SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. May 3 —Taranaki, s.s., from South. Sailed. May 3 —Taranaki, s.s. f for North. May 3 —Arawata, s.s., for Wellington. The brig Sea Spray, of Newcastle, from that port to Melbourne with coal, foundered off Botany Bay, N.S.W., on the 14th ultimo. The crew all landed in safety. She left Newcastle on the 9th with a cargo, and was then leaky, but the water was kept under till she was off Botany, when it overcame all efforts, and she was abandoned.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Messrs. Bullock and Co. report for week ending May 2 as follows :—At the usual fort nightly stock sale, which we held at the Ashburton saleyards, there was an average attendance of farmers and others, hut on the whole a very dull sale, and stock could only be got rid of at reduced prices. Horses, which sold readily at the previous sale, were to-day rather a drug in the market. All cattle yarded were sold, prices of which we give below. Sheep, fat, only a few, which were sold at least a shilling per head reduction, butchers appearing to be fully supplied. The demand for store sheep was very limited, farmers still com plaining of scarcity of feed. Pigs, we think, sold at satisfactory prices considering the season of the year.

Our entries for the day were| —Cattle, 73 head ; sheep, 678 head; horses, 27 head ; pigs, 70 head. On account of Messrs. 11. T. Smith, Cox, Ward, Thow, White, Alborough, M'Gee, Griffiths, Book, M'Gleish, and others. Cattle—We sold on account of Mr Dook, 3 cows, £l3, Li2, and £8 155.; on account of MrM'Gleish, young stock, 20 at L 4 17s 6d, 35 at £3 16s, 6 at £4 12s 6d, 4 at £5 ss, and I at £6.

Sheep—On account of Messrs Smith, Cox, Chapman, and White—s2 fat merino wethers at 6s 6d, 82 crossbreds at 9s 3d, 172 crossbreds at 6s 6d, 212 crossbreds at 7s, 160 crossbred lambs at .5 nd.

Horses—On account of Mr Thow—draught, at £54 los and £35. Pigs—On account of Messrs. White, Leddy, Sloane, Cox, Griffiths, Fleming—3 sows and litters at 30s, 15 pigs at 17s 6d, 8 at 15s, 12 at 13s 6d, 11 at 10s, 3at 225, 10 at 5s 6d. At the Bazaar, on Saturday last, there was a very large attendance of buyers, and very fair prices were realized for medium draught stock, very different from our sale at the Yards. Our entries for the day were 40 horses, on account of Messrs. Doherty, Wilkie, Frisby, Wilson, Tully, Mclntyre, McCutchcn, Ullyatt, Hurly and Loughlin, and others. We sold on account of Messrs. Ilurly and Loughlin, draught horses at £4B 10s., £37, £47, £334*01) account of Messrs, Frisby, Wilson and Co., Tully, Foreman, Doherty and others, draught horses, at £69, £4B, £3B 10s. ; harness horses, £2B, £25, £2l. Country Sales—On Tuesday we held a clear ing sale, at Wakanui Homestead, of horses, wire standards which had been used on the farm, staking implements, &c. There was a very fair attendance, and satisfactory prices realized for everything offered, except horses, for which there appeared to be a veiy limited demand.

Land Sale—On Wednesday, in conjunction with Messrs. Miles, Ilassal, and Co., we held a sale of suburban and other allotments, the property of Messrs. Tancred and Allan, situ ated on the North-east and North-west Town Belts, and a number facing the Racecourse and Alford Forest Roads, and being a portion of the original Ashburton Station. There was a very large attendance, and animated bidding for all lots offered, some of which fetched very high prices indeed. Total quantity sold—2oS acres suburban and other lots, a farm of S 3 acres, about four miles up the Alford Forest Road, brought £l2 per acres and since the sale we have sold another farm of S 3 acres, adjoining the above, at the same figure— £l2. Timaru, Thursday. The grain market shows a weaker tendency, and farmers are stacking in preference to selling at present low rates. Wheat, best milling, 45.; heavy Canadian oats, 3s. 6d.; Tartarian feed oats, 3s. 3d.; barley, 4s. to 4s. 96.; the only sales are for malting. Potatoes, £2 7s. 6d.

DEATH.

BIRTWELL. —On the Ist May, Alfred Thomas, youngest son of William and Elizabeth Han nah Birtwell, aged 11 months.

The Evening Echo. FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1878.

Two events occurred this week in Ashburton, which, though in themselves only common incidents, yet bear lessons to us as a township which ought not to be overlooked. The first of these was the adjournment of the County Council meeting for want of a business quorum, and the second the sale of Messrs. Tancred and Allen’s property. Now, it is no uncommon thing for a public body to adjourn because an insufficient num ber of its members have attended to allow business to be legally transacted, neither is it uncommon for landholders to sell their land. But, if our readers will look back over Ashburton history,

and mark the rapid progress she has made—how buildings of every kind, and important buildings too, have risen as it were like Jonah’s gourd, but not of the insubstantial nature of the pro phet’s shelter; how from an inconse quent hamlet she has now become a bustling town, and the centre of busi ness for an extensive range of agri cultural country—if our readers will look at all this, they will see that the prices obtained for land at the sale we referred to are a proof that the rise and prosperity of Ashburton are not of the temporary character which hurriedly put together things usually bear, but of the substantiality that hard-headed money making men are willing to rest their capital upon with a feeling of security. After a boy has run through infancy, boyhood, hobbledehoyhood, and entered upon early manhood with the bone and sinew and vigorous head of an adult, with all the aspirations within him of a youth looking forward to a bright future, and full of determination to follow a brilliant career; when all the stages of growth he lias passed through have given evidence that he is of the stuff of which men are made —is it not foolish ishness to try to clothe him in the swaddling bands of an infant, or feed him on pap fit only for a babe ? His career entitles him to be considered what he really is—a man ; and if he is not so considered, but his rights with held and his higher feelings insulted by a continual estimate of him as a boy, if he do not rebel and crush his tyrant his spirit will be broken, and a good man will be lost to society. So with a hamlet that has strode out before its fel lows, as Ashburton has done, and reached a position that bids fair in a very short time to rank her amongst the leading towns of New Zealand. Every day the openings between her buildings are being filled up, her population increases, her land rises in value, and her wants as a township must of necessity increase in a like ratio, till they outgrow the ability of half-a-dozen country gentlemen to meet, however clear-headed they may be, or anxious to do the work allotted to them. Non-resident in the town, with the wants of a wide area of country to be considered, if Ashburton receives justice at their hands their time is wholly taken up, at the expense of other parts of the county equally deserving of attention. Now what we want is a municipality of our own, under which the ratepayers within the belts would be able to elect men to do their public business from residents amongst themselves—men with iden tical interests to their own, with ideas and opinions of local matters that will run in harness with their own. When we have secured our own local auto nomy, with a reserve or two of land from Government, we can have many little things attended to which are con sidered too unimportant to be carried before the County Council, and im portant things considered with keener eves to the town’s interest and the people’s welfare than those of men who are not resident amongst them. It is a matter of surprise that steps have not been taken to have the town declared a municipality. Every man we meet says it is what ought to be done ; but on the principle of what is everybody’s business is nobody’s con cern, the initiative is not taken, and the necessary public meeting is- not called to consider the matter. How long shall we have to wait before some bold patriotic spirit steps out and takes the lead ?

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Four consecutive ordinary meetings unattend ed by a member of the Comity Council dis qualify the member so absenting himself from continuing to hold his seat at the Council Board. To-day was the fourth ordinary meeting at which Mr. Mackay has been absent, and ac cording to the Act his right to a seat has lapsed. At a fashionable wedding at the Goldfields some time ago the camp was gaily decorated with flags, and a string of old hoots and shoes was hung to a lofty pole and lowered down as the newly married pair drove beneath it in a cosy new wagonette drawn by oxen. A private letter from London, received at Sydney, states that owing to the success of the Cape route, Messrs Green, Anderson, and others have purchased the Cuzco, Lusitania, and Chimborazo from the Pacific S.N. Company for £2 lO, ctx). A strange rumour was afloat in Constantino ple on January 25th that the Russian conditions include a private arrangement with the Porte respecting the Suez Canal.

CRICKET.

The following are the batting averages of the Ashburton County Cricket Club for the past season. It will be noticed that Mainwaring heads the list with a very creditable 16, Crisp deservedly gaining second honors, and G. Andrews, the most reliable cricketer of the club, coming third. The captain is the only other member fortunate enough to reach double figures ; several excellent bats—notably R. M. Buchanan, and Pearce—having failed to take the high position expected of them.

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council met at eleven o’clock in Quill’s Hotel, their usual meeting place being occupied by a sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Present : Messrs. W. C. Walker (chairman), E. G. Wright, C. Reed, Thomas Bullock. After the usual routine business, The Chairman stated that he had been ad vised by Government that ,£11,438 would be paid over as the revenue accruing to the Coun cil during the past quarter. He had forwarded a return to Government showing all the pro perty in the county liable to rates, but since that return was made up there had been a large increase in such property in the county. He called the attention of the Council to the fact that it would be necessary to fix the clerk’s security, and also to appoint an auditor. The question of planting reserves would come before the Council, and he thought it would be advis able to appoint a committee to take charge of the whole matter. The bridge regulations had not been modified in the direction wished, and it would be well il any steps could be taken to open the eyes of the Government. The Water Supply would have to be attended to as soon as possible. They had replied to the de putation that it would be taken in hand as soon as funds were available, and faith ought to be kept.

Mr. Wright stated that the telegram advising £I U43S 16s. Sd., as the revenue accruing to the county at the rate of 20 per cent, on the Crown Land sold was wide of the mark, as he held in his hand a return showing the whole land sold lor the quarter, and from the acreage there shown the sum due to the County Council was over £is,C23. It would be well to write to Wellington pointing out the discrepency. CORRESPONDENCE. _ From Public Works Office, stating that the Government held the opinion that steel rails, though lighter were more durable than iron. len miles of steel rails could be procured for the cost of 11 miles of iron rails ; but 401 b. iron rails would be of sufficient quality for the light traffic of Mount Somers Railway. Council de cided to use 40U). rails. Notifying appointment of Mr. A. Le G. Campbell as Judge of Assessment Court. The Chairman was instructed to see Mr. Campbell as to the early holding of a Court. b rom General Post Office declining to make any alteration in the mail arrangements for Alford Forest.

From Messrs. J. Stanley Bruce, Thornton and Bull, and Fooks and Son, protesting against the award of ,£IOO to Mr. E. C. Watkins for Plan of Water Supply, on the ground of the insufficiency of the plan for the purpose. Council declined to entertain the protest, as the premium had been paid. The plan of Mr Watkins was considered sufficiently comprehensive for a reasonable number of years, and could at any time be duplicated ; also that all the objections raised would be met by an examination of plan, which the parties could at any time make. Mr. Stanley Bruce wrote asking his plan to be returned. Decided to return all plans ex cept that of Mr. Watkins.

F rom the Mount Peel Road Board, enclosing resolutions in re the Rangatata Bridge, point ing out the danger of contracting the river Rangatata by protective works, and suggesting rather an extension of the bridge. Freshets in the river had previously caused the loss of several thousand pounds. Mr. Wright was of opinion that it was too late to take any steps. Two years ago the abutments had been strengthened by concrete boxes, at a cost of several thousand pounds, and now it was again being seen to by Govern ment. Had the bridge been lengthened in the first instance, it perhaps would have been better; but now that the Government were seeing to the work, and it had advanced so far, it was not in the Council’s power to interfere. Council agreed to the transfer of the Rakaia Gorge Ferry to Mr. Henry Gordon Grey, in whose favor letters were read from various residents in the district.

From Mr. Hurst, stating that he had received no reply to his request td the County Council of

Selwyn, for their contributions towards the working expenses of the ferry. Three quarters were now due.

Resolved to ask the Government to pay all moneys due to Mr. Hurst up to December, charging against the Selwyn Council; and to write to the Council asking for the subsidy due by them from that date until now, meanwhile send a cheque to Mr. Hurst for the past quarter.

From Mr. Werry re the Ashburton Bridge. Mr. Wright look exception to the state of this bridge. He thought the authorities ought to be asked to improve the flooring, so as to dis pense with the grooves at present existing upon it, which were a continual source of danger to vehicles. He gave notice of motion to the effect that, seeing the Government had declined to modify the existing regulations of the Ash burton bridge in regard to the weight of traffic, the Council remit all fines inflicted for breaches of those regulations, said fines being the property of the Council. Resolved, to warn Government of the serious consequences that might arise from a continua tion of the present state of affairs. In re the telegram from the Treasury re the country’s revenue, the following resolutions were passed : Proposed by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Bullock—That the Chairman ask the Colonial Treasurer why the county revenue accrued from 2nd to 31st December has not been paid to the countv in terms of the Act.

Proposed by Mr. E. G. Wright, seconded by Mi. Charles Reed That the sum of £”11,438 16s Bd, advised as due to the county as 20 per cent or the land fund for the March quarter appears to the Council to be erroneous, as the returns of waste lands in the county show the amount due on rural sections alone to be £15,168 Bs, exclusive of revenue from sale of town sections.

Letter from the Chairman of the Ashburton Domain Board, covering letter from Ashburton Cricket Club, asking a vote of £IOO for the laying out of a cricket ground in the Domain. Resolved, that a further sum of £IOO, out of the Domain and Cemeteries Fund, be granted to the Domain Board for the purpose of forming a cricket ground within the Domain. Council then adjourned for lunch.

MAGISTRATES’ COURT

To-Day—Before A. Le G. Campbell, Esq., R.M.

John Kelly was sent to prison for a month with hard labor for being drunk and disorderly, several convictions being recorded against him.

Thomas Holmes was dismissed with a caution for a like offence.

Samuel Corrigan for being drunk on the Ashburton Bridge was fined £l. Charles Allan was granted a tempo rary transfer for the Railway Hotel at Winslow.

Mary Aubrey, aged 16, on the evi dence of Drs. Trevor and Kesleven, was sent to Sunnyside, being of un sound mind. She had been wandering about town for sometime past. CIVIL CASES. Stalker v. Friedlander.—Rehearing granted for this day fortnight, con ditionally on due hotice being given to parties.

Griffith v. Cochran. —Claim ig. Judgment for defendant with costs, £1 lIS.

Orr & Co. v. Turton.—Claim for £2O Bs. Judgment for amount with costs. Mr Crisp for plaintiff. There were other cases, but we hold them over till to-morrow, for want of room.

TELEGRAPHIC.

[By Submarine Cable.]

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[Per Press Agency.]

London, April 29. Consols, rate of discount, and prices of securities are unchanged. Adelaide wheat, 50s. to 6is.; flour, 40s. to 425.

AUSTRALIAN.

( Special to the Globe.) Sydney, May 2. Extensive rushes have taken place in North Queensland.

Disturbances with the Chinese are expected. Three vessels with stock and passen gers are at Cooktown bound for New 1

Guinea. -All the Australian breadstuff markets are advancing.

INTERPROVINCIAL

[Per Press Agency.]

Auckland, Thursday. Sir G. Grey proceeds to Hikurangi on Sunday morning.

THE EVENING ECHO, FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1878.



Names. Total Innings. Total Runs. Times Not Out. Most in an Innings. Average. Mainwaring... 4 48 1 30 16 Crisp 5 69 0 24 13-8 Andrews, G. IO 1 1 3 1 3 1 I2’6 Saunders, S. 13 107 3 39 107 Westenra 6 58 0 22 97 Fowler 3 24 0 16 8 Zouch 6 38 1 17 7-6 Winter 5 36 0 12 7*2 Saunders, E. 21 0 11 7 Richardson ... 6 4 1 0 12 6'8 Buchanan, J. E. 6 32 1 14 6 '4 Shury 3 11 1 6 5'5 Buchanan, R. M. ... 8 39 0 15 4'9 Andrews, A. 9 35 1 11 4'4 Pearce 6 24 0 12 4 Price 4 13 0 9 3'2 Smith 4 7 1 5 2'3