don, dam Gentle Annie, owner —Mr. John Grigg; Bluelight (imported), by Lord Linne, dam Fairy Queen, owners —Messrs. Winter and Friedlander. Thoroughbred Horses. (Same Judges.) Hadji Baba, Arab (imported), owner —Mr. John Grigg; Barney O’Heagh, by Master Rowe, dam Lady Don, owner —Mr. F. Lewis; Tribune, by Traducer, dam Azucena, owner —Mr. L. E. Cros bie; Mar, by Sorcerer, dam Peri, owner —Mr. H. Muir. Draught Horses. (Judges —Messrs. Brown, Winter, and Crosbie.) Glengarry, Clydesdale, imported from Victoria, owner—Mr. John Grigg; Rob Roy, Clydesdale, imported from Vic toria, by Blackleg, dam Jeanie, owner— Mr. J. Dawson; Pretender, Clydesdale, by Prince Charlie, dam Maggie, owner —Mr. W. H. Smith; Dan O’Connell, imported from Victoria, by Samson, dam a Lincolnshire mare, owner —Mr. B. Bates; Pretender, Clydesdale, by Prince Charlie, dam Jessie, imported, owner— Mr. J. Moorhead; Prince Royal, Clydesdale, imported, by Prince Char lie, dam Blossom, owner —Mr McKeller; Sir Julius Vogel, Clydesdale, by Major, dam Kate, owner—Mr. W. Bennison. We withhold a more detailed notice till next issue.

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Town Clerk’s Office, Montgomery’s buildings, last night—all present except Mr. Orr.

The Mayor, in opening the business after minutes, said that a telegram he had received from Government informed him provision would be made for the diffi culty existing in regard to the retiring members, and that letters in reference to reserves in the Borough, and the rural lands endowment, would be laid upon the table. In view of the summer, Council would have to consider the question of drainage, and also deal with a fire-prevention water supply. Mr. Saunders took exception to the manner of calling the Council meetings, holding that special notice at the hands of the Town Clerk should be given to each member. It was ultimately agreed, at a further stage of the proceedings, that the Clerk notify each member, two clear days before each meeting, accord ing to the Act.

APPOINTMENT OF TOWN CLERK.

After Mr. Ivess had taken excep tion the low salary fixed by the Council at its last meeting (from which he had been absent) holding that £IOO was in sufficient for the work and time re quired of the Town Clerk, Mr. Chas. Braddell was elected Town Clerk out of the following list Messrs H. Headly, Sydenham; Cooper, Eitcholtz, and Palmer, Christchurch ; Martin, Lewis, Barnett, and Braddell. Ashburton. Mr. J, Ward, Ashburton, wrote, saying he would apply for the position were the schedule of duties amended so as to plainly define them.

VALUATION.

Tenders for the valuation of property within the borough were received from Messrs. R. H. Pratt and Co., Ashbur ton, £ SO; J. E. Buchanan, Ashburton, £so\ J. S. Bruce, Ashburton, C. Flockman and Co., Christchurch, .£45 ; James Mutch, Ashburton, W. H. Barrett, Ashburton, E. Pearce, Ashburton, £2s. That of Mr. Mutch was accepted, and the time for completion entended to the 15th January,

BOROUGH SURVEY AND MAP,

Tenders for surveying the town, pre paring a map thereof, and fixing the street levels were opened from Messrs. H. Grimes Graham, Timaru/^140; Fooks and Son, Ashburton, £155;. C. Flockman and Co., Christchurch, £u3 t with Bs, fid. per bench mark. Messrs. FqqW fisher was accepted.

Some discussion arose on this mat ter. Mr. Ives, though not wishing to cavil at what the Council had done in his absence, thought a mistake had been made by calling for tenders for this work instead of appointing a per manent surveyor. Such an officer, they must allow, would soon be necessary, and he was prepared to say a qualified man could be got for not a very large ncrease upon the price they would have to pay for the work now tendered for, w iich could be done by their own ser vant as part of his duty. Mr. Saunders was of the same opinion, and seconded an amendment of Mr. Ivess to appoint such an officer instead of accepting either tender. A division took place on th's amendment as against Mr. Wil liamson’s motion .to accept Messrs. Fooks’ - tender, when the latter was adopted by five votes to four. The minority were—Messrs Ivess, Saunders, Campbell, and Roberts. THE CORPORATIONS ACT, ETC. The Clerk was authorised to procure twelve copies each of the Municipal Corporations, Rating, and Public Works Acts. * opening street. Mr. Mutch was permitted to make an opening to his cellar in East Street. banking account. Mr. Ivess moved and Mr. Campbell seconded the inviting of tenders for the banking business of the borough. Mr. Saunders moved an amendment to give the account to the Bank of New Zealand. It was a local institution, and deserved their support at once. Mr. Parkin seconded. Mr. Ivess was sorry to see a spirit of favoritism introduced, and thought Mr. Saunders was a gentleman of broader views. It was indecent to make such display of a desire to favour one bank over another. The amendment was carried, and a motion to defer consideration of the banking question till next meeting was lost.

committees appointed

Works (to report at next meeting)— Messrs. Williamson, Roberts, Shearman, and the Mayor. Finance —Messrs. Saunders, Friedlander, and the Mayor. Drainage (to consider and report as to the most efficient system) Messrs. Saunders, Roberts, Williamson, and Ivess.

unsurveyed land.

Council decided, on the motion of Mr. Saunders, seconded by Mr. Camp bell, to petition Government to survey and sell immediately the unsurveyed sections within the Municipality.

WATER SUPPLY.

Adopting the suggestion of the Mayor for the sinking of three large wells at stated distances from each.other, within the Borough, to be used for fire extinc tion, it was decided to make an expe riment by sinking one at the cornet of Messrs. Orr & Co.’s store. The Mryor believed an unlimited supply of water could be obtained from such wells.

OFFICE HOURS.

These were fixed at from 10. to 12 morning, and in the afternoon from 3 to 5.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Messrs. Saunders and Friedlander were appointed to sign cheques on be half of the Council.

Mr. C. B. M. Branson was appointed Inspector of Nuisances. It was resolved to request the aid of the County Council in money for Mu nicipal purposes to the extent of ;£IOOO.

NOEICES OF MOTION

“ That a committee be appointed to consider the best plan for obtaining a permanent water supply for the Borough.”—Mr. Friedlander. “ That this Council take into consi deration at the next meeting the advi sability of erecting buildings for the use of the Council.”—Mr. Saunders.

Female Telegraphists.— A re turn of females in the employ of the New Zealand Telegraph Department is as followsAt Wellington, at the clearing-house, two married and seven single ladies; at Auckland, four married and two single ladies ; At Canterbury, three married and one single lady; at Dunedin, four single ladies; Nelson, one single lady. Total number em ployed 22, seven of whom are clearing house clerks, two abstract do., and eleven operators.

A Vicious Dog.—At Oamaru last week, a man named Norrie was very severely bitten by a dog. The. North Otago Times says that he was in the act of patting it on the head when it sprang at him, fastening on his right cheek, the upper row of incisors enter ing just below the eye, and the lower close to the nose, inflicting very ugly gashes. The dog kept his hold so firmly that his jaws had to be forced open to mske him quit. The dog was Jraciedtoly destroyed,

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[By Submarine Cable.] London, Sept. 21. The money market is easier; Bank minimum unchanged ; Bank reserve in a satisfactory position. The stock market is stagnant. The market for Australian securities is slowly recovering from its -late pros tration. At the wool sales the attendance and competition were better, and renewed briskness was shown, owing to the withdrawal to date of 18,000 bales. The series close on Oct. 7. The wheat crop is not so large as was anticipated. The Nihilists occasion serious un easiness in Russia. A plot has been discovered to break into the State prisons and free the Nihilists. Numer ous arrests have been made. The Russians evacuate San Stefano to-day, and the Turks occupy it to morrow. Turkey is willing to cede to Greece several islands in the Archipelago, but no mainland. ( Special to the Wellington Post.) Sept. 20. Prince Bismarck has been attacked by erysipelas. His illness has assumed a serious phase, and his physicians announce that he is in a critical stale. Sept. 22. The rumour is confirmed that Russia has actually submitted to Turkey pro posals for a treaty of friendship and perpetual alliance, which is to be entered into upon payment of the stipu lated indemnity.

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, Sept. 22. Mr Miles, late of the Works Depart ment, contends that he was dismissed by the Ministry. Mr. Garrett’s resignation as Minister of Lands is unconfirmed. Melbourne, Sept. 22. The steamship Whampoa, from Lon don, arrived yesterday with 162 pas sengers. Sept. 23. The Tararua arrived early on Mon day morning. The Underwriters’ Association report under date, London, Sept. 20. —Ar- rived—Chile, from Auckland ; Mendoza, from Timaru.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Per Press Agency.] Auckland, Monday. The Agricultural and Pastoral Asso ciation has accepted tenders for a build ing costing for a show on Nov. 9th, A fire at Pukekohe destroyed Gros ses’ store, which was insured for in the South British, being re insured. The fire was caused by a child upsetting a kerosene lamp. Alexandra, Monday.

Tawhiao has returned from Kawhia to Hikurangi. He has given orders for the erection of a large meeting-house at Hauri Copua. It is to be furnished in the best style of native art. Large quantities of produce were brought down for sale last week. * f : Some little disappointment is felt here that the Native Minister’s speech did not refer to particulars of the railway through the King Country. Napier, Monday. There is a strong feeling here against the Maori franchise.

The question of opening the Athen aeum on Sundays will have to come up again. At the meeting where it was decided to open on Sundays there was not a quorum of members present. At St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church yesterday a collection, amounting to over was made towards paying off a debt of Wellington; Monday.

At the request of the Corporation the Chamber of Commerce held a general meeting to-day with the view of co operating in celebrating the opening of the railway communication between Wellington and VVairarapa. It is under stood that the celebration will take the form of a dinner and ball, to which the Wairarapa visitors and members of the General Assembly will be invited. The Chamber subscribed £4 from its funds, while ;£i6o besides was subscribed pri vately by members of the Chamber. A public meeting was held to-night with the same object. Three resolutions were carried deciding that the demon stration should consist of a ball and supper, with sl treat for all the school children of the city. A guarantee fund of has already been collected, besides a considerable sum promised, Tuesday.

Government have to the application made on feghalf of the prin»

cipal morning journals of the South"" Island, fqr a special wire from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., but in the cases of Timaru and Oamuru to 1 a. m. only. Blenheim, Monday. William Weaver was drowned while crossing the Wairau river, by the up setting of a dray in the ford. G. Stenhouse has been committed for - trial on a criminal information for libel against Alfred Rogers, solicitor, in a ■ letter addressed to a client. Dunedin, Monday. The tender of James Innes for the sum of has been accepted for the Brighton and Green Island railway. The survey of the Strath-Taieri line is now progressing rapidly, and the con tract may be invited on the line being sanctioned. The shaft of the Black House Com pany, Weatherstone’s, bottomed yester day at a depth of 102 ft. The prospect is half an ounce to the ton. A man named Thomas White was killed this afternoon in consequence of a piece of timber from circular saws striking him on the head while working in Guthrie and Larnach’s factory. Shares are going off freely in the Dusky Bay Copper Mining Cc, The time of the list has been ex tended to Sept. 28, to admit the appli cations from the North Island. Invercargill, Monday. The traffic in land continues una bated. Dunedin and Christchurch buyers are operating freely, and are well pleased with the character of the land. A well-known Dunedin man has secured a capital bargain in 1200 acres of Crown land at free selection price. Many farms are passing into the hands of Taieri farmers, and the bulk of the un occupied Crown land is taken up. Welsh, the murderer, is in close keep ing, and will undergo further examina tion before the Supreme Court sits. A 1 lb. nugget of gold, said to have . been found at Longwood, on Saturday, is exhibited in town.

TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENT’S BILL.

We quote from Hansard the follow ing speech on this Bill by Mr. A. Saunders : . ' ■,, . . I do not think we will destroy the confidence of the creditors of the Co lony of New Zealand by adopting the Triennial Bill now proposed, unless the creditors have more confidence in the present Parliament than they have in the character of New Zealand generally. The arguments used against this mea sure remind me of a very old and per haps a vulgar story of a lad who'said he did not know how the people man aged to comb their hair once a day; he only combed his once a year, and that almost killed him. It appears to me' that so far from adding to the intensity of the objectionable features of elec tions by making them more frequent we should remove nearly all those ob* jections if we adopted annual Par liaments. I have no particular pre ference for three years; I have not particular reason why that number of years would be better than any other period; but I think, gene rally speaking, the shorter the time the better, and that the more fairly and truly the people of New Zealand are ■ represented in this House, the better it will be for the country as a whole. Most of the arguments brought forward on the other side appear not to tell against this Bill, but in favor of it. I agree with almost every word that fell from the honorable member for Motueka, but I am surprised from his statement that he could come to the conclusion that he did. After telling us that it was very desirable that we should meet our constituencies very frequently, and poining out, very justly, how much ad vantage they would derive by the educational force that would be brought to bear upon them by fre- \ quent communications between the electors and the members of this House, I cannot see how there can be any ob- *

jection to that education going on at the time when the electors would hf v P an opportunity of pyapticajly carrying out their opinions after they had heard the.. qp'inipns ofctlieir.' representatives. Another feature in connection with this is the pld stock argument which has been mostly used in this debate, and that is, that members the first year would be learning their work, that the second year they would be quite pr° r pcrly broken ip, and the third year they would be fit for something, and then they would have to go about their busi ness. I think this argument, if it is worth anything, rests entirely upon a fallacious basis ; that is, that the mem bers would be more frequently changed with triennial Parliaments than they are now. I think if we had annual Parlia ments, members would be less fre quently changed than they are now, X think if we had more frequent election! we should have different dw# of

The Evening Echo, Tuesday, September 24, 1878.



ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST. j. d. s. d. Jutter, inferior to best, ff? lb i 6 to I 8 Eggs, f dozen - - 1 0 to I 3 Bacon, prime smoked, lb o 10 to 0 6 Hams in cloth, lb - I 0 to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, $ lb o 9 to 0 10 Flour in bags, ty ioolb 12 6 to 14 0 Oatmeal, I? ioolb - 26 0 to 0 0 Lard, $ lb - - * 0 9 to 0 0



NOTICE. Advertisements for the evening Echo must be sent in not later than 3 p.m. with the number of insertions written plainly on the copy, or they will be inserted till counter manded, and charged accordingly. Special notices can be received up to 3.30 p.m. for insertion over the Leader, but will be charged double scale.



Bank of New Zealand. 'J'HIS BANK is Prepared to RECEIVE DEPOSITS AT INTEREST AND TO TRANSACT’ALL GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS ON TERMS which may be ascertained AT THE VARIOUS BRANCHES AND AGENCIES IN THE CANTERBURY DISTRICT. J. L. COSTER. Manager.