LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Beading matter on fourth page . The ropes on a first-class man-of-war cost about £3000. The number of criminal convictions m Great Britain has declined 37 per cent, m the last twenty-two years* Ostrich taming is a very profitable industry m Africa, where It is computed there are over 150,000 tame birds. There was not only frost bub very evident ice one night early last week m the Forty-mile Bush beyond Eketahuna. Pastor Birch has lefb Chris church en routtlor Los A.ageles (Cal.), where he In tends to settle permanently. Mr F. W. Venn has definitely decided to stand for the Otaki seat against Air J. Qt. Wilson, the sitting member. Government has sent the petition against the Wellington Licensing Com mittee to that) body for its reply to the allegations therein. The question whether fruiterers carry ing on other business m the same shop must close on the half-holiday has been referred to the law officers. A woman named Grazia Eeposlfco has just died at Naples at the age of 105 years, tihe had no fewer than thirty-five sons, of whom twenty- eight are stiJl Jiviug. Messrs Fletcher Bros have received a consignment of new goods specially for the present Lenten season. Heads. of families would do well to peruse their new advertisement which will appear m to morrow's issue. In consequence of the Alford Estate Company having offered some 7000 acred of their property for lease by tender, as per particulars m our advertising columns, Mr David Thomas will submit nearly 5000 of the Oompany's sheep, Down cross. merino, and halfbreds, at auction at th Aehburton yards tomorrow. Madame Sarah Bernhardt has decided to make a tour m India after her London season. She does not expect to make much money ; it will be mainly a pleasure trip, and she is having a yacht specially built). The saloon is to be arrange • as a theatre, m which Madams Bernhardt will give performances at each port. An Oamarn lady (reports the Mail), who has just returned from a visii to Cheviot, speaks m high praise of than settlement. she says that . tha settlor* there are all prospering, and that she did not meet with anyone who was dlasati-fie with the place ;in fact, after whit has been said about it, she was quite -nrpris d to see the people looking so h*ppy and contented. Is there a red diamond ? Mr & I win Streeter, the well known expert, *y* there is one— and only one. It weigh - about three grains, and is valued v £800 The finest green diamond io. the w-»rM -is m the hands .of a West En I merchant Of blue diaomonds the finest known is m the Cape collection ; its valuu is no -e^ than £50,000. Only four or fiv« blue diamonds are known to exist, The people of New. Plymouth ara v«ry confident of the ultimate -.access of the <>il industry. The bore receutly opened up has been choked by mud, but it is expec ted that as soon as a pump now being con structed is available the oil will again fl >w In the meantime another bore is being put down and the gas from thn first driv< is being utilised as fuel, and supplied al: requirements. We learn from an exchange that Mi- George Norbury, who was shotab Welllnsj tor last week, Is progressing favorably. The difficulty between Karl L »cher and Messrs Norbury and Trevor has been settled by an arrangement, made upon the guarantee, of Mr G. W. Smart, for an advance to Locher of the sum necessary tn enable him to pay off hi* indebtedness to the builders. Hence the sale under mortgage which had been announced did not come off. The Triad for February is to hand. Resplendent as a sample of the high class letterpress that Mills, Dfck, and Co c*n r um out, it id otherwise not up to much. The musical supplement Is a well printed * Hungarian dance,' which pianists will value. There are about two pages of original matter m the number, mostly paragraphs about the editor's doings, say ings, and experiences generally. The rest of the paper ha? been written with the scissors. 4 Call boy ' m the Dunedin dtar says : — ' The question has frequently been raised as to the highest takings m New Zealand for any single house -theatrical, operatio, or otherwise. I think I am correct m saying that Palraerston North takes the cake with £700 odd on Boxing Night for a performance by Fitzgerald's circus Most of the people paid four shillings or three.' Call boy is wrong. The biggest house on record was at Cooper and Baily's circus at Oamaru m 1878 when the takings for one night amounted to £1200. One Box op Clarke's 841 Pills iswarran ted to cure all discharges from the Urinary Organs, m either sex (acquired or consti tutional), Gravel and Pains m the Back. Guarranteed free from Mercury. Sold m Boxes 4b 6d each, by all Chemists and Patent medicine Vendors throughout the World Proprietors : The Lincoln and Midland Cou^BaDßVQCowrAny, Lincoln, EngWd. k

Acoording to Truth the lady cyclists of Christchurch will hold % cycling carnival shortly. Reform drts3 is -to be worn. Dr Emily Siedeberg is aotlnc; temporarily as assistant medical officer at SeaoKff Asylam during the absence on leave of IX Craig. \ In the past ten years the total quantity of apples imported into the United King dom has exceeded 33£ millions of bushels, valued at over 9£ millions sterling. ] Vesuvius last tnomh presented a magoi ficent spectacle The lava was precipitated j over a ravine, forming a cagotde of fire 300 ft m height. The estimated population of New South W»?es nn December 31. 1895, wa>* 1,277 870, const/ring of 685,160 males, : and 592,710 females. A curious coincldonca m names occurred at last meeting of the Wellington Educa- ' tion Board. Miaa Old resigned her position as pupil teacher at Karori School and Miss Young was appointed m her place. Professor J. Mclvor Tyndall, of Los Angeles, ia making preparations to be I buried alive. He says he will remain entombed for thirty days, and then return alive to daylight. This is a common teat of the Indian fakirs. * At the public meeting at Christchurch last evening presided over by Bishop Julius, resolutions were passed m favour of the use of the scripture text-book m public schools and asking the Legislature to pass a Bill referring the question to the voice of the houst- holders of the colony. Mr Bowman, who started from Christ church yesterday at ten o'clock with the intention of trying to lower Mr J O. Shorland's cycling record to Dunedin, reached Ashburton yesterday at 1 30 p en preceded by Mr Waller and another cyclist on a tandem. After lunchiag at the Somerset, Mr Bowmau continued his journey south, paced as before by the tandem, and also by Mr W. Sheaiman The latter, however, came to grief at the Hinds, and Mr Bowman and his pacers went on withoat him, and if the weather has noc stopped him 1b doubtless ahead of Shorland's time, as he reached Timaru an hour ahead of it. Homoeopathy applied to horses must b ■ something of a novelty, and as applied to the removal o? bots seems on the face of it ridiculous. The Dunedin papers, how- ! ever, report thac Mr Wishatt, a homoao- ! pathist, completely cured a thoroughbred ' gelding that was very badly affected. | There is no doubt the horse was bad m November and December, and improved under the treatment begun m the middle of December. Unluckily for the owner, but luckily for the homoeopath, the horse broke his. neck on February Bth, and gave a chanoa for a post mortem* which was made, and not a bot could be found The iVcw Zealand Herald says that the. Minister of Railways hns agreed, m com pliance with the request of the Cambridge Fruitgrowers' Association, that empty fruit cases, either new or old, and shooks for the manufacturre of fruit cases, shall be carried free on the railways, provided they are consigned to fruitgrowers and that the full cases are returned over the railway. It has also been decided to require consignors or consignees of empty cases or shooks to furnish a certificate that they are to be used m connection with fruit packing. Railway officers have been : Instructed to keep a strict watch on the i traffic, and to take Immediate proceedings against any person abusing the privilege. The free carriage of fruit cases and shooks for their manufacture will apply to the whole colony, and will operate from Mon day, 2nd March. We learn from the Timaru Herald's report that at a meeting of the Pareora Licensing Committee held on Tuesday, Mr Richardson stated that the license for the Hermitage would have lapsed" at the last annual meeting, and could not : thereafter be revived, had not Mr Banks, '; the county clerk, paid tha fee out of his j own pockeb m the public interest, and he .' had been unable to gefc the fee refunded to him. The old company would not pay ifc, Mr A damson, the person m charge, . would not, and s> far thu Government 1 , j the present owners, had not repaid it. j Mr Kichardfion suggested that the com- '• mittee should m-.k a representation to thfi Government, bu> >>tber members were opposed to the c-mmit/ee meddling In themati.er, and it w*k allowed to drop.

PHASES OF THE MOON.

March— d h m Last Quarter ... 6 10 59 pm New Moon ... 14 10 18 pm Pirat Quarter ... 22 11 27 pm Full Moon ... 29 4 52 pm ! A piiil — Last Quarter ... 51154 am New Moon ... 13 352 pm First Quarter ... 21 10 16 am Full Moon ... 28 1 17 am

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1896 THE JAPANESE SC ARE.

The rise of Japan as a military power is not more remarkable than has been the recent political, social and indus trial advancement of that interesting country. That rise and that advance ment have however brought with them political and industrial problems which present to other countries some difficulties of solution. Among these is that of how far the balance of trade with the East will be affected, and how far Japanese competition m Australasian markets will have the result of injuriously affecting colonial manufacturers. As to this matter there has recently been quite a scare m some quarters particularly among boot man ufacturers, it being represented that owing to the great cheapness of labor m Japan that country will be able to aupply the market with goods at prices which will soon entirely displace the colonial product. It is interesting therefore to read what is the outcome of investigations recently made m this connection, m Sydney by the Daily Telegraph which m a recent issue devotes several columns to the elucidation of the question. That journal quotes from various plat form speeches which set out the following alarming statements. One person had made m Japan for 4s 6d boots precisely like others which cost him about £1 m Sydney ; another guaranteed the existence m Japan of at least nine boot factories " all crammed with labor-saving machinery and adult female labor at 2s 6d per week , and a third broke bravely into the argument with a specific declara | tion that " m Japan, where wages were 3s 3d per week, boots were made for 4a 6d or 5s which could not be made m Sydney for leas than Ids; and another quality from 8s to 12s which cost m Sydney from 18s to 30s " All this, says the Telegraph, "proves upon investigation to be so much magic lan tern talk, which becomes blank and meaningless under the light. Let us take the fable m order. It is true that some Japanese boots have arrived here. During the twelve months of 1895 and the six weeks of the present year that have gone by, the Sydney market was flooded, and the wages of Sydney boot-makers im perilled, by the importation of no less than £27 worth of these products of alien labor on starvation wages ! The importers have with muob difficulty

been traced, and they report that the shipments were fiuancial failures, not withstanding that with respect to this year's consignment they saved nearly £2 by the abolition of the 10 per cent duty." As to the other statements (continues the lelegraph) " what is the practical value of them ? Does any bootmaker, after allowing for the cost of material, believe that a boat which costs 15s to make here can be made iv Japan for 5s ? Japan, it must be remembered, does not add cheap production of leather to her alarming industries, but imports it from other countries, so that the price of the raw or dressed material is probably a little higher there than it is ia Australia, where hides are grown and treated. When th&t is accounted for, and when it is also taken into consideration that about 2s worth of labor is expended on the making of a pair of boots m Sydney, anyone can work out the simple sum which proves what a preposterous pit the pro tectionists have digged for them selves." From all which it would appear that the scare as to the danger to be anticipated from Japanesa competition is certainly not justified, so far at anyrate as concerns the boot making industry, and that this is so is fully borne out m a letter from Messrs Enoch Taylor and Co., boot manufacturers, of Sydney, who wirte to the Telegraph as follows : — " Al though we are manufacturers, we are importers as well, and we have tried for years to obtain something from Japan lower m price than other people could produce. Every attempt has ended m failure, and we can safely assert that up to to-day not a case of a single line of Japanese made boots has entered Sydney Beads, and not likely to for many years. We cannot go into the reasons why they are not likely to be competitors m the manufacture of boots, but we know that the absence of raw material and thoroughly equipped up-to-date factories will take many years to establish, if they are ever brought m existence/

SPORTING.

V:RO. AUTUMN MB BTING.

I The following are the results of the raciDg at Melbourne on Tuesday : — ■• -; ■"■ Handicap Hitrdles 2J mfles. — The Artist lOar, 5l v >, 1; Figaro 12st 12' b, 2; i Navarino 9st 10' b, 3. Time— 4min 53sec. . Ascot Valk Stakes, six furlongs. — ew hav^n 9st 6b, 1 ; Kobold Bst 121 b, 2 j Tire Sst sh, 3j No 'ime cabled. AUSTRALIAN Cup. 2J niiiea.^lctolntor, 1 ; Wallace, 2; Hora, 3; Quiver, 4i Other starters — Music, Preston, Dream 1 aqd, Chesterman, ' Iswick, L >rd Richmond, Wolf, Luci 1, and Laur^ An exciting race, won by h If a head m 3min 59Jsec. Steeplechase, about 'wo miles. — Quick light lOst 61b, 1; Rotnßdale list 6b, 2; Will o' the Wisp lOst 2ib. 3. Time— 4min 15sec. Junioe Handicap, five furlongs. — Velooe Bat 71b, 1; Thun.le Queen 9st »31bj 2; Bayonet 6st 12 h 3 Time— lmin 4^sec.

ROAD BOARDS.

MO NT SOMBRS.

The usual monthly meeting cf the Mount • Somers Road Board was held on Monday— a'l the member- present. .= overseer's report. ■ The Overaeer'a report was read and con sidered. O metey Road. — Resolved to invite tenderß for shingling twenty chains of this roid ; to be m by next meeting Office Roof. — Tenders were ordered to be invited f<>r putting on iron roof, painting, and other repairs ; to be m by March 16. ... Graham's Road. — A bridge on this road was ordered to be repaired as soon as possible. Pound Road — The Overseer was instructed to write to Mr Fergus'- and request' him to repair the water race crossing ou this road as soon as possible. - : ■ Mill Koad. The Overseer reported that Mr Sbarplin wanted some shingle or broken metal on this road before the winter. — Left with the Overseer to arrange. Foot Bridge over Bow-yer's Stream. — It was resolved to ask the County Council to contribute half cot of painting this bridge; also to ask that body to make a crossing on the water race near the Mount Somers railway station gates. A LAME DOG, Mr W. McClymont interviewed the Board and asked the Board whether they were responsible for damages done to a dog of his which had been hurt, by a man m the Board's employ and m working hours. -He was informed that the Board could not recognise any liability. . CORRESPONDENCE From the Receiver " of Land Revenue, stating that the sum of £3 8s Id had been paid to the Board's account. From Mr Musgrave, offering to keep the road from Clent HilU to the Lake m repair for twelve months ; but the amount was considered too high, and the Overseer was instructed to write and offer what the Board thought a fair price From Mr Peaohe, thanking the Board for the offer made last meeting. TENDERS, Tenders were opened for the works advertised, and the following were accepted : J. Hutchison, building bridge at Haka tere, £6 lOsj j. Beokley, altering Trinity Hill cuttiug, £8/ and shingling 1b per yard, putting up fence 3s per chain. ACCOUNTS The pay Bheet amounting to £51 13s 6d was passed for payment* and the Board, adjourned*

CORRESPONDENCE

Wsdo not hold ouneives responsible tor the opimom^tfpiessed by our corretpondenu

THE RECENT SCHOOLS EXCURSION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, — The excursion organised to take the scholars of the Ashburton County State schools to Lyttelton took place on Friday last, and was an unqualified success, although many obstacles had to be overcome, some of which threatened its very existence. The Committee had first to give a guarantee to the Railway Department for £88 10*, and if the gross receipts had not reached that amount Messrs Braddell, Brock, Crooks, Dickie, Frizzell, Gran«-, Mayne, Simmers, Siloock and Watson would have been called upon co make up the deficiency between them. Besidts this, the Committee of manage* ment had to undertake the sale of tickets, pay for all advertisements, telegrams, postage, etc., that must necessarily attend the organisation of such an event. The Railway Department had to be paid for every unsold ticket not returned before the train started, and every ticket was charged to the Committee ab its face value, so you will see that the idea that the Committee have made anything but or it is quite wroncr. On the other hand their working expenses are the modest sum of £7, which has yet to be found, and on the Saturday they paid over to the Department! over £250 as the cash for tickets sold. The Minister for Railways is to be approached, and 16 is hoped that he will grant a refund to cover the expenses we are actually out of pocket. On Thursday evening, people who went to the station found it impossible to get tickets, and at 7.30 quite sixty people were outside Mr Braddell's office waiting to purchase them, and when the news came that H M.S. Ringarooma would be thrown open, the supply of Ashburton tickets was soon sold out, and a member of the Committee had to go to Tinwald for » supply. This caused some delay, and at 10.30 p m the Committee found themselves with £109 9s 9d m hand, and no tickets to mention, but the unsold tickets and cash from the, country schools taking Ashburton tickets had still to come m. Friday morning showed promise of a glorious day, and at 6. 30 (by the kind permission of Mr Bowles, the relieving stationmaster) . the hon. secretary of the Excursion Committee was at work m the office -receiving unsold- tickets and cash. Several persons who left the purchase of their tickets till the morning, m spite of the dlrecb statement m the Committee's advertisements, now realise that It is not wise on such occasions to put off getting their tickets till the morning, and the general impression, now it is all over, is that it is a wise provision not to sell up till the last moment, for nothing could have been more orderly than was the station on Friday morning last, consider iDg the great crowd of people. The train': i from Springburn brought down a very. heavy contingent, and was coupled to th 4 Ashburton carriages. True to time. the great train, now over a quarter of a mile long, steamed out of the station, stopping abDromore, Chertseyand Rakaiatopick up several hundreds more passengers. At Its appointed time the train steamed op to the Christchurch platform and discharged its passengers, for that city, , and then steamed on to Lytteltoc, where its passengers were soon dispersed around the town and wharves. Arrangements had been previously made, and meals at a cheap rate were provided by the j Lyttelton boarding house keepers and others. The s.s. John Anderson and s.s. 1 Canterbury were ab once filled, and , carrying their living freights to H M.S. Ringarooma, while others visited the steamships Maori, Duke of Sutherland, and Flora, and the ship Blenheim. Large : parties of boys wended their way round past the dock to the bath, and took I advantage of the cheap sea dip. Quite a ! crowd assembled to witness the departure of the Admiral m the tug ; and then found their way back to the steamboat pier, where they soon found themselves j on i heir way to H.M.S. Orlando, or for i a trip to Diamond harbour. On. tha ! return of the Admiral's party m the tug, about 300 excursionists went for a trip . round the reef, down to Camp Bay, and oj this occasion three hearty cheers were given for the Harbour Board, three for j the H.B.s secretary »nd other officials, ; and three for the captain and crew of the \ tug, and lastly three for' the excursion ' secretary. When we returned it was time to get to the train, so no more trips coutd be mado. Now Mr Kditor, lean not close without drawing attention to the remarks by his Excellency Admiral Bridge He *ayß— ** A few years and we may be plunged m a great naval war," and again, ** We look to the colonies to fill some of the vacancies m our ships." What pe r eon wh« visited Her Majesty's nhps on Fri 'ay last did not feel a thrill of pride, as he or she stepped aboard thorn* mighty vessels, and *aw perhaps for the first time that it is no empty boast that " Britannia rules the waves/ " We've got the ships we've got the men." What boy did not feel envious of the smart, dean, happy fellows, he saw that day ? In chis ape of high pressure, when everyone is scrambling af-er money, what better lesson conic we all have than that of Friday, to teach us that we are still cosely dependent on Old .England for protection ani support, and no amount of talking c»uld ever have given such an effective lesson on "patriotism" With war threats from 'America and South Amca hardly out of the sir, we are able to return to oar rural occupations with a - sense of security, born of the knowledge, ; that,. come what may, Englishmen are as , ' ready to day as they were m the days of , the mighty Nelson. In conclusion I, wish • to acknowledge our indebtedness to John Joyce, Esq.M.H.R . the Chairman of the Harbour Board ; C. Hood ' Williams, Esq., | secretary and treasurer of Harbour Board; : Mr Mclntyra acting secretary; Captain Gfalbraith, and the.crew of the tug; Mr W Bowles, relieving stationmaster, Ashburton ; Mr Ashley, stationmaster, Lytrelton ; the ssamen of the warships, \ all <f whom spared no pains to make our day's outing a sucoess ; also to Messrs Shaw, Savill and Union Steamship Com pany, for permission to visit their ships m the harbour. I do not know how to express my deep seose of gratitude to his Excellency Rear Admiral Bridge, who so readily allowed v* to visit his flagship, when be knew how we were situated re train arrangements, etc. lam sure ib added much to the pleasure of our trip, and a kindly feeling will always be enter* tamed towards him by the people of the Ashburton county .—l am, etc., Wai. Dickie.

tttß ABEtittßTOfr GPAKbIAM; WEDNESDAY MAECH 4, 1896.



Hoixowav's Oiktmeno?. — Go where you may m every ountry and m all olimes per* sons will be found who have a ready word of praise for this ointment. For chaps, chafes, scalds, bruises, and sprains, it is an invaluable remedy ; for bad legs, bad breasts and piles, it may be confidently relied upon for effecting a sound and permanent care. In cases of puffed ankles, erysipelas, and - rheumatism, Holloway's Ointment gives the greatest comfort by reducing the inflamma- tion, cooling the blood, soothing the nerve*, adjusting the circulation, and expelling the impurities. This ointment should have 4 place m every nursery. It will cure all those manifold skin affections whioh, originating m childhood, gain strength with the child's growth. Now is the time to buy your Boots and Shoes while you can gat supplied at a dis- count of from ten to forty cent. Only at McDonald : and McDmbmid's Cash Boot Shop, East street. Annual Sale now going on, - ■ ■ ■■•■. ■v .■ •. i ■■'■" 5



PUBLIC NOTICES Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats i Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats Waterproof Coats NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY. 1 FIRST CONSIGNMENT OP : AUTUMN £)EAPERY iNOW TO HAND.' JNEW GOODS GJRaND VALUES. DRESSMAKING FOR! | : THE COM- ING SEASON' Ashburton Drapery Company, CASH '.DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, MILLINERS AND DRESSMAKERS CORNER ARCADE & BURNETT STREET.



Wanted. WAHOO ! THE CURE FOR INDIGESTION. ; Aehburton Drug Company, Agents 11 108 FOUND a black and tan Sheep Do<*. Apply Mail offica. 3 15 WANTKD a smart Boy for an of&W Apply office of tniu paper. 319 j*j EPARA.TOK Butter, Separator Butter; Finest Fern Leaf Separator Butter lOd per lb, at Fletcher Bros , East street, Ashburton. \kt ANTED Known— Monster Clear- V V ing Boot Sale at Mellor's Zealan dia Boot Store. \h 1 ANTED Known— The best place W to obtain Ready-msde Clothing and Underclothing is without doubt at Mitchell and Turner's. TEA., Tea, Tea— Try our Indian and Ceylon Pekor, with red labels, m £lb and lib packets and 551 b cases. They are without) doubt some of the finest Teas m the market, and are specially selected and bulked m gardens for our own trade. — Fletcher Bbos*, Cash Supply Stores, Ashburton and Christ- church. WANTED Known— Men's Suits 17s 6d, Eaiapoi Tweed Trousers 9s lid, Knicker Suits 4s lid, Caps 60L- The Corner, W. H. Collier WANTED Known— We are still giving; Presents to all Purchasers of Drapery, etc. — H. C. Segers, Melford 1 House WANTED Known—lf you miss the Cheap Boot Sale you will be sorry. — Mellor's, Tancred Street. WANTED Known — Bargains from floor to ceiling. — Mellor's Stock: taking Boot Sale. WANTED Known— Ladies Shoes, tan or black, 6s 6d. — Mwllor's Cheap Boot Sale. WANTED Known— Just opening a fresh lot of useful Presents, to be given to all Purchasers of Drapery,— H. C. Segers, Melford House W' "ANTED Known— Good Tweed 1 Trousers, 6s 6d ; Good Cord Trousers, 6b3c1.--Mitohell and Turner. WANTED Known— Everybody to roll up to Mellor's Cheap Boot Sale. Now's your time to buy. Vj|7 ANTEDKnown— Go loTheCorner for Newest Styles In Drapery and Millinery— W. H. Collier. YTji RANTED Known- You save 5a m VV every pound if you patronise Mellor's Cheap Boot Store. : WAITED Known — 6000 pairs of Boots and shoes to pick from. Mellor's Great Boot Sale. WANTED Known— Mrs Smith, Dress- maker (late of London West), has Removed from Cameron street to Hare- lock street, opposite Army Barracks. ■ 12 148 WANTED Known— Buots and Shoes from Is 3d to 27s 6d Mellor's Cheap Boot Sale. 11 7 ANTED Known— Great Reduction at VV Mellor's Cheap Boot Pale. PRESENTS, Presents— We are now giving useful Presents to all Pur- chasers of Drapery, etc. — H. C. Segers, Melfurd House MEN'S Bluchers ss, a good Strong Nailed Shooter at 8s 6d ; a nico assortment of Ladies' and Children's Boots and Shoea from la 9d a pair at R. Alcorn's I p OLID AY Suits— A "Nice Kaiapol 0 Suit for 27s 6d, Boys' Knicker and Cambridge Suits from 7s 6d, Men's Suits to Measure from 45a, Fit and Workmanship Guaranteed at R. Alcorn's TIT ANTED Known— That B. Mahood • v is still selling all kinds of Grocery, Orcckery, and Glassware at as reasonable a price as any other house m the trade. Orders by letter or Telephone promptly attended to. Families waited on. daily. Telephone No. 76 .v,, ANTED Known— 6ooo pairs of V* Boots to be cleared m one month, — Mellor's Zealandia Boot Store. \XTANTED Known— Newest Goods m • * Drapery and .Millinery for the Summer Season, direct from London — W. H. Collier, The Corner. ANTED Known— We intend to shake up every Boob Shop m Ashburton. — Melloh's Clearing Boot Sale- -1 Dust, great floral air purifier, XT delicious perfume of the loveliest flowers. A powerful antiseptic, refresh- ing and invigorating, destructive to all insect life. Pononga Electric Belt acts on the blood and nerves, promotes circulation, assists digestion. The only Belt that generates a galvanic current.^— H. M. Jones. ANTED Known— That it ia lament- able to hear people ask why there is so much trash m the Boot Trade riow-a- -days % But no wonder I say. They mry strike their breasts and say, ' By our own fault, who buy such trash at cheap sales.' Though cheap, a profit must be levied, and you don*b get the worth of your money. But you have yet a remedy by calling at j J. Moisost,. the Premier m the Boot Trade, J where a solid, dry, and good wearing boot can be got. Secure good boots for winter or your .feet will be wet. Get your repairs done at once or while you wait at J. Moison's Impermeable Boot Depot, East Street. Ashburton. " 2 ,127 ■•■v ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH Ashburton SERVICES. FRIDAY — Special Lenten Service, 7.30 p.m. Choir Practice, 8 p.m. SUNDAY— II am. Morring Prayer, Rev Harold Purchas. 2.4s— Children's Service, Eev Harold Purchas. 3.3o— Baptisms, Rev tlarold Purchas. 6.3o— Evening Prayer, 'Rev Harold Purchas. The Vicar will administer Holy Com- munion m the Mount Sewers distriot on; SUNDAY next as notified by the Curate. A M Bailey, a well known citizen of Eu- gene. Oregon i says his wife has for years been; troubled with chronic diarrbooa and used many remedies with little relief until ehe tried Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Bemody. which has oured her sound and well. Give it a trial and you will be surprised at the prompt relief it affords. For sale by the Ashburton Drug Company. • KEATING'S POWDERS destroys Bugs Fleas, Moth", Beetles, and all other insects whilst quite harmless to domestip animals, In exterminating Beetles the success of this powder isextraordinaryi It is perfectly clean m application • See the artiole you purchase is Keatings, i.e., with the signature Thomas Keating on eaohtin, as imitations ara ■ . oxious and ineffectual, Solo] m tins, 6d and la cftob^ by all ghemiatD.



public Notices, ( Success ! Success ! SUCCESS! ! NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS, AND THE " BfcUJB HOUSE " DESERVES H CHEAP GOODS opening everyday TT being now a recognised fact that the "BLUE HOUSE" Is the Cheapest Place m Ashburton for Drapery, Clothing, Millinery, Boots, etc. Therefore the thrifty housewife and care* ful fanner, who wishes to sustain the confidence of those near and dear to them, by saving their hard earned money should not fail to find the "BLUE HOUSE," When m Pursuit of Cheap and Durable Goods LOOK OUT f LOOK OUT ! LOOKOUT! The Best Value m the Trade. Compare a few of -the "BLUE HOUSE" PRICES. White Calico Is lid, 2e lid, 3s 9d per dozen Grey Calico Is 9d, 2s 9d, 3s lid per dozen A really good make at 2s lid per dozen Flannelette 2s 6d per dozen A splendid line Assorted stripe at 3s lid worth 6a per dozen Art Muslin 2s lid for 12yds— ft marvel Silesia from 3d per yard Ticking 4s lid bed of 10 yards, worth double American Leather and Oirßaize from 9d per yard 72 inch Twill Sheeting, 9|d per yard, plain, ditto, per yard B£d PRINTS, CAMBRICS, BLOOB- INGS, MUSLINS, etc. Having had a most successful season In these Goods, for the balance no offer approaching reason will be refused at the . "BLUE HOUSE." Ib so happens that all the low class Goods have been sold — the better quali- ties only are m Stock ; therefore, Superior Goods ab Low Class Prices. For instance — 9d Del tines now 4jd ; all Linen Blousings were Is 3d, now 7|d ; Zephyis, any shade, 3s 9d ten yards, were lOd ; Persian Cords, usual price Is 9d no n lOAd, any shade ; Beautiful Designs m all shades and qualities of Sabteen, with the price cub fairly in»half. No two bites at a cherry with BLUE HOUSE GOODS Just opened a few more pieces of Black Cashmere still 69 lid Dress. Be quick for these, no need to overlook the luxury of imumlng at this price. Hosiery and Gloves, any price fronf 4d per pair ; Beautiful Silk Gloves only la 6d. silk Hose la lid, Black and Navy Guffs and Collars from 3d, Hair Nets, a lot at 2d each millinery7~millinery, MILLINERY. Fo Successful has been the BLUE lIUUSE" m this Department m almost entirely clearing out their Summer Goc ds. Now that the season is practic- ally over, the tail end of the Stock will go at nominal prices, too ridiculous to quote ; just cal} and ; the price will delighc a likely purchaser. • . HATS, FLOWEES, VEILINGS, FEATHERS, etc, Mast be given away or laid aside. We prefer to give them away at poor price IN THE CLOTHING AND MERCERY DEPARTMENT, Its a case of Speculation is the footstool to fortune If yon want a rig out;, and have only about one third of what you Imagine it will cost, don't wait until you have more money, bat find the •' BLUE HOUSE," And there we will help yon to solve the problem of how to live within your means and geb all yon require. You won't get any credit, but real red hot valne. LOOK HERE— A Man's Suib any size for 14s 63, a good Tweed Suit 19a 9d, Men's Tweed Trousers and Vests lls 6d, Tweed Trousers from 5s lid, Serge Trousers from 4s 6d. The Wonder— " BLUE HOUSE 5 ' Moles 3* lid, Men's Tweed Hats Is 3d, Caps 6d, Felt Hats, black, brown and drab from Is 61 Everybody within a radius of forty miles has had a " BLUE HOUSE ". SHILLING SHIRT, Plenty more. Leather Shirts 2s lid, B.C. Under Shirts and Pants Is 3d, Merino do Is lid, Strong Soxa, 3 pair for Is ; Is 6d Soxs now 9d, all Ties, Scarfs and Collars ab a cut m two price for a few days; two yards wide Floor Cloth, best quality, Is per yard ; Linoleum Is b£d square yard, Carpets Is lid BOOTS "&" SHOES ALL AT " BLUE HOUSE " PRICES. Another case of the famous Strap Shoes 3s lid, be quick if you wanb a jpair To Study Economy and live within means, pay cash. If yon wanb to come into the town for holiday go to the "BLUE HOUSE" And spend a pound, then you enjoy yourself, because you have a holiday and save a day's wages THE CHEAP "BLUE HOUSE," Between J. Orr and Co. and The Clothing Factory, East {Street.



Business Notices, r j One Month. G. J. NEI L L HAS MARKED HIS STOCK General Drapery Clothing and Boots BELOW COST PRICE, A ND is now offering it to the Public Make no mistake the prices Cannot be beaten. Q. J. NEILL, BURNETT STREET NEXT SHEARMAN BROS. REMEMBER — FOR ONE MONTH . I .■ 1 ' » "' ' ' ~ ' " ' ' " ' * FOR WEDDING PRESENTS, i BIRTHDAY PRESENTS, , and PRESENTATIONS t pAY A VISIT (CO THE JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT OF S. Salek, EAST STREET, where the Largest and Fineßt Stock at Reasonable Prices are to be seen, N.B. ALL GOODS MARKED IN PLAIN FIGURES. For Satisfactory Watch and Clock Repairs at Moderate charges go to S. SAL EX, WATCHMAKER AND JEWELLER, 1 > ' EAST, STREET. U OX g^ Telephone 24 Preserving? Bes»soai 1 895-90. FLETCHER BROS.. 25 Tons. 555 Tons. TTAYE IN STOCK AND TO ARRIVE FOR THE PRESENT JAM SEASON. This Sugar is Thoroughly Reliable for all kinds of Jams, Jellies, etc., and is used by the Principal Jam Manufacturers m the Colony. We are still selling sugar at the old price although the price has advanced wholesale and is likely to be much higher NOW 18 THE TIME TO BUY YOUR SUGAR. To Farmers, Contractors, JEtc. We keep m stock all" kinds ot Tinware, which we are jelling at Wholesale Cost Prices, It' will pay you to get our price list before buying elsewhere. Seasonable Goods. Seasonable Goods. We have the following Seasonable Goods m stock and to arrive : — , i 5 Cases Gear Corned Beef 3 Cases Preserved Peaches 3 Cases Canterbury Corned 2 Cases Raspberry Vinegar Beef 15 Cases lib Sheep Tongues 5 Cases Canterbury Corned 5 Cases 21b Sheep Tongues Mutton 5 Cases New Zealand Mutton 5 Cases Cocktail Salmon . 2 Cases Albert Sardines 2 Cases Mackerel " 2 Cases Kippered Herrings 3 Cases Herrings m Tomato 3 Cases Preserved Rabbit, 21b g auce tins, Delicious 5 Cases Fresh Herrings 3 Cases Preserved Apricots 5 Cases Preserved Pears 10 Cases Ship's Lime Juice Tea. Tea. Tea. We offer special inducements m all kinds of Tea. l : ure Ceylon (Mountain Grown) m 5 and 101 b boxes and 1 and \ lb packets ] ure Indian m 5 and 101 b tins, and 1 and Jib packets 1 lended Tea m 5 and 101 b tins, and J and \ lb packets } elson and Moate, Saxon, Arab, Jameson and Anderson, Etc. FLETCHER BROS., CASH SUPPLY STORES, BAST STREET, ASHBU^ON, AND 116 am3Tjllß High Street, Christchurch.