GREAT SNOWSTORM IN EUROPE.

[RBUXBR’s TELEGRAMS—COPYRIGHT J (Received Dec. £9, 2 30 p m.) London. December 28. Owing to a snowstorm of unpara- I died severity, and a furious gale which raged on Sunday night, telegraphic communication with the Continent was completely stopped u...ii to-day. Traffic on most of the railways in England and Scotland was blocked by the heavy snowfall.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Deficiency- Auckland, December 29. ; At a meeting of the Grammat School Board of Governors to day the auditor reported that he had discovered a defi ciency of £B9 in the accounts of tho late Secretary, Von der Hyde, who left for Germany a few weeks ago. Mr Didd was elected secretary, a guarantee of £2OO being required. Arson. The charge of arson against J. S Gibbons, of Onetiunga is being heard at the Police Court. Mho evidence of the insurance agent shows that tho chief witness for the prosecution at first re fused to give information concerning the fire unless he was guaranteed a reward. Suicide. Christchurch, December 29, Thomas Goy, aged G 3. _ committed suicide this morning at Springfield by hanging himself to a wire fence by a piece of wire.

TIN WALD LIVE STOCK MARKET.

Mr E. G. Staveley (for Now Z -a] nd Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports on Tiu-a’d sale, 28'h inet ;—Small entries of stock came forward and the attendance was below tiro aver age. Little interest w s taken in the proceedings, the sale tning very dull throughout. The following were the principal sales : Ca't’e —Fat heifers, £4 2s 65: forward sheers, £4 5 ; heifers, in forward condition, £2 19» 3 ; dry cows. £3 2a 6i. Sheep—Fat cr sabred awes, 3s, os; fat lambs, 5s 3 I and 6s 2 1 ; for ward two-tooth cnssbreds, 4< lOd ; aged crossbred ewes, in wool, with lambs, 4s Id.

HORSE RACING IN 1824.

Sir Francis Doyle is a great authority on horseflesh, and the undergraduates of 1824 were evidently as devoted to the turf as those of 1886 From the racing at York in 1824 (says Doyle) I derived an impression never to be tfliced, that our present horses have been for mauy years gradually decreasing in point of stamina and endurance. These fancies of mine, I know, lead the worshippers of Admiral Bous to look u3oa ote as a fossilised old fool ; I return the compliment by looking upon them as a -c-t of ractu s tradesmen who only care for our national sports as a trade. To them thesuperiorly of our Eogiish thoroughbreds as one of the elements c£ England's greatness is per fectly indifferent ; to moat of thim the beat horse is the horse th:-.t wins them the most money—they have tin other c"'ter;o;i of merit. In Angu-t, 1824, I saw Lord Durham’s Carnival run two desperate four mile races on two successive days, in hi» second race he met new ant genista in cluding an ex-wimer of the St Leg-r. He then walked over a de: d hoit with Mr Watt's Lupoid, none the worto for his previous exeitiona Even thin, though it did him no barm, this double trial was considered to j ress upon Carnival Somewhat unfairly. lu 1800 such an effort would have been so wholly in uccordaccs with the ordinary routine that the busies L . of humanitarians would not have busied him elf to wag a tongue on the horse’s behalf, while in 1834, if the Roneices will find me an animai who, aft r galloping b ur miles in seven minutes and forty seconds, and running his antagonist to half a head, will he ready to face fresh opponents on the next dsy after, over t">e same distance at the same speed, I wit- Imitate Chatle- Greville’s example, and offer np a silver horseshoe at the shrine of the handicapping Admiral’s patron saint, if he have a patron saint.

THE ATTACK BY A FERRET ON A CHILD.

Tha following additional particulars concerning the attack on a child by a ferret are given by the Herbert c irres pondent of the North Otago Times ;—“ It appears that In the afieruoon Mrs D bbs was busied in the front ro •to of her house with ordinary domestic dut'es, while her baby, a fin? Leahby gt’l of eaven months old, with beaut ful fane b'ue eyes, lay On a rug on the fl -or beside her. There were no other children in the room, and the mother, having occaskn to go out to the clothes-line, eft the buby ijing oa the floor She had hardiy gone 10 yards from the door when the was alarmed at hearing the cbi ! d screaming, and on hastening back to the room a horrible ■lgb •Joresented itse’f 'o her gize. A ferret be'onging to Mr D bbs had ei c -ped from its cage and had auseke ' the child. The ferocious brute, which bad a litter about three weeks old, was tearing with teeth and claws at the right eye of the unfor tunate infant, whose face was streaming with blood. M a Dobbs drove the animal off and carried the victim to Dr JLevingc, who alleviated the little sufferer’s pain, but pronounced tha cya hopeleasely des troyed On inspecting the ferret’s case, which is some 10 yards from the h use, it was found that the d or of the cage had cot been properly closed, or had been tampered with by some of the ch'kren ; and it is surmised that the animal had escaped early in the afternoon and had been concealed in the ro m before Mrs Dobbs left it, as she was not abrent from her child more than three minutes. The brute has been caught and, together with the whole of its litter, 1 'll d." Writing on the above subjsct, tha New Zealand Times says :—Such a frightful re currence, which is not the first instance id New Zealand of children bein' in jured by ferrets, tends to suggest uncom fortable reflections as to the future pos sibilities of our wholesale introduction of these fierce and bloodthbs y little anims’s They may assist in checkin.? the increase of the dreaded rabbit, but if they take it Into their heads to devote iheir energies also to checking the natural Increase of population by preying upon children, the bereaved parents will begin to think that the remedy may be worse than the disease. Sinister reports #re also current of lambs becoming the recipients of those tender attentions on the part of the ferrets which weredes’gncd t o be devoted sole y tobunuy, and it is said ;l:at tbe wicked ferret does not disdain an occasional flirtation wi’h domestic poultry. We fear there Is trouble brewing over this ferret question 4n American paper long ago predicted that ferrets would soon become so great akiuisanco in New Zealand "that we should have to import white ants o extirpate the ferrets. It begins to look like It.

SOME GEOGRAPHICAL BLUSHERS

Like Superior is usually credited with being the largest sheet of fresh water on the face of the globe. This Is a mistake, for Lakta Huron and Micigan really con stitute a single lake, although its two portions have received different names. The area of this like is about 10,000 square miles Urgt t than Vupt-rior. there ate a groat in nf muapprol.e a ona of this kind p rpetrated in stereotyped school booko. The Trent is not nedited with being the largest river in England, to cause it joins the Ouse tj form th- Humber. Greenland ia never considered worthy of mention as an la and at all, although it ia as big as New Guinea sue Bo neo taken ing-ttier. Hudson’s Bay is more of a sea than the Bdtio, but n remains a bay ttil . Thcip are salt E.ke- Ir .-vus'iatia bigger than the Dead Sea, but they are deemed unworthy of i.o'ic-. 't he word “ continent ” defies defintti ui. Wnon the Suez Canal was cut it w«s re marked that Afr ci had become an Island, and this is true, but only in the same ■eusa that Europe and Asia combined fo:m another is and. (Exchange)

A TRUE GHOST STORY.

The following Is a ghost story with much m ra foundation in fact than su:h yarns u ualiy possess ; On the road leading from Egremoat, Mass , U.S.A. to Mount Everett, is a luuse which was or.ca the home of a sea captain who was murdered by tho in subordinate crew of his ship. After that event, on stormy nights, hia wife and daughter used to be disturbed by aoti'ids of creaking cordage, flipping sails, clank ing ct»n j , and uih.t nautical a >und*, which seemed to come from the garret Above all the rest of the noise and turmoil, whoever was downstairs c ui o hear angry vo ces, groans, and cries for hetp. A great many people used to gather in the house c-n ttinny nights t hour the uuaco mutable and alarming racket in the gar-tt, nu' no one ever had enough courage to open the garret door ana try t > solve tha mystery on such occasion). At length tho widow and her daughter abandi ned tin house, th ■ win dow* aud doors of which were then boarded up.

All of this took placs fifty years ago, and but few who hare seen the ruined house know its singular history. A few days ago a Mrs Melius, a grand daughter of the old captain, living in Lowe 1, re c--ived a letter from a sailor fr, m a South American p rt, who s<ys that he was on the sb : p wt-h her grandfather >n the night when the latter was killed. He a-<ye that the c»ptaia wanted him to go to Egro mont and tell his wife aid daughter that he had been murdered, and that enough money was bailed in one corner of t se cellar to keep them in comfort all the res' of their lives. The fail >r went to Egremont as he had promised, bu; re solved to have the money in the cellar for himself. By an ingenio a arrange ment .of chains and other available material be originated and kept np the suproied supernatural tumu't which had dipvin the caj tiia'a widow and her dst-ghiar fiom their home. ide then made a successful search in the cellar for the money, which he took with him to Peru. Remorse and the prebsbility if immediate death iuduoad him to write this letter of explanation to Melius.

THE WILL OF A MILLIONAIRE’ WIDOW.

The terms of the will of Mrs Stewart, tho widow of M. A. T. irt, the well ktii-wn New York dry-.,00di merchai t, has been published. Af>or making generous bequests to her brother and sisters, their children and grandchildren, she makes her In -sband’s partne-, Mr Hilton, who received one million under Stewart’s wil 1 , and his neph-w, Mr C. J Clinch, equul residuary legati-es. By a will dated 1877, and a codicil prepared on the same day, Mr Hilton was, as trus ee, to apply his half o’ the estate to the <»m pleion of tho magnificent memorial cs-thedral, to the pe-petu-il endowment ot the bishopric of Long Island, and to the endowment of two Bchoo'= for boys and girls. A codicil, dated 1885, declared that these trusts having been executed, the bequest was revikod. exci-pt that Mr Hilton ‘ may, in his d'scrotioo, elect to furnish and endow a seminary of learning for woman ” A codicil, dated 1882, bequeaths to a niece, Sarah Smith, and her chddren, half of the half bequeathed in 1877 to the nephew Cinch the familiar provision that whoever conto ts the will shall forfeit bis share is strengthened by H e stmewhst unusual provision that the legacies shall not be payable until three years after probate has bean taken out. Tho est to is estimated to be worth 20,000,000dal br-yi-nd the sum of the large cha ges already named. Personal bequests are ineda to a brother now dec.-ased, aid sn arnuity of 20,00030. ; to three ma’den sis ere, annuities of 10,0C01ol ouch; to test itrix’s married nieces. Cornelia Butler and Kve Smith, 200,000101, with hind some sums for their children ; to other nephews and niec.-s, 100.000 10l each.

THE BISHOP OF SALISBURY ON LONDON SOCIETY.

Tbe Bishop of Sa’i-bury has been draw ing a highly-colored picture of modern British society. He sya ; —Though the vico and the luxury of the rich might he for a while by the poor, the poor were not unobservant of them The secularist newspapers were fu 1 of it. Ihare was not a scandal in hi.h life but was known all over England i - > its darkest c>h'rs, and probib’y much exaggerate! Even what nvght he called the innocent luxuries of tha wealthy were a eoro and terrible trial to tho starving and often un complaining masses of the poor. Why should there be this measureless contras this nm qual distribution of grod thines ? That was a ques ion which agsin and again, and If no sufficient re ply were made there would gradually be ga'hered np such a flood of bittnr resont *9nt as would sweep away in a rovolu lon not only tbe signs bat also tho hi m s of religion itself.” The right rsv. gentleman then proceeded to answer his own ques tion, and said that “ho boleved that there was only rne answer that O' u'd be m'-do to the question with any approach to reason, and that was that od had ! made the lota of men unrq al in order that tho rich ml bt help the paor.” The p; or. in fact, are tauebc on hiyhauth rity that they a e made poor so that the rich might help them Is there not <m ex plosive element o(| danger in teaching of this kit d, and particularly as the pro hser indicate •* possible. If not probably, com ing ca aslrophrs ? If the rich do not help the poor, they directly defeat tho pur poses of tho Almighty, and therefore pre pare themselves for extinction. Nc Socialist cf modern time has preached a more revolutionary and levelling doctrine than this ; and it is not unlikely that the Bi hopa words will be echoed from many a Secularist platform, and from many a Socialist outdoor meeting. The Bishop made no classification cf ilch men ; and as we haya rich Bishops and Archbishops, and ploraliats in tho church, they must come under the same condemnation which hangs like a storm-cloud over the destiny of the wealthy. It was a bold thing to inter pret the purposes of tho Eternal, and to proclaim it thatj God made the poor in aider that the ylch might be benevolent. —■Echo, , r •»*

THE THINNEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED.

Instances of remarkably thin men sire not uncommon but Claude Ambroise Senrat,lwho|was in England in 1825, was so extraordinary personage that during the time he was exhibited at the “ Chinese Saloon” in Pall Mall, no fewer than 70,000 persona visited him ia a few weeks. Seurat was born in 1797, and wa<, there fore, eight-and--w ioty years of ago when he made his appoirauce in England.' Sir Astley Cooper, the farnus phy sician, was among tha throng who poured into the building in win h *ourat receive those who were anxious to so.) him. and in writing of him raid : “ Seurat is, with out dubt mott mys'cr.cus being 1 hive encountered. His face is that of ao orditiay mr.n, somewhat emaciated, per haps, but n d remarkably so. liis ey«a are bright and his vo co pleating. Seen in the ordinary costume <>f the day he in no way dlffVs from the average fpraigmrj Eat stripped of his padded clothing be i pre en, sau astounding spectstic. His arms are mere boors covered by psroh raam-like skin, and muscle or fl;fh lo appears to have none. He is, therefore, scarcely able to move h'a arms and leg*, and walks, though without apparent eff u t with ex'rema dilfi'.uhy Ua measuring Him and »eih ug him, I found that h s cleat raeasu omen' -as 3n, wh ch is fair; toil', nis hei ht. wsa t. 0 ; but that h<s w Ight was not more than Jot ty-five pounds. the bones being much larger than those of an ordinary man ol his stature, who might weigh one hundred and fify pom ds In appearance, Indeed, ho so ranch resembles a skeleton that a short-sighted person might easdy mistake him for one.” Seu rat's food consisted of two or three ounces i f b'B id and meat daily, and he sometimes • o<k a little wine. He was remarkably intelligent and well read, and piciod up English rapidly. On arriving at places where he was known, he was ac ustcmod to walk out in his p.vid-.d clothes, and d d not attract paitisular a teotioitl He said that unti> tht age of te year e res mhl d any o dtuary boy, but ihit e suddenly was ed away. lie died in 1849 aged fifty t« o years.

I'HB ASHBURTON «BAKW«K, WBtDNBSIM*, DECEMBER



It is now stated that there is no truth in the report of an impending marriage between Prince Albert Victor of Wales and Prince? 8 Alexandra of Anhalt Dessau. The youtg couple who have been so unceremoniously betrothed, have never yet met. ..



Take all in all. Take all the Kidney and liver Medicines, —Take ail the Blood nnrifi-iv, ( —Take all the Jihtumatie remedies, —Take all the Dyspej>sia and indigestion cures, —Take all tho Ague, Fever, and bilious specifics, —Take all the Brain and tfrrve force rerivers, —Take all the Great health restorer*. In short, take ail ihe boat qualities of all these and the —best — Qualities of all tho best, medicines In the wi rid, and you will find that— Hop Bitters have tho best curative qualities and powers of all— concentrated in them, And that they will cure when any or all of the<e, singly or— combined. Fail!!!! i thorough trial will give positive p oof of this. Hardened Liver. Five years i go 1 broke down with kid ney ;.i:d Hver c mylaint and rheum-tism. t-'inco then I have been unable to be about at all. My liver became hard like wood ; my limbs were puff'd up and filled with water. All the best, physicians agreed that noth ing could cure me. I resolved to try Hop Bitters 5 I have used seven bottles ; the hardness has all gone from my liver, the swel iutr from my lir bs, aud i* has worked a miracle in my c.t .■ ; otherwise I would hive been now in my grave. J. W. MORB.Y, Buff do. Oct. 1,1881. Poverty and Suffering. “1 was dragged down with debt, poverty and suffering for years, caused by a sick family aud large bills for doctoring. I was completely discouraged, until one year ago, by tho advice of my pastor, I com menced using Hop Bitters, and in one month we were all well, and none of us have seen a sick day since, and 1 want to say to all poor men, you can keep your families well a year with Hop Bitters for loss than one doctor’s visit will cost, I know it.” A WoitKiNonuK. Prosecute the Swindlers! i If when you call for American Hop Bitters (sre green twig of Hops on the. white label and Hr Soule's name blown in the boWc), the vendor hands oat anything but American Hop Bitters refuse it and shun the vendor as you would a viper; and if he has taken your money for anything else indict him for the fraud and sue him for damages for the swindle, and we will pay you liberally for the convio ion. M U., I 0.0. F., LOYAL ySBBURTON LODGE. MEMBERS of tho above Lodge are hereby summoned to attend a meet ing to be held in Lodge-room, on THURS- T) Y December 30th. at 730 pm. 12152 THOS MORGAN, ST.G.



V. R. "VTOTICE is hereby given that the Sitting of tlio District Court at Ashburton, gazetted for 4th January, 1887, will be formally adjourned to 31st January, 1887, at 10 30 am. By order. J, R, COLYER, 12148 Clerk District Court, y. R, NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. NEW YEAR HOLIDAY EXCURSION TRAIN. A Cheap EXCURSION TRAIN will leave Ashlm tou for Timaru 'n MONDAY, 3rd January, 1887. in the morning, returning from Timaru in the evening. “ 1 ook out ” for fares and further particulars in future advertisement. By order. Traffic Manager’s Office, Christchurch December 29, 1-886- 12J151 NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. CHRISTO BURCH SECTION. LYTTELTON REOATTA and CHRIST CHURCH RACES, Ist January, 1887. Train Arrangements, ON the Ist January, instead of ihe 7 30 a.m. train from Timaru to Ashburton and 10.55 a.m train from Ashburton to Christchurch, a train will run as under : Timaru dep 7.10 Rancitata ~ 8.27 Hinds „ 0 0 Winslow ~ 016 Tiuwald ~ 028 Ashburton , 042 Stopping at other stations if required. Tlie morning train from Mount Somers to Ash urton will start at 7.45 a m. and rim 45 nrnutes earlisr than usual, to connect with the above train. Tie evening train from Christchurch to Ashburton will start at 450 p m and run 35" minutes later than usual. ohe evening train from Methven to Rakaia will start at 4.55 p.m. and be due from Lauriston at 5 27 p.m , arriving at Rakaia at 6.10 pm, an! the evening train from Rakaia to Methven will start at 7 0 p m. and run 20 minute* later than usual. Goods traffic will bo suspended ou Ist January, 12*149 By trder. dep 10.14 Rikaia „ 10.27 p.m, Ch’cb arr, 1215



LOST. —Butcher’s Order Book. Finder rewarded by returning it at once R. Nourish, Havelock street. 12 132 METHVEN PUBLIC LIBRARY. A NNUAL GENERAL MEETING of Subscribers will be he'd in the Me hven Library on MONDAY, January 3rd, 1887. at 8 p.m. GEORGE H. ALINGTON, Hon. Secretary. NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS FARES—CIIRISTMAS lIOLID\Y3. CHE EXCURSION TICKETS TO DUNFDI INVERCARGILL, AND I THE LAKES, TTiXCURSIoN TICKETS will be issued i'j as under from the 22nd December, 1886, to the 3rd January 1887, inclusive, and will be available for return up to and including 17th January : From To To To Dunedin. Invercargill. Kingston. Ist 2nd Ist 2nd Ist 2nd Rakaia 33/- 22/- 55/- 38/6 66/- 44/- Asliburt’u 28/- 18/6 60/- 35/ 61/~ 40/6 The journey may be broken at any station en route, and bo continued by any. ordinary train. SATURDAY RETURN TICKETS from any Station to any Station will bo issued from the 22nd DooemborJ 1881, to 3rd January, 1887, inclusive, and will be available for return up to and including 17*h January. 12 92 By order.



MOUNT SOMERS ROAD DISTRICT. CLOSING ROAD. T)UBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that ,1” in accordance with the provisions of “ The Public Works Act, 1882." the Mount Somers Road Board propose to close the Road hereinafter described, and a plan is deposited for inspection at Mr Hood’s, Mount Somers Description 9 ho Road proposed to be closed com mences at its junction with the Mount Somers-Alford Road, <>t the north-east corner of Reserve 2236 and extends thence in a south-easterly and south westerly direction, a distance of one mile five hundred and eighteen I'nks and decimal 9 of cne link, to its junction with the Mount Somers Tramway Reserve at the south-east corner of Rural Section 29509, and is bounded on the west by Reserve 2236 and Rural Sections 29600. 27790 and 29599, and on the east by Rural Sections 21748, 29574, and 27791, as delineated on the maps of tho Chief Surve3'or of the Provincial District of Canterbury, Block XII, Alford Survey District. A. K. PK.ACIIE, Chairman Mount Somers Bo d Board November 16th, 1880. 1192 UPPER ASHBDRTON ROAD BOARD. TVTOTTCE is hereby given that the above XA Road Board intends to execute a certain public work, to wit, the construc tion of a road in tho Upper Ashburton Road District, and for that purpose the land described in the Schedule hereto is required to bs taken ; and that a plan of th i said Road and of the land required to be taken has been dpnosited in the office of the said Foard at Tinwald, and ii now open for inspection. All persons sflected by tho execution of tho said public w >rk, or by the taking of tho said land, are required to sot forth In writing any well grounded obj-vtiSnu which they may have to the execution nf such work, or to the taking of such land, and to send such writing within forty days from the 25th day of November, one



thousand eight hnrd'od and eighy-aix, being the date of the first publication of this notice, to the said Road Board. The Scheddlb. The said land being situated in the County of Ashburton. DONALD McLEAN, Chairman. Tinwald, 20th November, 1886. 0. W. 'PuRNELt, Solicitor. 11+162 CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR, GIFTS. GIFTS. GIFTS. I'fHE Undersigned has JUST LANDED, • and opened up, a LARGE ASSORTMENT of CHPISTMAS AND NEW YEAR PRESENTS, Viz , Dolle of every description Toys in great variety Work Boxes Floral and Musical Albums Brackets and Ornaments Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Cards in great variety. CRICKETING AND LAWN TENNIS MATERIALS, &c., &c. FISHING TACKLE, &c Special reductions made to School Committees and buyers of largo parcels.



N. B —Large and New Stock of PIPES and TOBACCONIST WAKES in great variety. WILHELMZ ATOER, TOBACCONIST & HAIRDRESSER EAST STREET ASHBURTON PERPETUAL LEASE OF CROWN LANDS. Under Section 143, Land Act, 1885. W RITTEN TENDERS, under sealed covets, will be received for the Perpetual Lease of the undermentioned Section, under Partly, of the Land Act, 188& up to sO a.n». on THURS DAY, the 27th January, 1887, addressed to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christ church, and endorsed “Tender for Per petual Lease of Section 33,752; AshbUfefon Survey District ■ Every tepdfif must bo accompanied by a declaration* Six moMhe’ rent and A fee of 30s ' / Should".there''be two or more tenders of the same amount for this Section, the right to occupy will bo decided by lot The tenders will be opened at the meet ing of the Land Board on the 27th day of January, 1887. ' Asubokton Survey District Section 35,752 Area. Upset Annual Rental. x mua uinj' uo dqou aim wuuqi wimn end particulars obtained at the Crown Lands Offices, Christchurch and Timaru. JOHN H. BAKER, Commissioner of Crown Lands* ; Crown Lauda Office, Christchurch, 3i7th Decombor, 1835* 12 93



Meetings. TIN WALD TOWN £ALL. A CONCERT will be'" held THURSDAY, December 30tb, aid of St. Andrew’s Church, Tinwald St. Stephen's Choir will assist. U. ARTHUR GATES, on in Conductor. Admission : Is. Evangelistic-Mission. The rev j. s smalley, c>n pecliona.l t.vangelist, will conduct a Mission in the Ashburton -Wesleyan Church during next week, commencing cn SUNDAY, 2nd January ■Sankey’s Hymns will be u;ed Sunday services, 11 am, 3 pm, and 630 p.m; week evt nings, 7 30. WATERTON DISTRICT SCHOOL. A TEt MEETING AND CONCERT WILT. BE HELD IN THE V{ _ WATERTON DISTRICT SCHOOL r ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31st, In aid of Wat?rton Church. -Tea on Tables ac half-psst Five. Admission—Adults, 2-; children, half price, Including Tea and Concert. 12J145 THE ASHBURTON CRICKET AND ATHLETIC SPORTS GROUND COMPANY, LIMITED. AN Extraordinary General Meeting of the above Company shall be held on Thursday, Feb usry 17th, 1887. Business: To consider the expediency,of winding up the business of the said Company. Hy order of the Directors. - 11*41 ALFRED CURTIS; Secretary



ODDFELLOWS’ HALL. I ©faces ... ... ... Company Stage Manager ... ... li: Eiston -‘ ecretary and Prompter ... H. V. Sawt'ell Treasurer ... ... ... W, C Davis Musical Conductor ... J. n. Brooks Mechanist ... ... ... W. Clapham Friday, Saturday, and Monday, December 31, ’B6, Jajsuary 1 & 3, ’B7.' nnHE ASHBURTON DRAMATIC AND I. MUSICAL SOCIETY Will produce on the above dates, for the first time in Ashburton, The grand Nautical Drama,' entitled' FALSE COLORS, OR THE FREE TRADER CAST OF CHARACTERS Captain Mordaunt (Captain of : : the Enterprise) ... ... J. McGill •Langford (an old tea-dealer) W. G. Davis Mick (his elder nephew) ... H. PeaTE Paul, Perilous (mate of the Enterprise)... ... ... H. GATES Hawkset (commander of the Free Trader) ... J. 11. Pauling Barnes (his Lieutenant) ... E. Vinten Gabriel (Langford’s servant) L. F. Andbewes Tom (a smuggler)... ... C. Andrewes Denotes (a negro) ... ... O. Moss Boatswain ... ... ... G- W. Smith Phckbk Lakc;ford...Miss ADAVINCENT Landlady... ... .....I'Miss I; Baxter Sailors, Pirates, So’diers, Servants, etc , and a host of supernuraaries.



SYNOPSIS OP SCENERY. Act I, Scene 1; View of Langford’s House. Scene 2 : Apartment in Lang ford’s House. Scene 3 : Interior of Sliip Publicbouse, Scene 4 : Rack View of taugford-’s House, with Harbor and Shipping, by Moonlight. Act 41.—Scene 1 : Gun Deck* of the Trader Scene 2 : Interior of Lanford’a House. Scene 3 ; Cabin on board the Free Trader. Scene 4 : Burn ing of the Free Trader and Tableau. Prices of Admission : Front Seals, 3s ; Sec nd Seats, 2s ; Back Seats, Is. Reserved Seats may be booked at Zander’s, Tobacconist, East street. Doors open at 7.35 ; performance at 8 sharp. A CERTAIN CURE FOR BALDNESS. HICKMAN'S Eclipse flair Producer, (Registered). PRICE, 4s. NEW D T SC''VERY for the growth of Hair on the Head and Face ; for removing and preventing Dandruff, and arresting the Fall of the Hair It cures any Disease of the 9dalp, and causes new growth on the head after being bald for None genuine without the trade mark and signature—JOHN HICKMAN. To bo obtained at all Chemists. years



Auct'one. FRIDAY, 31et DECEMBER LOTS 371, 372.373. 374, 375, 376, 377, TIE WALD, v FOR SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION. R T. BULLOCK has received instructions from the Executors in the estate of the late Mr T. M. Flnfloflll fa SELL BY PUBLIC AUCTION, AT TOE ARCADE, On the above date, LOTS 371, 372, 373 374, 375, 376, 377, each containing about quarter acre, fronting Hampden and . hompson streets, Tinwald, and opposite the County Saleyards. Inspection invited. Terras at sale. Sale at 12,45 ! T. BULLOCK, 12°98 Auctioneer. ; FRIDAY, 3ist DECEMBER. 17 ACRES FOR SALE NEAR THE DBbMORE RAILWAY STATION. 4/Tfi THOMAS BULLOCK has re ivJ ceived instructions from the pro prietor to Sell by Public Auction at the Arcade on FRIDAY. 31st DECEMBER, R. S. 30386, containing 17 Acres, front ing the old South Road, and not far from the Dromore Railway Station.



This will be sold nt a low price, and on liberal terms, as the owner wishes to quit it. Inspection invited. Sale at 12 45, T BULLOCK, 12J97_ • Auctioneer. ASHBURTON W 0 0 L J ALES MESSES MILES & CO. \T'.' ILL bold their THIRD SALE of YV WOOL BY AUCTION at MR Q. JAMESON’S STORES About the Middle of January Next J. T. FORD, Auctioneer, GEO. JAMESON, Agent, 12°95 Ashburton. SLAUGHTERING LICENSE. NOTICE is hereby given that I intend nt the County Council meeting in January next to apply for a Slaughtering License for 'large and small -cattle for R.S. 2595 and 2G005. G LOADER Chertsey, Nov. 30, I PB6 12°36 OOLDSTi EAM ROAD BOARD. TENDERS will bo received until the 6th January for picking large stones off five miles of road—Hinds to Low cliff . The specification may bo seen at the Mail. office. EDWARD G. WRIGHT, Chairman. MRS MANHIBE,



FANCY GOODS WAREHOUSE, Saunders’ Buildings, East street. [7'ANOY STATIONERY, Toys, and J Christinas Presents in variety. Christmas Cards, &c., &c. Ladies’ and Children’s Pinafores and Aprons, dc, &c. 9624 Twenty Years’ Practical Experience in London. OA. HARROW, Pianoforte Maker, • 186, Cashel strait, Christchurch, will VISIT ASHBURTON on or about JANUARY 18th, to Tune and Repair Pianafortes Amo-cm Organs' Har moniums, etc Orders received by Meairs Wood and Co. Stationers and Music-sailers, Ashburton, and Messrs Gates and Son. 0- A. H. holds first-class Home and Colonial Testimonials. 12+126 D. Marlane, FAMILY GROCER AND Tea Dealer. Retail Promises : BURNETT ST. & EAST ST., ASHBURTON. All goods guaranteed first QUALITY, And Sold at Lowest Prices in town for Cash, as following prices will prove.



FAYARD AND BLAYN PAPER. SIXTY rears of great success proclaim its superiority in the treatment of Violent Colds, Irritation of the O' ert, Aching, Sprains, Sprains, Sores, Sca’ds, Corns, Bunion*, Soft Corns, etc. This medicine, the property of which has been established more than half a century by thousands of cures, is of an invalu able use in many inflammatory diseases against which there are not many effi actons remedies, and is therefore justly considered by a great number of our most eminent physicians as the most active and 1 least irritating agent in the above affections. In order to avoid.- counterfeiting, Messrs Fayard and Blayn’s signature has to be required on every roll of paper and on the box. Wholesale 30, Eue ...Baiut-Merri, Paris (France), and sold by all Chemists in the Colonies, A. Harrison. Alfred Harrison, AUCTIONEER, STOCK AND ESTATE AGENT ANl> VALUATOR. SATURDAY SALE at 12 o’clock sharp —Horses, Cattle, Pigs, Produce and Merchandise, Agent Norwich Union ..Fire, .Insurance Company, " FOR SAL a — Moveable Hut on pair wheel*; tw bunks, Champion 'Wa Machine, 60s, Call aushing Seed Sower, by Saxton and Beatie .cheap. e Ploughs, Harrows, and other imple ments. Oheylesmore Club Tricycle, the best kind made—cheap ! Piano, by Bord, nearly new. Ches^ ' Spring Cart—-Cheap » 1 Obnffcut(jeg, by Ben t all [ String Binder by Howard, good as fj new, very cheap . | ALFRED "HARRISON,



PRICE LIST OF GROCERIES, &c„ FOR DECEMBER:— New Season Tea, per box, 10 s 6d, 12s fid, 16s fid, 18s, 2ls do Sib caddies, 5s each Beat Whi f e Sugar, per lb, 2£d. 3d 3sd New Xmas Fruit, per lb, 7d Currants, 6d Snltanas, 7d Valentias, 8d Muscatels, 2s English Peel. Is Preserved Ginger, 9d Prunes. lOd l&lb boxes Figs, lOd each New Season’s Jams 5s 3d and 5s fid per doz. Marmalade, tjd per tin Sago. 2Jd ; Tapioca, 2Jd; Rice, 2Jd; Corn flour, BJd per lb Arrowroot, 8d per lb Dried Apples, 6d per lb Flour (best), 6s 6d per 50 lb bag Oatmeal (Hoir's), 3r 3d pet 251 b bag Salmon (best), 7s fid per dcz Fresh Herrings. 6s 6d per do* i" 1 ystars, 5} fid par do< Preserved Bloaters. 9d per tin Pickles—Colonial, 7d; English, 6d per bottle Brawn, 21b tins fo* la 3d each Sheep’s Tongues, 21b tins for Is 9d each Fry’s Cocoa, Is 51b per lb Hudson’s Cocoa, 3s per lb ' Preserved Fruit, 21b ting. Is and Is fid each ■ Coffee, Is fid, la Sdpls 10d par lb‘ ‘ ‘ Essence pi Lemon. fid per bottle- Candles—Tan afine. 8d ; Sperms, 4£d lb by box Soap, per bar, Tjd, 2 j 1,3 d, 6d,Bd, lOd Kean’s B'ue 101 per lb Blackmu and Black lead, 9d per doz .. Pear’s Soup, .It Sd serbos , ■ Vinegar (English), 2s fid per gallon Hop Bitters, 3s per bottle Sii g-l’s s yrnp, 2s 9d per bottle Tobacco—Nailrod, 4s 9d, ss, 5s fid per Ih Twist, 5s - Juno, 5a fid Ruby, fia Bno’s Fruit Salt, Ja tel per bottle Trioopherong, 1 s per bottle Kn (fo Polish, 8d rer tin Golden Syrup. 21h tins, 9d each B vcnoe Rennet ( roese * Blackwell’S) Is bottle Patent Groats, 9d rer tin Ne tve'r F->> d, lid per tin ■Akarqt Cheese, 7d per lb Kerosene, per tin. 7s 8s fid, 10s fid 4c., 4c.



Business notices. W. A. WOOFS IMPROVED HARVESTER - WITH IMPROVED IRON FRAME. TWINE BINDER, ANEW BUNDLE CARRIER ATTACHMKRT THE BEST HARVESTER AND BINDER IN THE WORLD. It has the following important advantages, combined in no other Harvester, and many cf them are exclusive with it. 1. Perfect balance of the entire machine. Try it in all rositions 2 Extraordinary case of draught 8. Umqnalled perfection of the gearing— ec.'.ncmy of power—great durability 4. No side draught and no neck weight 8. Malleable iren used wherever practicable, combining lightness and strength 6. Seels adjustable horizontally and verti cally, and with changeable sneed 7. Angle iron finger-bar, strengthened with steel back rlate 8. Steel faced malleable iron guards bolted t the finger-bar 9. Trussed platform and gear frame, keeping the journals in line 10. Simple and reliable raising and lowering device for both wheels 11. Adjustable grain fender at back of platform 12. Perfect tilting apparatus effective in saving lodged and tangled gram 13. Raised main frame, clearing obstructions and dead furrows 14. Lightest running binding mechanism ever made 15 Binder open at hock, r.Hording passage ot the longest r e or wheat IC. Vibrating butting board of iron and wood durable, ard working to perfection 17. Packer fr ge s, acting m pairs, straighten* in" the grain instead of tangling it IS. Reliable hinder trip, seizing the bundles with precision 19. Stationary twine knife, cutting but 080 string, and remaining sharp a long tiraa 20, Twine bolder which never loses the ead of the twine 31. Absolute certaintv of tying mechanises, not . only when new, but after long use. , 22. Uuequal’ed simplicity, perfection and dun* bility of entire knotting apparatus 28. Knot tied close to bundle-*unequalled economy of twine 24. Fewer parts than anp other binder ever eo the market 25. Highest quality of materials, of mnrhaim construction, and of finish It has the only successful bundle carrier known. The carrier is a valuable acquisition to the farmer, and is adding to the already unequalled popularity of the Walter A. Wood Binder. Thousands have been sold, and every purchaser is ~ delighted with its operation. It saves labor, time and grain, and pays for itself in a few days. This company has been building binders for the genera 1 market for ten years, and was first n thi branch of manufacture, and offers this improved and perfected machine, the result of lt» nneqalled experience and facilities, as the most complete, most practical, and most satisfactory binder yet produced. ¥. FEE, RIM AIV, AGENT FOR W. A. WOOD STEEL WHEEL BINDER. w. PATCHING,



TENT, TARPAULIN, FLAG, AND HORSECLOTH MANUFACTURER. A LARGE STOCK ALWAYS ON HAND OF TENTS OF ALL SIZES CALICO, DUCK, TWILL, AND CANYAS. Manilla Rope, Plongh Lines, Fishing Lines, Clothes and Garden Lines. IRON AND WOODEN BLOCKS, Special attention is called to the well assorted STOCK OF REAPER AND BINDER CANVASES, All made on the Premises Battens and Canvas kept in stock, and repairs promptly executed. Tarpanlins froas 6x8t024 x3O always in stock. Oilskin Clothing made on the Premises. MARQUEES from 12 x 24 to 25 x 65 ON HIRE. All Orders *t Letter or Telegram Promptly Attended to. W- PATCHING, 10861 EAST STREET, ASHBURTON.



MUSIC. MRS A. C. CLARIDGE is prepared to . receive PUPILS for PIANOFORTE and ORGAN Terms on Application. Cox street, Ashburton. 9668 ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL. NOTICE is hereby given that the subjoined resolution was adopted by the Ashburton County Councd at a Special Meeting cf the C uncil held this day, and that the said resolution will be submitted for confirmation at a t-’prcial Meeting of the Council, which will be held on P KID AY, the 14th day of January, 1887, at 4 o’c ock in the afternoon. [Resolution] “ Resolved—That this Council do make a Special Order adopting “ The Local Bodies Loans Act, 1886,” and that such Special Order be as follows, that is to say:— SPECIAL ORDER. In pursuance and exercise of the powers vested in it by “ The Local Bodies Loans Act, 1886, “The Counties Act, 1876,” and the several Acts amending the same, the County Council of the County of a shbur ton doth hereby adopt the provisions of “The Local Bodies Loans Act, 1886.” Provided always that ihe operation of the said Act shall be limited to a loan of £3500, which this Council proposes to borrow from the Government under the provisions of “ The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act. 1886,” for the purpose of constructing a Tramway from the Mount Somers Railway Station to the Mount Somers Coal Pit, near the mouth of the River Stour. Resolved further, that this Special Order shall take effect imme diately upon the making thereof,” Dated this 13th day of December, 1886 By ordev. F, MAINWABING, 12*78 Clerk of the Council. Ashburton A. & P. Association Show. ASHBURTON TO THE FRONT. Grand Show



or JJANUfACTURED TWEEDS, TARTANS BLANKETS, FLANNELS FINGERING WOOLS SHIRTINGS, DRESS TWEEDS COLORED FLANNELS NAVY SERGES CRICKETING FLANNELS, Ac. All the above Goods hava been PURCHASED BY ANDREW ORR And will be offered for sale immediately after the Christchurch Show (where they will be exhibited^. These Goods are admitted to be superior } o anything of the kind o?er offered a Ashburton, both for style, finish, and quality. Orders for suits should be given at once to secure the best patterns. ANDREW ORR



T. Bullock. WANTED to Purchase, for Cash McCormick Twine Binder ; also Wire Binder, in good order. T. BULLOCK. TO LET.—House of 5 Booms, Moor* street, presently occupied by Mr Yapp. Apply to T. BULLOCK. TO LET, at a low rental, comfortable Cottage ■in Grey street, nicely situated, and lately in occupation of Mrs Coutts. Apply to T. BULLOCK. REAPING MACHINES for sale at low ■ prices. McCormick Wire Binder, Buckeye Binder, Harvest King, 2 SamueJson’s. T. BULLOCK. TO LET.—For 3or 5 years, with or Witt out a pu-chasing clausa. R.B. 25349, containing 137 acres, situated near the Grange, at the back of the Racecourse. Apply to T. Bullock, TINWALD. TO LET.—Four roomed Cottage on Graham’s Boad, lately in the occu pation of Mr P. Heron. Apply to T. BULLOCK. OAA ACRES Grass Land, fronting the -dV/U’ Mitcham road, auout 2J miiee from the Racecourse, being R.S. 29934, To Let for 4 mcnths. Offers will be re ceived by the undersigned up to 20th November. T. BULLOCK, OATS. —A quantity for Sale; good sample. T. BULLOCK FOR SALE, or TO LET.—Six-roo»ed' Bouse fronting the Town Belt st; the property of MrR. W. Clayton. As he is leaving for the North Island, this will be sold a low price. It is well situated, being a high, dry, and healthy position. If not told will be let at a low rent.ii to a food tenant Apply to T. BOLLOCK F OK SALE—Doable Seated Americas Waggon. 181 * T. BULLOCK TO LET—At a low rental, Oentr a Bakery,, together with shop and dwelling house. Apply to T. —on LOOjbl T i LEI, a three-roomed Cottage at Trev orton. Rent, 3s fid per week. Apply to T. BULLOCK r J O LET—2 Cottages in Grey Street, I kown as Coatts' block ; Bent st Si pet week. T. BULLOCK, OR SALE—Two sets of three leavec barrows, by “ Howard.” T. BULLOCK [pOB SALE Lot 25, fronting the North Town Belt. Price, £l9 Liberal terms if required. Amply to T. BULLOCK F TO PAINTERS. TO LET at a low rental, Shop and Dwelliughouse in Moore street lately in occupation of Mr Lucas. BULLOCK



BLANCARD’S lODINE OF IRON PILLS. PPSOVED by the Academy of Uedtdo* t\ of Paris, are specially recommended by the Medical Celebrities of the World foe SCrofrla (Tumors, K ng’e E-nil, etc), the early stipes of Consumption, Constitutional Weak* i ess, Poorness of Blood, and for stimulating and regulating its periodic course. Hone genuine unless signed “ Blancard, 40, toe Bona* par e. Paris.” Sold by Druggists and Chemists throughjet the Colonies. CENTRAL HOTEL. JW, MoRAB having takan the abovw , Hotel, solicits a share of patronaf* from the people of Ashburton and IV* roern'ing districts Beet Brands of Wine** • s pm“* and Beers. Qcol Stabling—Feeds, Ok* Bmu>«. t cress and Baggies to lot on him I* pru -j to a'Sttt the times. lor the convenience of travellers , hansom cab will meet all trains.