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Edward was also a leading racing man, and his brother Samuel one of the best cricketers. Robert Shearman of the Somerset Hotel had been the target for some of Ivess’s verbal sniping. References in the Ashburton Mail to the ‘intolerable stench’ in Burnett Street aroused a spirited reply from Shearman. He declared that he was an old sailor who wanted cleanliness as much as anyone, and that he used all the water he could get, as well as earth and disinfectant. Attack and defence were arguments for prompt action by the Borough Council. After carrying through his railway contract from Selwyn to Rakaia, Weymouth Roberts had been clerk of works for Wright on the Ashburton bridge in 1874 and on other engineering projects. Rudolph Friedlander, with his brothers, Hugo and Max, formed the firm of Friedlander Brothers in which a cousin, Moritz, was also concerned. The three brothers had travelled from Germany together at least as far as Australia and the others had apparently rejoined Hugo when he took over the firm from Mendleson in 1876. Heinrich, later called ‘Harry’ Friedlander, a tobacconist and borough rate collector, was said to be a relative. Andrew Orr was an Ulsterman and devout Presbyterian who arrived in Ashburton in 1876 and bought Captain George Coleman’s drapery and grocery business. In the following year he was joined by John Orr, a fellow townsman and possibly cousin, in a partnership which lasted until 1882. The business was then divided, Andrew taking the drapery side. It was later claimed that Parkin was the first builder to establish himself in Ashburton and that he and his sons helped to form the first fire brigade. Campbell cannot be identified with any certainty.

In that year, 1878, also, two high officials visited the town. On 19 March, Sir George Grey, at this time Premier of New Zealand, addressed a meeting during a tour of the country. His magnificent presence and spell-binding oratory showed the ‘great pro-consul’ to be also a consummate demagogue. He slated the ‘spurious aristocracy’ of great landowners and, less acceptably before an Ashburton audience, argued the case for manhood suffrage. On 6 September, the Governor, the Earl of Normanby, passed through on the first train to make the journey from Christchurch to Dunedin. Thomas Bullock, the mayor, presented him with a loyal address thus performing the first ceremonial act for the borough of Ashburton. The official party and their hosts, 350 altogether, then breakfasted at the town hall. The visitors had started at 6 a.m.