THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

The approach of Fanta Claus has, m accordance with time-honored custom, set the shopkeepers to work to exhibit m tempting array the viands sand articles which are associated with the festive season The arrangement of tho shop windows is equal to, if not better than has been the case m any former year, and m some parts of the town liberal iwe has been made of toi toi grass and evergreens to heighten the effect of the display made to welcome tbe visit of old King Christmas, and thid evening thedecorations altogether should look veiy fine. Beginning a tour of inspection, if the visitor elect to start at the aonth end of the town, he will find that what is due to the festive season has Hot been forgotten there. Mr Page, grocer, has his window neatly ' decked up, while Mr Segere has a veiy effective display of summer drapery m his shop. Meaera Wood and Co.j stationers, have a large assortment of choice Christmaß and New Year cards. Next door Messrs Zander and 00. have a display cf good things, most artistically arranged, and the show m the window is but a mere Index of the abundance that is to be obtained witbin. A little lower down the street the Ashburton Bread Company hate a grand aeßortmont of cakes, which are * credit to the confectioner's art. Mr W. 0. Davis, fruiterer, has, as he has always done, gone to especial pains m decorating his Bhop, and he has succeeded ! m making a moßt effective display, his fruit and confectionery being beautifully) arranged, and the effect heightened by the judicious use of evergreens and fancy colored paper . Mr Caraon, grocer, has a good show of Christmas dainties. Messrs Dimant and Coe's draper's shop looks well, while down Tarjcred Btreet Messrs Mitchell and Turner have a large display of drapery and Mr McCaflum and Mr McGregor of groceries. Returning again to East street, Me Andrew Orr ■bows a eplendid lot of drapery, his window being well worth looking at. Mr Alcorn has a fine show of fancy glassware and the grooary department looks well. Mr John Orr m his drapery department has a grandly displayed assortment, and In the Ironmongery ahop his display of cutlery, etc, la worthy of notice. Mr Ranger's confectioner. 's shop haß a very festive appearance. Mr W. Zander has a fine display of fancyware of all sorts, and he has evidently spared no pains m tbe arrangement of hia window, which will well repay Inspection. Mr D, McFar lane's shops m East street and Burnett street are moßt effectively decorated, evergreens being judiciously employed to lend a pleasing effect to the Christmas goods he has on view. Mr Lancaster butcher has gone m for decorating ex tensively and Messrs. Proctor and 00. , grocers, are not behind hand m their ■how of goods. Messrs Hayes and Co. although they bave no special dlaplay for the occasion have a large show of draper's good?. At the Town Hall buildings, Mr Flower has a fine show of confeo iionery and Mr Randell of fruit and con fectionery, both these gentlemen having gone to .much trouble In arranging their tempting wares. At the north end of the town Mrßaylis h»s an attractive display pf groceries, and Mrs Manhlre of fancy goods, while Mr Tasker, butcher, h»B gone to espeolal care m the decoration of his shop.

A "LADY SWINDLER."

Emma HqcSbod, the famous oonfidenos ■windier, has turned ap sgsin m a new character. Th/a time It is a Bnlcide. The readers -of my letterß will remember about two years ago a lady wan robbed of a valuable case of jewels at the Everett House. She had been stopping there several weeks and had ran up a bill of five or six hundred dollarß, her carriage WMb alone sometimes tunning to tea or fifteen dollars. When the landlord cent In his bill she Baid her room had been cobbed, and inßtead of payiDg a bill she expected handsome damages. A detective : WM Immediately pot upon the case, aud he had a photograph of a female swindler In his pocket, who had set the goodly city of Boston by the ears, and the moment he set his weather eye on the f»<cina fog lady, he discovered the Boßton •windier. She WH immediately arrested end lodged In gaol, and it then transpired that ihe had also Btolen a silk dress. Thing! began to look squally for Mra Hudton ; bat the people who thought her hand rru played out didn't know tbafc ■he held the joker and both bowers m the person of a very charming daughter. My! wasn't she pretty— peaches and cream with vanilla flavoring. When her mother was brought up to the bar, the daughter began to cry, the judge weakened, the prosecution stuffed the papers m Its pocket?, the old court bailiff ■aid he felt as if he was choking, and took an eifcra chew of tobacco and a rTjrlnk* and the result was that she borrowed fifteen dollars of one of the prosecuting lawyers and walked out of GOUtfc«— Cor re8 P° n dept.

NEW LAW OF LIBEL.

By the BUI introduced into the Honse of Commons by Sir Algernon Borthwlck, ■11 fair reports of judicial prooeedlogs are to be obaolately privileged, which provision Alone will save the Conrta a deal of trouble and deity, bo nice have the lawyers now made the distinctions between privileged and non-privileged matter. So, too, the proceedings oC public meetings are gene rally to be privileged — a reform which will at once save edltora much anxiety and will enable the public to get much Taluabla information of which it Is at present deprived, because journalises are afraid to give It. The further provision that the publication of police notices la to be privileged has also been much needed, l!nae the action recently brought against the " Times " by an ex-convJct who claimed damages becanee the police had warned the public against him and his swindles. Scarcely less valuable will be the enactment of the section which disallows plaintiff^ who cannot prove malice, and to whom an Apology has been made from re* eelviog theoretical sentimental damages. They ere only to have auch special damages ■s they can prove to have actually resulted to them from the publication of the alleged ÜbeL Another section is aimed at that gross abuse of our legal machinery by which the plaintiff iv the Kertch libel easel recently prosecuted a scries of actions for the same libel, while admitting that he could trace no damage to a par thular publication. It provides that la inch a oaae a defendant may give In evidence, m mitigation of damages, thet the plaintiff bas already recovered com pensation for the same libel, which obviously fair course he Ib, under the prevent idiotic law, precluded from taking And there are twn' other cxcelient pro ylsloDs iv tbla comprehensive bill, viz., ibat no person ohaU be found guU'y on prosecution for libel, unless it be proved that he waa party or privy to lie publication ; and that m certain craes a plaintiff shall be obliged to give [security Jor ooats before being allowtd to proceed w|sh h s ls action.

P.n Saturday • Adolph Jean, of Mayhow ' Station, brought to this ot^ae samples of, a ppedlipg clj ngstcine peach raised by him, which fipcqnd to none m, the market. It h evidently from aD orange-clinß pit, and nearly true to the tree from which it carrje. This Seedling m^y be o| a little Redder marking flesh, tat \t is hardly distinguishable from the orange-cling either m appearance or flavor, and m si?e ranks with the hes,t. Spmo Q fthe samples measure aver twelve tnqhes io elroumferen.ce aqd weigh a poand. The t«ee upon whioh they grew is three years old, and bore this year five boxes of thia mammoth ff«U.- M^«»ori»eoto Recoil Union, •<

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

i 11. M.S. C alii op a. Busseil December 24, Arrived, this morning — H. M. S. Calliope from Sydney. She will coal to-day and proceed to Auckland, arriving abouc Tueeday next, after target practloe Alleged Arson " Feilding, JJecember 24,' j Oharleß Heury was brought before a | Magistrate yesterday and committed for trial for alleged arson at hia shop m Ferguson street. Tho cave occupied thirteen hoars. Smothered m a Box. Blenheim, December 24. An Inqneat svaa hold oa a child found smothered m a box. From tho evidence given by the mother, a single woman named Jane Wholan, it seemed that two children alept m a large box with a lid against the wait. There was nothing to show that the lid of the box had fallen down as the elder child was all tight The young one smothered, ten weeks old, I was ' found on its face. The doctor j thought that it had been m that position I for four or five hoars. The jury relumed | a verdiot of " accidentally smothered " bat ! added a rider that great blame was I attached to the mother for not having I proper acoommodation for her children to sleep m. Bueh Fire. ! Grkymouih, December 24. A bash fire near Red Jask'u, Grey Valley road, yesterday destroyed eleven hundred eawn sleepers at Goran's saw mill, cot for ths railway oontraotora A lot of other timber was aleo destroyed. With great energy the machinery and engine waa removed out of danger. Mining. Numeroaa applications ars being made for leases of ground along the West Ooast beach, for the purpose of being worked by dredges such as Welimao'e or Ball*. Great hopes are entertained if the dredges only come up to expectations. Several companies ate now under way, but none are yet In active operations. Holiday Festivities. There Is no soarolty of amusements for the holidays. Race*, Bports, balls, beziarß, and the Herald steamer laid on for an excursion to the sounds.

THE GOLD RETURNS OF THE COLONIES

Mr Hayter m hla statistics gives the fol lowing ac the gold yield of the Australian colonies np to the end of the year 1886 :

Grand Total 81,024,307 317,663,473 o fignreß for Victoria, New bouth Wales, and Q leensland express the quantity and value of all the gold known to have been raised m theae colonies since the period of its first discovery m 1851 • those for South Auitrella are estimated PSf i -c the retarna of th e Melbourne and Sydney mints, and partly from the export returns ; thoae for New ZaaW express the total export_.a£-ff<Tia--rrom the earliest period + •uu-'thoae for Tasmania toe quantity known to have baen raised sicca J866, there being no record of the gold raised prior to that period. There are no returns c f ihe gold raised m Wtßtern Australia, though it is belinved a considerable quantity waa detained en tbe i KimbedUy goldfielda of that COIODy daring, and some prior to, 18S6. *Io Victoria the averago value of the gold raise* is £4 per oz; and m Queens land £3 10i per oz; Th.B parity and con sequently the value, varies considerably m different districts. Standard gold is worth £3 17a lo£i, and pure gold £4 ii ll|d per ox.

tlncludipg Northern Territory, where the quantity exported m 1886 was 17,490 oz, valued at £63,139.

A PHENOMENAL HORSE

A colt with three eyes — three veritable eyeß, out of all of which he can see 1 This is a novelty, but it Ib reported that such a lusus naturae exists, and 4he name and address of the owner are given. IToofand Horn, a paper published at Prescott, Arizona, is the anthorlty, and though tha number which contains the account of the creature is some weeks old, I have aaen no reference to it m any English paper. The reporter Hays : " Colonel Charles W. Beach, of the Kirklaad Valley Stock Farm, is the owDer of a two weeks' old colt that la a curiosity unrivalled iv the history of the equine monstrcßitias. The colt m question was foaled from a fiae brood mare, the sire being an imported Percheron steed . Its peouliar features are three eyes, two of whioh occupy the usual locality m the head, while the third is placed midway between them. The eyes are all endowed with vision, and the only apparent differ enoe betwaea Ihem U that the middle one is much the largest, while the other two are of normal size. Each eye is m possession of an upper tnd lower eyalld, delioately fringed with eye lashes, but while the two m tho customary locality diminished gradually to the outer edges of the head, the iida belonging to the middle eye look, when closed, like the segments of a circle. In additions to those three eyes tho colt sports a doub'e set of nostrilß, both of which are perfectly defined and m breathing each set appears to work In harmony with tho langa. Aside from the&e features the colt 1b well shaped and appears to be m a very hoaltby con dition while the care and attention it has so far received makes It so gentle and affectionate that it takea every moanß of courting "petting" from the many carious Bight-seers that visit It. No ex planation of a satisfactory nature has been advanced to show why or hovr this curlona freak of nature waa occasioned." If this la to ba the horse of tho future, there may of course be occasions when the third eye will come m usefal. What is more wanted, however Is a horae with a fifth leg, whioh often would be consider able valuo for getttag over awkward places m a cramped country.

A RETRIEVER CAT

A.n instance of » poaohing oat ncbing 88 fln txaellent retriever hag been kindly ro'ated to me by a correspondent. It aeems that a Hampshire farm poßßCßses, amongßt other live etcck, an oxoption^Uy fino (male) tabhy ca^, who la porrotOßily bringing home rabbitß, both yonng arid old, and, presumably, tender and tough. The ho invariably preservea for hia own private consumption, and freely employs the worst [hrasea m the folino vocabulary if auy.>no a 1 tempts <;o defraud him of hia prey. I3,ut evety uovr and then he puts m an appearance with a fall grown barmy, and then his mode of procedure diff^ra. Having deposited it la the middle of the kitchen (he has never attempted *.o carry one Into aW other room) his next object is to announce , what he has done, and haying discovered some member o£ the family, hegoe^thyo^igh aconaiderable amooi,^ of po.rrfng, robbing agalnat legß oj ; Bkirtg as, the ca^e may he, and la not packed qntjl someone has gone Jntp the kitcheq-thoy all know from experience wh»t to expeot— and taken up tHe rabbit, Thia done, he appears per fectly Batfafied with himself, atret^hei out at tall length, aQ(J goaa to oleop. Hia ow,na* o»ewa to suppose that the fatigue ii the renu.lt of a moco ox less arduous

chase, but 1 scarcely think that this can be bo, for a poaching cat secures his prey by stealth and not by running It down Probably tbe labor of carrying homo the bag may account for the cat being knocked up Hitherto his "attentions havo been confined solely to rabbits— so far, that ip, aa can be ascertained ; should he fancy a little pheasant for ft change I expect he will aoon be "mlßslng"— ' Sporting and Dramatic."

AMERICAN WHEAT COMPETI TION

We take tho following from a recent number of a Bristol newspaper : — lt ia rather late In the dny to refer to a paper that was read last week at the British ApscoiatioD." Bat it is only jaat now that a neatleman has discovered Id an essay on bimetallism, which nobody will read if he can help It, a moat important statement upon the competition of American wheat with the English, The author is a Mr Atkinson, who is director of the Bortoa Institute of Technology ; and he may be assumed, therefore, to speak with some authority. He states that since 1873, when the cost of Ameri can wheat m England was abont 50a per quarter, the coat of conveying it from the Western States to the port of shipment haa been reduced no lesa than lla par quarter by the extension of railways, the reduotion of rates, and the use all over the country of improved machinery. In the same period the freight by sea to England has been redaced another 23, while the coat of growing the wheat haa beeu simultaneously lessened by Improved methods of agrioal tare and a great reduction m the rate of interest on borrowed money. The result of all these changes is that 34s per quarter m England now pays the American farmer aa well an 50a paid him fonrteen yeara ago ; and Me Atkinson assures as that 34i m Mark Lane will maintain the American supply m in creasing volume with certainty la the fature. English farmers cannot grow wheat at a profit for such a figure, and if, this hope being gone, they look forward to a decrease m American production, they are met by the faot that only one tenth of the area of the United State 1 ia at present cultivated, that every thouaand miles of new railway brings six million aoroa of fresh land within five miles of the line, and that the new railways con structed m the present year will extend 10,000 miles m length. Thla ia oo!d oomfort, we admit, for our Bgticultuial friends, sorely tried as they have been already. But if those statements are true it is better th&y should know them at once than continue to live m a fool's paradise."

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

We have, ever been staunch opponents of the abolition of the Legislative Council — a erase which has on sundry and divers occasions, during the last twenty years, spread its baleful influence over the length and breadth of the colony, and produced a ferment of agitation not altogether complimentary to the Upper Chamber. We have always written againsLtfeo »V/««»t~w'~i'«o- agu»t»«~» — cve -abolition of the Upper -irouse. We have always looked upon thfs branch of the Legislature as one possessing and exercising a salutary check on any hasty or reckless legisla ture which might be, at any time, enacted "m another place." We must confess, however, that a certain little incident which occurred m the Council on Wednesday last, has greatly shaken our faith m the honour, bona fides, or honest intentions of the mem bers composing that august assem blage of the Nestors of the colony. On reading the telegraphic precis of those proceedings, we found that a number of Bills had been received from the Honse of Representatives, read a first time, and their second reading ordered for " presently." Among those was one intituled " The South Island Native Reserves Bill." We trust our readers will bear this title m mind. When the Premier, on the previous day, moved the second read ing of this Bill m the House of Representatives, he briefly stated that it was intended, to provide for the management of the Native Reserves m the South Island. As we have said, it passed its first reading m the Legisla tive Council as the South Island Native Reserves Bill, but when the motion tor the second reading was proposed by the Attorney-General, it was the second reading of the Westland and Nelson Native Reserves Bill ! No such Bill had passed the House of Representa tives. No such Bill had been read a first time m the Legislative Council, and yet Mr Attorney-General, with un blushing impudence, moved its second reading ! Well might the Hon H. K. Taiaroa complain of the alteration of the title, by which the natives of the South and of Stewart Island were excluded from the provisions of the Bill. As no notice, was taken of the Hon Mr Taiaroa's complaint, we may reasonably assume that it was not a mere lapsus hnguce, and we are, there fore, forced to the conclusion that a deliberate attempt to foist on the Council, a supposititious Bill has been made by the Government and connived at by a majority of the Honorable Members of the Council — or that the honorable members of the Council have themselves been guilty of per petrating a gross political fraudj or a piece of flagrant jobbery. We are grieved to be compelled to write so 9trongly on the subject, but a sense of duty to the Natives who have been, either negligently or fraudulently, unjustly excluded from the provisions of the Bill as passed by the House of Representatives, impels us. to deuounce m emphatic language this unparalleled abuse of Parliamentary forms (?) to emasculate and, m fact, to defeat a Bill which had already passed the Lower House, and one th?,t wag calcu lated to afford gre_a* benefits to the Natives of tfijg portion of the colony.

a

rHESfASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1887.



Qaantity. Value.* Victoria ... C 4 393,182 217,522 728 NewSoath Walea 9,737,805 36,083529 Qieeußland ... 5,226,645 38 293.253 booth Anetralitt 159.276 '786.949 Total ... 69,556,908 272^636^73 Tasmnnfa ... 450 670 1 726 179 New Zsaland 11,016,725 43 200,821



I CHEISTIAS ANDJEW YEAE, The " Zealandia " Boot Store HAS made epecial preparation for tho ITcri lay time, and is BELLING at the LOWEST possiblo PRICE, Ucods suiablo Kr Presents, etc., together with the usual EVE HYDAY LINES. CONE AND Si E FOR YOURSELVES. Everyone can bo suited, bolh m PivlCE and QUALITY, mil the Stock ia 1 rger and better soiled than anywhere c s\ GIVE THE ''Z. 8.5." A TRIAf.-, AND YOU WILL GET THOROUGH SATISFACTION. "ZEALAtfBIITBOOT STORE, EAST STBEBT. " H- M- JONES- ~~~~ / J'IHE Revolution of tima has brought us to another ORTSIS m the History of Life JL culminating m the arrival of SANTA GLAUS, who is expected here between the 24th and 25th inst. To ailord a propsr and fitting reception of the above mentioned distinguished visitor, the undersigned has procured from the best Market a LABGB and VARIED assortment of STATIONERY, B3OKS, TOYS, FANCY GOODS GLASS and BASKET WABE, ORNAMENTS, and other GOODS too numerous to particularise. ' OPENING OF NEW PREMISES. In order to extend aad facilitate Business, the Proprietor -has erected large and commodious premises adjoining the Somerset Hotel, East Street, which will be opened temporarily for the XM AS tiade. GOME AND SEE THE Is TABLES ! COMIC AND SEE THE 6d TABLES I All (' ooda marked m plain figures at lowest possible prioea. OOMB ONE ! COME ALL ! ! 00MB EARLY TO AVOID THE CRUSH. SCHOOLS LIBERALLY DEALT WETH. SMALL PROFITS, LARGE AND QUIOK RETURNS is the MOTTO of the Proprietor. 12 9 F- AND D, DUNCAN", WILLS STREET, ASEBURTON. IiESTDES the ordinary Implements m use on Farms, we ara manufacturing the followinff • > GOBSE uUTTEKS, Keir'B Patent, simple, strong, effective, and c'aeapf Tais Machine m fuuy seenrei under Letter's Patent, and all the parts thereof. Anyone iafrinsini? a»ld Patent rights will be pros3cat9d. a b DISO HARROWS, tha Bimpest, cheap3st, most convenient for handling, and most effective Disc Harrow m the Markofc. DRILLS, b 7 Btricfc nttontion to the wanta of the Farming Conraumiy, we have beca enabled to produce the beßt DRILL yet made m TSew Z aland. We have, after due considera- tion, adopted the SPOON FEED Car Drilh will, therefore, drill any kind of SEED oc oml?^ Turnip tfeed to Beaun; English 01 American Ooult.rs same prhe. STALKER'S AUTOMATIC FEEDERS for Throwing Miwshinea. Althagh the cantos of KnglißQ Growers has been at work on th'.s question for the Isat 23 yeirs, id has been reserwd ;2 r a w!S. e «»i J^ r «r ld t0 ?? lye . fcbe Problem. We have every confidence m recomnundine these FEEDERS. We wou'd ask Machine On-nera not to listen to interested peraonßwhd decry these FEEDERS, bat to apply to anyone who his given them a FAIR TRIAL, Wo mention the following gentlemen aB being experience! and successful Threshers, who have used our FEEDERS with satisfaction to thercsolvoa an J their 01 cats :— MR THOS. PERKS, MR NELSON EDEN, MR JOHN MOORHBAD. Anyone desiring information ro our FEEDERS, can obtain the same from any of theaa Qsutiemen. Repairs to Machinßry. We are favorably situntid for repairing every claaß of Machinery. Castings of every deßCiiaiion m Caifc Iron, Steel, Brass, or MalUble Oast fcr repairs, canba had from U3 on the shortest notico. Repairs to Reapers and Binders. We keop a large Block of extras for repairinc these Machines, and wo have a number oi improved fittings, jnepaira effsoted m a proper mamwr on the shortest notice, and at reasonable prices. 12JI84: J. KEIR, Mana K er. STILL AHEAD OP ALL OTHERS, ' AND THIS IS ENDOESED BY THE BUYING PDBUC. SALES FOR 1886, 46,667 MACHINES. fW\B IS record etanda unparallerl. It ia laid before the pabHo as the best evidfliiJt J of the merit of the WALTER A. WOOD BINDERS and BEAPKKS- This exhibit of Paleß showing at once their volnme and their raaTvolloas growth f has always had, and must continue to have, 8n irresistible iiafluence upon the judgment of the farmer m determining what make of machine it la practically and economically his interest to own The best possible test of the merit of machinery Is rrraparlaon. This is the tesi npon which we aro BatJafied to rest the claima of the WALTER A. WOOD HA.R- VESTING MACHINES. Each yeat'a addition to the record of aaleß contributes to the valne of the teet. It will bo seen that more than 45,000 machines have been placed Jn the hands of the farmerß during last eeaeon, and it Is everywhere known that these farmers unite In the verdict that the harvesters, binderß, mowers and reapers that do the beat woik m tho grain field and hay field, that are most readily understood and operated by the driver, that are most easily drawn by the team, end t that last the longeet, ata those that bear the came of WALTER A.. WOOD. •mmc which. these maohlnes have lorg made familiar m all civilised parts of the world, DURABILITY OP THE WOOD MACHINES. Sales of t repairs less than for any other Machines. It lo a fact attested by agents who sell them, and by farmers who nae them, thai Wood's Machines requires far less repairs than any other machines m nee. N« other harvesting machines are 8 a durable and free from breakages. E. FEEBIMAN, Aslibiirton, Agent. AGAIN VICTOBIOUS 1 flflE latest Honors-first prfza-Gold Medal and 500 francs awarded to the I- Walter A. Wcod Binder, after a three days' Government trial, at Melon, Annce. MoOormlck Wood-f rame 2nd, Hotnaby 3rd „„...._,. The "Cultivator and Country Gentleman "says.:--" The trial at Mean wa a grind success. It was attended by the French Cabinet Minister of Agriculture, and tb Department Director, aB well aB irany other French Government officials. M, Rr^llldre, In^pector-Generalvf Agriculture, having persoral direction. Tho result has been published m the leading Amer can dame- oast-west— north and south— ln the following cable despatch, whloh was cilpyed from tha Sew York Tribnne," of 11th A gnat, 1887 :— A Government flarrebter and Binder Contest wbb held near Melon July 29, 30, 31, tho most important Eoropean contest Blnce 1885. The WALTER A. WOOD Machine received first pr'^-goid oedal and 500 franca. MoOormlck Wood-framo, second ; Hornaby, third MoOormlck St iVktm JtoWiWi ••» ' T atoft Bj v»A Aolsbos«t a Maohloes aloo compete* to th|



Tubllc ypt'ces. MESSRS MILES & CO/3 Next Wool Sale AT ASHBURTON WILL BE HELD FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY, J. T. FORD, Auctioneer. GEORGE JAMESON, 12°127 Agent. WANTED KNOWN. AT I. SALEK AND COs., Licensnd Pawnbrokers, East Street, i A FIRST-CLASS Watchmaker and j /\ Jeweller is employed on the Premises. Watches cleaned and repaired, and every description of Jewellery made and ' repaired at LOWEST CHRISTOHURCH PRICES. I && WATCHES~CLEANEL> OS GLASSES, 6d ; HANDS, 9d. W ATEiIB U R V '8 repaired f rora 2a 6d . N.B,— Water bury 'b reduced from 13s 6d to 12s. 11 126 Proctor <& Co,> WHOLESALE AND RETAIL OA«H GRO6ERS, &c, BEG to announce to the inhabitants of ABhburton and Surrounding Dis- tricts, that we have just landed our Christmas Goods, and as we buy largely for C\SH, we are m a position to SELL Cheaper than any of the other Houses m Town. We have also a large acd varied Btock of CROCKERY and IRONMO2S- GRRY, which we are disposing of at PRIOLB that will defy competition. N.B. —See windows for Presents io be given away at XMAS. i Please note the Address, — BULLOCK'S AttCADE, : Burnett Street. I CHRISTMAS AND IEW YEAR'S GIFTS, JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. XHAVS just bought from a Home Traveler all his samples of FANOV GO DS, TOYS, DOLLS, ORNAMENTS, FANCY B A.BKST WARE PERFUMERY, BOOKS, ETC., ETC., ETC. At half-price, and all who want to avail themselves of thia opportunity to buy CHEAP GOODS for the Holidays, will do well io CALL AT ONCE,' as I will allow a LARGP; rugGOCTNT on all theae Goods and other Articles m Stock. COME EARLY~~AND SECURE BARGAINS. W. ZANDER, Tobacconist, Hair Dresser Shaving Saloon, and Fishing Tackle Dej; 6t, EAST STREET. 12 120 PAPEBHANGITOS ! PAPEEHANGINGS ! I THE Undersigned have just opened up a splendid assortment of PAPEKETATOINGS, SCRIM, TAPES, TACKS, Also,— WINDOW GLASS (all sizes). W & R LEAD, PAINTS, OILS, i VARNISHES, COLORS, DRYERS, TURPENTINE, • &o. Just landing, a splendid lot of House Coal, ex " Haaroto." McCallum & Co., IRON, TIMBER, AND COAL MER- CHANTS, & IMPORTERS, Agents for TITAN and TRIPLEX STRAINERS. 12*103 ■ i George Jameson. ~TORNiPAND_RAPE SEEDS. ' FOB SALE~Pn*plo aad Green Top Aberdeen, Mammoth, Greystone,and other varieties These have been thoroughly tested; and are guaranteed new and freßh. GEORGE JAMESON, Aahbnrton. Wool Season 1887-88. T IBERAIi CASH ADVA.NOES made Jj on Large or Small Olipa at Curtm 1 ! Kates, "Woolpaoks and Twine Supplied. GEOJtGS JAMESON, Aahburton Wool, Wool. MESSRS MILES AND CO. beg to inform thoir friends and clients that they propoße holding Local Auction Sales of fool Throughout the Season as usual, and are now prepared to make Liberal Advances on large or small clips free of Commission, and at a lovf rate of interest. SALES will be held as formerly m , MR GEO. JAMESON'S SHED, WEST STREET, Where cv.cry care and attention will be given to each lot entrusted to our care. The Shed is vrell lighted, convenient, and m every way suited for the proper display Wool. WouLPAOKS AND TWINE supplied at liOWbet Current Kates. J. T. FORD, Auotioneei. < GEORGE JAMESON, Agent,



Public Notices. PAPEJRHANGINGS. A NICE assortment of the above now m Stock and to arrive ; also PAINTS, OIL«, COLORS, AND VARNISHES, 11*45 JOHN ORR & Co. Second Wool Sale i FOB THE j SIE_A-SO2sr WILL BE HELD IK ASHBURTON ON FRIDAY, 6th JAN. 1888. H. MATSON AND CO., MILES AND CO., 12f125 FRIEDLA.NDER BROS. Announcement jflwyS Extbaobdinabt. ADDFELLOWS' HALL, ASHBURTON Positively for TWO NIGHTS Only. MONDAY (Boxing Night), DEC. 261H, AND TUESDAY, DEC, 27th, 1887; THE WORLDFAMED Lyflch Family Bellringers, Instrumentalist* and Vocalists, (Organised 1867 ) Will appear as above, prior to their de- parture for t?an Francisco, Entire change of programme each Evening. Doore opon at 7.30, overture, 8 p.m. Admission : 38 and 2a. Box plan now open at W. Zander's, where Boats can bo secured. Mr Harry Lynch, Jameu Smith >, . Manager. H. P, Baraes f A S ents 12 123 THE ASHBURTON CALEDONIAN SOCIETY. mHE ANNUAL SPORTS (for money JL prizes by the Society, together with a largo number of Special Prizeß) will be held oq Boxing Day, MONDAY, 26th DECEMBER, 1887, On the Society's Ground Nn»tK. WOB t A Braes Band will bo m attendance. In addition to the usual Men's Races, a number of Old Men's, Women's, Boys', Girla' and Children's JR&ces will be held during the day. See Posters for full particulars. Admission to Ground, Is ; children under 12, 6d ; members and family, free. Commence at 11 o'clock promptly. J. C. DUNCAN, 11*102 Sectary. [A CARD.] Miss Carson, TEACHER OF MUSIC? (PIANOFORTE AND OJttGAN), Burnett Street, 12 101 MANILLA BINDER TWINE I HAVE socured a quantity of the same make of Twine as gave so much satisfaction last Season, and as Quality is the true Economy m tho Harvest Field, farmers will consult their own interests by securing a sufficient supply early, as it is likely to be .scarce this Season. ROBERT ALCORN, Importer and General Merchant. GREAT SALE OP Bankrupt Stocky OP Drapery, Clothing, AND BOOTS. ANDREW ORR having secured tho> Stock of A. C PRKJHaRD at a great reduction from Invoice Cost, will offer it to the Public on WEDNESDAY, DEC, 28th, At Unheard of Prices. TUESDAY, th« 27th DEO. 13100 ANDREW 088,



Public Notices. TTE Services at St Stephen's Ohuroh tomorrow will be an follows:-— Boly Communion at 830 a.m., and at (he Morning Service at 11 o'clock ; Evoßlng j Servloe at 6.30. The Oharch will be i decorated aa usual. 12 149 1 HOLIDAY NOTICE, TITONDAY being a Publio Holiday, the l( Guardian " will not be published on that day. TO LET, FOR THREE or FIVE Years, the BUTCHERING BUSINESS carried on by me m PoutU bridge and Lecston. A good Bakehouse is situated on the property. Plant at a valuation, For further particulars apply to A. bMITHSON, 12 136 Sonthbririge. NOTICE. rjiHE Library and Office of the Aahbur- J. ton Borough Council will be cosed from 1 o'clock on SATURDAY, the 24th, till the Morning of TUESDAY, the 3rd January. The Reading Boom will ba open aa usual. By order, CHARLEB BRADDELL, Town Clerk. Borough Council Office, 22nd Dt camber, 1887. 12 131 | ~~ FOR SALE. ON Account of the Trußtees of tbe Ute Walter Hartnbll,— - R,S. 1549 3, South Rakafo, comprising | 400 acras, Inolading the growing orop of Wheat. Further par&lculara moy be obtained from 0 AS. W, TURNER, Ltnd and Estate Agent, 12 28 ■ Sonth Kakai>. mHE Annual ORANGE BALL will be j L held In the Orange Hall on ' MONDAY, DEC. 26th, (BOXING NIGHT.) Dancing at 8 p.m . Ticfceta : Gents, 4s. Ladies free. | 12^:135 By order of the Oommittee. j SPECIAL BANK HOLIDAY. NOTICE is hereby given that TUES- DAY, tbe 3rd day of January, 1888, has been appo : nted a SPECIAL BANK HOLIDAY at all the offices of the undermentioned Banks throughout New- Zealand, m terms of "The Banks and Bankers' Act Amendment Aot, 1882 " For the Union Bai-k of Australia, Ltd. JOSEPH PALMER, For the Bank of Aufltaalasia, E. W. MORRAH, j Inspector. For the Bank of New Zealand, D. L. MURDOCH, 12 147 General Manager. SATURDAY, DtCEMBER 31st, 200 Acres Freobold Land, together with a Growiog Crop of Wheat thereon. MX T, BULLOCK has received in- tructioDß from Wir Mom, EsQ , to Sell by Public Auction at the Arcade on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31bt, His Freehold Property on the Witcham Foad, being R.S 29934, containing 200 Acres, with a growing crop of Wheat thereon. Persona desirous of acquiring a Farm m this neighborhood are respectfully invited to inspect the Crop and the Lund. Terns of payment to suit purchasers. Sale at 12,30. T. BULLOCK, 12J93 Aoctioneer. •jTO MEET THE TIMES C TRUCKLE, PROPRIETOR of the Prince Alberl X Boarding - Houbo, Wills Street Ashburton, next Oddfellows' Hall, while thanking his many Friends and Customers for their liberal support for the paat 10 yeare, solicits a continuance of the same. Board and Lodging, 14s 160, 18s pei week ;or 3s per day. Board only, 10a per week. Dinners only, 4s per week, Good accommodation for Families, and private rooms for Ladies. 7 52 NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. CHEAP EXCURSION TO OHBIST- CHURCH. S~VN Boxing Day, 26th December, \J Excursion Tickets to Christchurch will be issued from Rakaia at 4s firat- ctess, 3<j second, From ABhburton, Tinwald, and Winslow at 6s firßt-class, 4s 6d Becond. From Winder mere and Hinds at 6s Gd first-claes, 4s 9d eocond, and from Timaru, Ealing, and inter- mediate stations at 7s 6d first clbsb, 5s second. Children 3to 12 years half rates ; under 3 years, free. Passengers from Bakaia will travel by ordinary morning train to Christchurch ; those from the other stations by an Exouraion Train which will run aa under : — a.m ara . Timaru dep 6.45 Tinwald dep. 922 | Rangitata „ 8.10 Aahburton arr 9.30 Hinds „ 861 . t dep 940 Winslow „ 9.1Q J Ch'ch nrr 11.45 Returning from Christchurch, at 6.65 p.m. arriving at Aahburton at 8.5 p.m., thence* aB under : — p.m* p.nv. Ashburton dep 815 Hinds dep B.sft Tinwald „ 8.24 Raogitata „ 9.36 Winelow „ 8.36 Timaru arr 11 0 JSt* This train will take the place of the. ordinary morning train from Timaru to Ashburton, and evening train from Aehborton to Timara, which will not ran and will stop at all stations between Tiraaru and Asbburton if required, MOUNT 6OMERS LINE. TO CHRISTCHURCH AND BACK 26th DECEMBER, ' The Train from Mount Soniers on the 20th will run 15 minutes earlier than usual, to connect with the Excursion Train for Christchurch, and the train from Aehburton to Mount Somers will etart at 8.30 p in., after arrival of the. return Excursion Train, and run 2 hours 45 minutes later than usual, The 10 55 a.m. train f 10m Ashburton to Chnstchurch, and 1.15 p.m. train from Christchurch to Ashburton will not run on the 26th,, and the Evening Train from Chriatohurch to Ashburton on that day will start at 4.60 p m. and run ?6 minutes later than usual, Goads Traffic will be suspended on the 86lth. i ij^T The International Bicycle Races at Christchurch take placa on the 26th December. WXW By Order,



"Kooqh on Prr.Es,"— "Why su^er piles? mmediate relieif j^ud complete oure guaranteed. Asi for "Rough on Piles." bure cli>;o for \tohing, protruding, bleeding, or any form of piles. 4 A swimming school attached to an Auokland oollege announces m plain English :— " Swim- ming inslruotions given by a tenoher of both sexes, IJ Sour stomach, sick headache, and dizziness, Amerioan Co.'s Hop Bittora oures with a few oses. tiee '• Rouctq on Cayabrh " corrects offensive odors a.t once. Complete oure of worst chronio eases ; also unequaled as gargle for diphtheria, sore throat, foul breatfr 4 Mrs Parti ngton Says—Dqu 'fc take any of the quack rostrums, e& they ara regimental to the human cjistjrn ; bat put your trust m Dr Sau^a Amerioan Hop Bitters, which will oore general dilapidation, costive habits, and all oomio diseages. They craved Isaac from a severe extraot from tripod fever. They are w ™ Plus wwm of madjoiije.— '< Boston UiODQi * ~" ,