PHASES OF THE MOON.

BIRTH.

Pearok.—-On December 30, ab Allenton, Ashburbon, the wife of W. G. Pearce, of a son.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1897. THE NEW YEAR.

Tf, as one poet tells üb, with the' advent oi Spring "the young man's fancy lightly tujrne to .thoughts oi love," sp, also, witb a greatej. universality — r universality whi.cl? fimbraT" M > F^9fch«r founS °r Jdlth; return C! *• «^ *** Season ipjpirei iv every beai. ta*ti *

sentiment of hope which in the words' of another bard « springs eternal in the human breast." Notwithstanding the unpleasant truth of the remainder of the couplet, to wit, that "man never is but always to be bies*-," and notwith-

i standing that many of the hopes with > j which we have entered upon previous I New Years have been doomed to di^ j appointment, we go on hoping still, and cherish a sublime faith in the | future, in the comforting belief that , after the storm must come the sun i shine, after the dark the dawn, and '; that every lane however long must I needs have a turning at last. And though the " good time coming," of which we have sung and prophesied so hopefully in the past, has tarried long! I yet it is bound to come some day, and as we stand on the threshold ot the New Year it will do us no htirm* to believe that it will come ere the year shall close. We have had so long a spell of depression that according to I the law of averages the return of, prosperity cannot be far off—the tide cannot go on ebbing for ever, and the longer it has ebbed the nearer the flow must be. New Zealand, like other countries, has had her share of adversity, and now that we have manfully set ourselves to the exercise of economy and prudence, and have determined for the future to endeavor to live within our means, we have a right to expect that we shall soon begin to re cover our leeway and ere long be speed -1 ing along again on the highway of pro gress. Providence is always kinder to us than our fears. We are now in the most severe season of drought Ash burton has ever experienced, but as the old Scotch song has it <i \y e » ve R y e b e6n provided for, An 'sac will yet," ' and accepting the advice of the song, whose advice is also that of a still higher and wiser Voice than the writer of it, let us '* Trust we aye in Providence For Providence is kind, An' bear we a' life's brials Wi' a calm an' tranquil mind.

Hae faith an' yell win through For ilka blade of grass keps ibs am drap o dew," i If the close of the year in the bright ness of its sunshine does not augur well for the close of the cereal year, let us remember that in past years we have been favored, and that in agriculture as in life we must take the good with the bad, and put a stiff heart to the steep brae. We have had much cause for rejoicing in the year that has passed -—the jubilee year of the Queen, and the year of the great reunion of the empire in which the kinship and brotherhood of Great Britain all over the world shook hands across the sea. At the close of that year shall we let anything make us down hearted or cause us to be discouraged ? If we did so we should be untrue to the blood that is in our veins, and the traditions of the race from which we have sprung, and therefore we wish each other and ourselves and all mankind

A HAPPY NEW YEAR !

DOMAIN CHARGES.

Some people have funny notions about the right of Domain Boards to em power Clubs to whom they may lease a Domain for a day, or such term as the Act allows, to charge for admission The clause of the Act under which the right to charge is given reads as follows :~—" 4. The trustees having the control of any reserve set apart as a recreation ground .... (4) May j grant ijie exclusive use of the reserve, or any part thereof, on any one or more of the aforesaid ten days,' bi}t not for more than three days consecutively at any time, to any person, body, or society (incorporate or not) for the purpose of particular sports, games, or other, recreation, with authority for such person, body, or society to demand a fee or charge for admission on gueh day or days to the reserve or part thereof so granted, not in any case exceeding for each day one shilling for each person^ with an extra shilling for every horse or vehicle which he may desire to take with him. unless such person desires to obtain admission to the stand hereinafter mentioned, in which case an additional fee or charge not exceeding ten shillings, may be imposed prior to bis obtaining ad mission to such stand (5 ) May erect or authorise any person) body, or society .(incorporate or not) to erect ijpon some portion of the reserve buildings for ornamental purposes, or a stand or pavilion, upon such terms as to plans, size, situation, custody, and otherwise, in all respects as the Trustees shall determine; and may appoint the mode and price of admission to any such stand or pavilion on any of the days hereinbefore mentioned."

The effective strength of the regular British army on December 1 last (according to the THE annual returns) was jmiTISH ARMY. $21,537. During eight months of the year 1896 the pftecuye strength was less than that, and the highest aggregate of all all arms was in February— 222,832- We have 7754 officers (the j number sometimes reaches 7800) to 125,248 rank and file and 14,188 sergeants. The Cavalry is 19,584; Rsyal Artillery, of all arms, 37,307 ; Royal Engineers, 7833 ; Foot Guards, 5850 j line .infantry, 137,022 ; colonial corps, 5218 ; army service, 3517 ; army ordnance, 1210; medical staff, 2632; army pay, 56^ These figures show J t,he average strength. We keep abroad,,

on tbe average, about half the fighting force—a trifle less tb»u half the • officers and a triflo more thaii half the f men. Ireland garrisons 24,841 men , and 890 officers, while Scotland gets only 3452 men and 148 officers. All the colonies and Egypt have on the average only a little over one-third more ' than-Ireland—that ia to say, 37,440 met* and 1277 officers. India takes alwostas W»ny of oup regular troops fi« «» keeP ia England, Waler, and the Channel Island** respective gompleu_ents being 75,450 and 76,y0« yhe army is steadily imoreasing in average stieng-,h. It was larger Jasfc year than for Kjy'yew »ittCo }W In 1886 it reached the 200,000, ariu jt has passed 220,000. Poets have associated love and war. In the Spring the yeuug jqoan'a fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love j and in January ■ jjgd F ebvwj tbe recruit* for tb« arwjr i

come forward in largest numbers Over 26,000 joined tbe colours at Home last year. Lord Roberts re cently bore emphatic testimony to the inorease of sobriety and good conduct among the army in India. The returns of ihe number of men tried by court martial througout the whole army tells the same good story. Last year the men court-martial led were 8069 ; in 1893 the number was almost 10,000 ; in 1886 it was over 12,000 ; and before 1881 the total for some years exceeded 53,000, and sometimes 14,000. The men returned as drunk while on duty have fallen from 2661 in 1881 to 650 last year, some diminution being observable every year. The number of men with good conduct badges now exceeds 100,000; between 1883 and 1887 it did not exceed 79,000. The | army now contains a much larger number of young men; 530 per 1000 are now aged between twenty and twonby-five years, as against the pro portion of 856 in 1878; and while there were 88 per 1000 over forty years of age in 1878 the proportion now has dwindled down to 7 per 1000. But, while the men are younger, the tendency is to get them also of smaller .stature, except for the very tall. That is, we have the same proportion of men over 5 feet 10 inches; but in twenty years we have doubled the proportion of little men—those under 5 feet 5 inches. In regard to nationalities, the army has 25,669 Irish, 16,208 Scotch, and 159,500 English. But the Irish appear to have been withdrawing from the army J gradually, as they numbered in 1878 over 39,000, while tbe Scots have been increasing. For this fact we imagine the principal reason must be sought in the bleeding of Ireland by emigration by far the largest proportion of Irish emigrants are strong young men from the cotters' homes. Finally, our army has over 36,000 non-commissioned officers and men whose chest measure ment exceeds 38 inches, and more than 11,000 men whose stature is at least 5 feet 11 inches.

The recent failure of an attempt to procure legal protection to those who,

like Mr Hullett, oi

THE cancer cure fame, CANCER CURE, are liable to heavy

penalties in case of a death while their treatment is being tried, has called forth a large amount of correspondence in the Ohristchurch papers, A medical authority writes, saying that Mr Hullett should be compelled to disclose his secret if secret there be, Mr Thomas Knee-haw on the other side saya— " I myself have been cured by this treatment, and I challenge " Medicus " to bring any case of undoubted cancer, malignant or otherwise, attested by three or more doctors, where the patient has ordinary constitution to Mr Hullett and protec tion given." It would be a much wiser step in the grandmotherly legislation of to-day if the Government were to giye Mr Hullett a guarantee of some substantial recompense, provided he could thoroughly satisfy a commission that his claim was borne out by careful examination. Then the discovery, if as valuable as some contend, would become the property of the world and thousands of lives would be saved. As it is, only those within reach of Mr Hullett can benefit by his reported cure.

Local and General.

Influenza has reached Temuka and Timaru Ib is nob yet so general i*a Timaru as it is in Temuka, but there are some oases, and tbe local newspaper offices appear to be the chief sufferers «o far, as more than half the composing s'affs are off duty. As the Mahinapna did not geb away from Onehunga bill four o'clock on Thursday, morning, she will bring bhe San Francisco mail on to WeilingtoD{herself, arrivingabonb noon to-day. The southern portion will be brought on bo Lyttelton by the Rotomahana, which wi 1 leave Wellington to-night. How did it get there is the question about the fly in amber that remains unanswered to bhis day. A mystery equally difficult to solve has recently been met with. In a big mass of clear amber, dredged up out of the Baltic Sea, bhere was distinctly visible in its interior, a small squirrel, far, teeth, and claws intact. The distinction of being the greatest dandy in the world has been awarded to Prince Albert of Turn. His annual bill for cloth ing amounbs bo no less than £3000. He wears no less than 1000 neckties during the year, an average of three a day, and, though he never wears his linen more than twios, a laundry employing 12 people is kept specially for washing ib. Dr Archer Hoiking, while surgically examining an amputated limb after a recent operation at the Masterton Hospital, slightly scratched his hand with a dissect ing knife. Yesterday blood-poisoning symptoms became so serious that he de cided to go to bhe Wellington Hospital for special serum treatment, the remedy not being available in Muberton. * Sir William MacGregor, Governor of British New Guinea, says that the rubber industry is likely bo become an important one. He has received a large number of applications for land suitable for growing rubber, but the applicants want exclusive rights to grow, buy and sell in separate dis tricts, and he is doubtful about giving monopolies. He intends permitting em- Eloyers to take natives as far as the neigh ouring colonies.

The train arrangements from January 1 to January 4 are advertised in this issue. Ab St. Stephen's Church to-night bhere will be a watch-night service, commencing at 11.30, with a celebration of the Holy Com muuion, It is proposed to increase the prise money in the New Zealand Wheel Rsce nexb year bo £100, in order bo tempt some of the Aus tralian riders to compete. The marriage of Miss Russell, eldest daughter of Captain Russell, bo Dr Nairn, of Hastings, will nob take place until the return of the bride's father from England.

A comparison of bhe returns of Christmas postal and telegraphic traffic shows bhat Wellington bad a substantial lead in the amounb of both postal and belegraphic work pub through. The amount of work done by the Auckland Posb and Telegrahie Depart ment during last week was very hea^y. During the four days preceding Christmas Day bhere were received over 57,000 letters and cards, 31,000 packets, 34,000 news papers, and 450 parcels. D_ring the same period there were delivered 12,000 letters and cards, 37,080 packet-, 16,500 news papers, and 1400 parcels. During race week over 20,Q$Q telegrams, top delivery and forwardiug were handle., §000 being re ceived, 600Q forwarded, and 8000 passing through the office. A London correspondent tells a rather good sbory of a public dinner in London ab which %t Thomas Mackenzie (known to this colony as ••plabba'?) was entrusted to reply to the important toasb of "Greater Britain.'' The proposer, in concluding his remarks, said, " I have the honor to asso ciate this toast with the name of the Honor able Thomas Mackenzie, the Agent-General Of New Zealand.'^ Mr Blakenpe, in reply, remarked that, paradoxical as ib might appear, though he was a General Agenb for New Zealand, he was nob the Agenb-General of New Zealand. He hoped he was an "honorable Thonas .Mackenzie," but he was not "bhe Honorable Thomas Mac kenzie." (laughter.)

Mr G. H. Murray, C.B. (shairman of the Board of Inland Revenue), in proposing " Success to the pountry Society," ab bhe annual dinner of that body held re cenbly at the Hotel Mctropole, e»id that during bhe past six months the tax had been collected on 600,000 more barrels of beer than in bhe corresponding period of the previous year. He would not quote the exact number of barrels produoed, but ib

worked oub that during the twelve months beer was ooniumed at the rate of thirty-three gallons per nan, woman and child and baby ia arms. Tito total sum collected amounted to Dearly sterling. Very big cheques were paid bo him by brewers, and though tea was going strong, beer was going considerably stronger.

The New York mayoral ooutesb proved fatal co many who took part in it. No fewer than sis victims hid at the beginning of November succumbed to the strain. The death of Mr George was the tifioat importanb and the most tragic, bub there have been other c^ses. The l&mmauy candidate for coroner was struck down wibh apoplexy while delivering au address. Anobher Tam many nominee for slderman died from an abtack of apoplexy. A supporter of the I Republican candidate was seized with heart failure white acbfng aa chairman, and died befpre medical aid -could be Summoned; whtts a Democratic chairman was atbacked wibh pneumonia wl)ile p«"P*iding »b a meet ing, and died the nexb day. Finally, the brobher nt »n. of the oaudidabes was kill©. by a locomotive ' wfcik distribttbing elecbion literature.

A well-known Masterton resident, who has a large poultry farm, was fortunate enough onjSunday last bo discover three dead weasels, nearly full grown ones, lying a few yards from his fowlhouse. How bhey gob bhere ib is not known, bub it is lucky for tbe gentleman thab bhey did nob reach their' probable destination alive, or else they would I undoubtedly have played havoc with bis! birds. There may be other weasels m the j town, so thab residents who have poultry! should be watchful. It is nob everyone who can accept the reverses often met with in life with equa nimity, The other day an unfortunate man, who had 300 acres of crop in the Oamaru district which the drought had rendered almost valueless, took his misfor tunes so seriously to heart that bhey affected his mind, and he had to be taken in custody by the police. When brought to town he had developed a most violent condition of mind, and had to be pub in a straight , jacket previous to being sent to Seaaliff, | We are pleased to learn that the crops throughout bhe Waimate district will be fair bo average. The reports thab have been circulated respecting the crops have not been altogether correct, and our information is gathered from a gentleman who travelled all over the district a few days ago. The crops there have not suffered so much from drought as from tbe high winds. In some places bhere are poor crops, bub in others bhe yields, from all appearances, will be almosb as heavy as could reasonably be wished, A sad accident is reported from Horsham, Victoria. Agnes Stewart, 18 years of age, had washed her hair with kerosene oil, and was dressing it, when her young brother, with a lighted candle came up and spoke to her. He held the candle too near to his sister's head, and the hair caught fire. The girl's cries brought help, but before the blaze could be extinguished her head and face undherhvid* (which she pat to her head) had been terribly burned. The father, | who attempted to put out the flames, had his hands badly injured, In the course of a conversation ab Dunedin Viscount Hampden said he believed if better accommodation were provided and reason able charges made thousands of tourists would be tempted to visit the thermal springs dis trict of the North Island. The innkeepers complained thab with ths present charges i hey could not make ends meet. Failing the licensing of houses in the King Country he thinks it would be desirable, to encourage the tourist traffic, that Government should either subsidise innkeepers or else themselves " run « apoommodaupn houses. If it required an annual outlay of £10,0000 to insure a family against any serious conse quences from an attack of bowel complaint during the year there are many who would feel it their d«ty to pay ib j thab they could nob afford bo risk their lives, aud those of their family for such an amount. Any one oan geb this insurance for 25 cents, that be ing the price of a bottle of Chamberlain's Colic, Cholert and Diarrhoea Remedy. In almost every nefghborhood some one has died from an attack of bowel complaint be fore medicine could be procured or a physician summoned. One or two doses of this remedy will cure any ordinary case. It never fail*. Can you afford to take the risk torso small ' an amount". For sale by Ashburton Drug Oompany.

As bhe longest day approaches the last I glow of sunseb cannot din p pear, bub creeps I round by the south to become the fesi glow j of dayhghb. Just now (s.ys Jimam HeralQ che.sums.shim gat midnight more than 1500 miles away from here. |

SPORTING.

TINWALD RACING CLUB.

The annual race meeting of the Tinwald Racing Club takes place to-morrow, New Year's Day, on the course ab the Tin wald Domain. Considerable interest is centred in this fixture, ib being the only mesbing of any importance held in the Canterbury district'on'that day, and is the general rendezvous of the majority of sports men on New Year's Day. The meeting will be quite up to the standard of former years, and promise! to provide a capital day's sport. The ooprse is in good order, haying lately been top dressed, and the saddling paddock fence has been extended to the burn where the aooidenb happened last year, j to guard against a similar mishap, The Ashburton Brass Band has been engaged to play during the day. Mrs Primmer will b* I m c'aarge ot the retreshmenb booth, and Mr Lagan, of bhe Tinwald Hotel, has the publican's booth. The acceptance list has filled out well; some good pecformerscrying content with the handicaps allotted to them The trot this year will be an interesting event, no less bhan twenty-three having paid up, including the Timaru oraok, Spider, whose trotting is so highly spoken of. Visitors from a distance will find every con -1 venience in the railway arrangements. The Club's officials are working hard to ensure bhe success of the meeting, and the energetic Secretary, Mr Alf. Fooks, has left no stone Unturned to make the meeting of 1898 a reoord one from a financial point. The Club notify that no betting Will be allowed on the course except through the tobaliiator. Our contributor selects the following to win their I respective engagements.-— I

New Year's Gist.—Alcestis 1, Lord Stansbury 2. ! Pony RAfIK.-_-Dotl, §. Tinwalq Cuf,—Belligerent 1, Range finder Z- Trot-—Arahura 1. Minnie % Wkhsb Handicap.—Tale of the War 1, Lord Stansbury 2. Flying Handicap.—-Paladin 1, Con spirator 2. Novel Race.— Rosehill 1.

The sporbiog editcr*-"of-the Q/a^e Witness writes as follows of the forthcoming Tinwald Race Meeting!— There seems every pro. bability that the Club's gathering will be successful, as, indeed, I hope ib may, as if there is a club in Canterbury that deserves support, that one is Tinwald. Unfortunately the meeting dashes wibh the second day of bhe CantprbVy Gluht 5 - j

INQUEST.

H M . Stewftrd MtiDg coronßr( hdd nqueit i tthe H osp„b*l yesterday after no on, on the body of/ohn Eaglesham, which w .r foWd V the Domain Babh on

Wednesday. Mr H. J. Tasker wm foreman j of the jury. James Cochrane, fanner, Wakanui, Mid the deceased wm his brother-in-law. Deceased wa» thirty-nine years of age, and had been in failing health for some time. He wm a single man, and had been boarding at Wheelers boarding-house. Last saw deceased about a fortnight ago. He then seemed to be quite rational, improving m health, and in fair spirits. Had never at any time heard him express » wish to be eu» of the world. Sarah Wheeler, boarding house keeper, Ashbuttoa, said deceased had boarded at her house since September 10. He left the house between ton and eleven on Wednesday morning, going away in Williama's express. He said he wat going for a little fresh air. Believed he was suffering from consumption, and had every appearance of it. He wnsV very weak towards the last, bat in fairly good spirits. He had all his meals in the bouse, and never took to his bed, but witness expected every day that he would ha veto do so. He worked tor a few days fora relation, but oame back worse than ever, and was spitting blood very fast. He never Mid anything about being tired of life, or any thing ofthe kind, and witness never had any reason to fear tbat be would commit suioide. He called in Dr. Hunter some time ago, and witness afterwards suggested that he should see the doctor again, but deoeased Mid no doctor oould do him any quod. He had not been able to pay bis board for the past two months. He said a half sovereign had been stolen from him a short time ago, but he had ■till a few shillings left. He wm very weak and oould not walk much. Alfred Bray Mid he had been lodging witl deoeased at Wheeler's, He had been ailin) and in low spirit! ever sines he oame to th< house, but had never said anything t< witness that was likely to raise a susploioi that he was tired of life. He usually sat bj himself in the back sitting room, and 01 Wednesday, some time before eleven, h asked witness to play the piano for him which witness did. He then asked wttnee to get a carrier for him so that he oould b driven round the Domain for half an hour

Witness set out on this errand, but it occurred to him that he oould take Eagle sham a drive himself in the afternoon, aad returned to suggest this. Eaglesham replied, "No, I want to go now." Witness then went and engaged Thomas Williams bo drive him for half an hour. Deceased got into the express, and witness said, " Don't you think I had better come with you? You don't seem able to sit there by yourself." He replied, " No, I'll go by myself." Williams drove away and that was the last witness saw of deceased alive. Deceased was always. on good terms with everybody, as far as! witness knew, and was treated kindly by j Mrs Wheeler and everybody in the house. _J Thomas Williams, expressman, said jfl picked up deceased as stated by pre vie witness, and drove him to the DomaM entering by the West Street gate. DraH him as far as the sports grounds, and whlH the pavilion was reached deceased m! " that will do," and got down. He paid th 1 fare, and witness drove away and left hiirj bhere. On the way to ths Domain daoeacd seemed very quiet and disinclined for or-- versation. Witness assisted him off th j express, as he was very weak. Did nd notice whioh way he went. Sergeant Barlow's evidence was to ths effect thab hearing that a man had been drowned in the Domain, and bhat his hat had been found oq the seat, he sent Con* stable Moors to the police station for the drag, and together they went to the baths. The body was brought out at the third oast of ths drag, and taken to ths hospital morgue. There ware no marks of any violence on the body, nor any sign of a struggle near the baths. From the time of receiving tbe information to getting ths body out less than three-quarters of mm hour elapsed. Judged the body had beso iv the water two or three hours. The Coroner pub the prominent features of the evidence before the jury, remarking that only One sye had seen deceased at ths baths, and bhe full circumstance* of th* death would probably never bs known on earth. The man was very weakly; he had thought a walk in the Domain would bs enjoyable, but preferred to go by himself. There was nothing suspicions in that, tbs more especially as not a soul had ever heard the man express a ward that could bs con strued into a desire to die. He might have sat down on the seat and laid hia hat beside him, and afterwards in ths extrema hast of a sultry day, gone to the edge of tbs plat form to baths his temples, and in his weak ness fallen in. There was eTeryshißg ia the case to uphold this theory, bsfe at. 41m same time he might hare been seised with a sudden suicidal impulse. There wasaotluaff in the case, be thoaght, to warrant a verdict of suicide, or any other verdict than aa eeea one. '*" The jury ntuxasd a verdict ef foaad drowsed.

CORRESPONDENCE.

*—*r It int Mil innraiT-ii nr_i|i__i>_fli', lm uu of-A-Mi expnamd bj- - _«_> fene_coa__M_aj

ROAD MAKING.

TO THJ. K&ISOft.

Sib,—ln a former letter, X wrote qa tUs subject, 1 did not makemySeli vecjdeeiw I meant to convey the impreaeioa thai shingle or gravel should Hot be used on tMb roads, but the large stones which are eew thrown away: The plain* have a very depressing effect. What with the unsightly shingle pits all ever them, bhey will .ease a lob of work in the future when laud becomef scares and valuable, by fillifeg tltewi in and foiduUg gardens, etc. Bat whe_- Kdison's latest marvel, the electrical took* crusher is in vogue, and the new modes ot haulage on the roads, and perhaps aerial propulsion, then millions of tons of boulders could be distributed anywhere they w«_f required. Messrs Morrow aUd Batkniyal could keep tie county going for a good* many years, With metal from the innumerable heaps on their land. Hoping to see smoother and bebter roads.—l am, etc., ' ItpAfl M$EAf. P.S.—I was forgetting a word of praise to the Mounb Sopners Hoard for then; iplendiq attempt at Springbqrn, All they want now is some more square metal broken for the Sawmill road to the station.

COMMERCIAL.

LONDON MARKETS,

Iress Asscoiabicn—By iUleotrio Telegraph-, i '■ "Copyright,! '

Melbourne, December 30

The Australasian estimates the Victorian wheat harvest ab 4.70 bushels to the acre, giving a grow yield of 7,347,000 bushels, aud a surplus of 337,000 bushels. Wheat, new, 4s 5d to 4s 6d ; old, 5s 5d to 5? 6d. Oats, Algerian, Is 4d to Is 6d. Mefte, 2* lOd. Potatoes, £4 5s to £410s. Onions, £3 ss.

Aqel/Udr, December 30 Flour, £Is. Oats, -duo, Is 9d; white, 2s 4d to 2s v9d. Bran, Is 3d; Pollard, is 4d.

' Sydney, December 30. The official estimate of the wheat yield ia 9,745,000 bushels, averaging 10i bushels to the acre; The quantity required for cop sumption is 1,55,00Q, for feed l,500;00g bushels, leaving a email surplus. <)

TEtE ASttBOBTON GDARDIAN : FRIDAY, DECEMBER SI, U»i.



JANUARY.

D H M

Full moon  ... 8 11 54 am Last quarter ... ... 16 315 am New moon ... ,„, 27 655 pm First quarter ... ,',., 3t) 2 $ »m



Business Notices, SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. SECOND SHIPMENT OP NEW GOODS JIUST OiPENED. .ANDREW ORR iS NOW SHOWING the Finest Collection of Up-to-date Novel ties^ in MILLINERY, French and English. Lovely selection of Straw Hats and Sailors' j Dress Fabrics j a Most Beautiful Collection in Pink Robes and All classes of Plain and Fancy Goods j MANTLES and OAPE3, the latest styles from London; Ribbons, Laces, Face Nets, Gloves, Hosiery, Sunshades, Prints, Blouses, Bells, eto. THE NEW CYCLE CORSET, Tuit Imported, in all bizes, (specially made.) GENTS' SUITS TO MEASURE from £2 15s- A Large Assortment of Gentlemen's Ties and Scarfs Just Opened. Men's Hats in all the new shapes. Ladies' and Gentlemen's Boots and Shoes in every Style and make CARPETS, FLOORCLOTHS, &c, &o. •___________________» ANDREW ORR



HOUSE PAINTING & PAPERHANGING. I HAVE jusb to hand a shipment of GENUINE WHITE LEAD|& PURE |LINSEED OIL for the present season's Painting and Decorating. Persons desirous of having their homes well painted with GENUINE MATERIALS & GOOD TRADESMEN are requested to call upon us. OIL CLOTH FOR DADO.S IN STOCK. TO ARTISTS. , HAVE a Splendid lob of.Opal Glass in stock, specially prepared for Artists' use, which «an be cut to any size required at a moderate charge. J. WILSON, CORNER 01? ARCADE & BURNETT STREET^ Telephone 65.] VA) Box L° \EWFKUIT ! NEWFBUITJ.r Cleaned by Patent Machinery. /TAVING PROCURED one of the" TZtEST PATENT FRUIT CLEANING JO. MACHINES, the Public will find it to their advantage to purchase their CHRISTMAS FRUITS from us, as they will be washed, cmaned, and dried, ready for use, Finesb Currants 5d per lb Muscatelles 8d perjlb Finest Eleme Raisins 6d to 7d per lb Dried Apricots, Pears and Finesb Sulbanas 7d per lb Peaches lOd per Ib Mixed Peel, O/ange, Lemon and Pressed Hops Is 3d per lb Citron ... •_ 8d per lb Jelly Powders (assorted) ... 6a per pkb Barcelona Nuts ►- ... 8d per lb Herrings in Tomato Sauce lOd per tin Almond Nuts lOd per lb Fresh Herrings ... ... 6|d per tin Mixed Spice ... ... ... lid per pkb Kippered Herrings lOd per bin Rollitt'a " Supreme " Flour 2001bs 24s English Potted Meats ... 3d per tin lOOlbs 12s 6d Lemon Squash Is per bottle " " „ 501bA 6s 4£d Finesb Oatmeal 2.9 d per bag Smoked Haddocks lOdperbin Kerosene, 150 besb 6a 6d per bag Whibe Starch ... ... 4d per box Finest Cream Torber ... Is 6d per lb Finesb New Figs ... .... 8d per lb Carbonate Soda .... ... 2d per lb JAM JARS. JAM JARS. Sib STONE JARS, 3s 6d per dozen. lib GLASS JARS 2s 3d per dozen. .tar Orders by Post promptly abtended bo. Goods delivered daily. Customers waibed upon for Orders. SATISFACTION~Ts~ OUR MOTTO SHEARMAN BROS. GROCERS, IRONMONGERS, & GENERAL IMPORTERS MARKET HOUSE, ASHBURTON. Telephone No. 53.



REDUCED RATES FOR CHRISTMAS S» bA. JL 111 i\- fee, THE LEADING JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT IN THE DISTRICT .Largest Stock Lowest Prices ° " FOR CHRISTMAS_ PRESENTS. fcooches from 1. 6d upwards. Ladies' and Gentlemen's ColdLinksi at 8^ 6d, 10s and ■inwards Ladies' and Gent emen's Silver Links at 2a 6d, 4s and asoa. i-encu vases (a ZTstock to select from) at 2s 6d, ss, 7s 6d, 10s. Ladies' Rings (the largest and finest i3_ZrieeJin Ashburton, equal to any ia Christchurch) from one guinea to ten V Z^ TZl^n'. Tie Pins, neat and tasteful designs in gold ab 5., 7s 6d, &"S, aWuioe selection of small and suitable arbioles ab^s 6d, 5., an* 7s 6d. »I»JESCJIA__U ATTJb-NTION JS CALLED TO THE STOCK OF Bold Brooches and Ladies' Rings. These two lines are Heavily Stocked, and are of the Newest and Cfaotesb Designs. INSPECTION INVITED jrow. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS S. SALEK'S JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT, EAST STREET. STOCK AND PRICES UNEQUALLED IN THE DISTRICT,



John Orr & Co. | John Orr & 00. _______ rriHE SUCCESS ATTENDING our Cheap Cash Sale Induces us bo adopb for bhe future this system of doing business. And as we purchase for Cash from the best makers in England and America, the General Public will therefore have the advantage of Selecting GOODS OF STERLING QUALITY at prices hitherto unheard of, CONSISTING Of IRONMONGERY, GROCERIES, CROCKERY, GLASSWARE, etc., BEST SNOWDROP SUGAR ... Jd lb TEA, BLENDED ... 101b Boxes Is lb TEA, IN HALF CHESTS, lOd lb, (strong liquor) Colonial Candles ... 4d lb per box English Parafine Candles... 6£d lb per box Kerosene, 150 test ... 6d 6d per tin " f| „ 12s 9d per caße Cornflour 3d per lb Essence of Lemon 4d Worcester Sauce, Pints ... 9d bottle Essence of Coffee , 10£ d Sago ! idJ erlb .u Tobacco, Nubian squares.-- 4s od per lb Bran 3a 6d per bag Sharps 5s per bag Oatmeal, 261b Bags ... 2s 9d bag Rollitt's Flour, 200lbs ... 24s „ „ lOOlbs ... 12s 6d „ „ 501bs .. 6s4id Currants 4id & 5d Eleme Raisins  ... 7d Valencia Raisins ... ._. 7d Sultana Raisins 7d Sicily Almonds Is 2d Figs „ ... 8d Muscatels , _- 8d Jordan Almonds .., , ... 2a 3d Mixed Peel 8d 2£lb Tins Preserved Fruit lOd Lemon Squash, English ... Is 3d Lemon Juice, English ... Is 3d Sardines ... ... 4£d per tin Fresh Herrings ... ... 6id per tin Herrings & Tomato Sauce lOd per tin Pressed Hops, per lb .. Is 4d Fruit Sal t 2s per bottle Ground Ginger Is 4d per ib Anchovy Paste 8d per tin Citrate of Magnesia ... Is per bottle gbeeps Tongues, besb ... loi per tin



PubLc, Notices. f Special Discount j FOR CHRISTMAS SEASONS ! Of Is in the Pound. * I From this day till the end of j December. TTTEj are now offering some very SPECIAL LINES IN DRESS GOODS. ' Exceptionally low prices quoted for completed costumes. : HEE WINDOWtS. Tweed Costumes complete from .... 20s A Grand Line of Boys Colonial Tweed Knicker Suits, sizes 1 to 13, these we start from <4_B lid per Suit. WORTH DOUBLE. SPECIAL VALUE IN MEN'S TWEED SUITS. A really good suit for ... @9i ©d / We are offering some (wonderfully Cheap lines in all Departments. Ashburton Drapery Company. Iff fflMI



CROCKERY &|GLASSWARE Dinner Sets Toileb Sets Tea and Breakfast Sets j Vases and Ornaments Tumblers and Wine Glasses Decanbers and Water Bobbles Glass Dishes ! Jelly and Bubter Dishes GRAND VARIETY AND LOW PRICES IN ABOVE LINES. FOR THE FRUIT SEASON. Mason's Screw-top Poroelain Linedf Jars. Pints 4s 9J, Quarts 5s 9d, £ Gallon 7s doz. Kenrick's Besb Enamelled Masiin Kebtles. 8 Quart 6s, 10 quart 7s 6d, 12 quart 8a 6d. Brass Masiin Kettles, Drop Handles. 2^Gallon 7s, 2§ gallon J.la ,§3, 3 gallon 13s 6d Steel Enamel Preserving Pans, 2s 6d, 3s, 3a 6d, 4s. FOR THE HARVEST FIELD. WE H^VE A SPLENDID STOCK Re-per Section Reaper Chains Hay Forks Hay Rakes Oils, in i,'__ <fe 4 gallons BINDER TWINE. DO^TAGHY'S BEST. Flax, Mixed, & Manilla, Job* 6tT*= Co.



CLOTHING FACTOEY. « A. G, BARTON, MANAGER



Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S OHURO- Ashburton. FRIDAY — (New Year's Eve), Watc! nighb service, commencing ab 11.30 p.m with celebration of Holy Communion. SUNDAY SERVICES. 11 a m—Morning Prayer and Holy Co! muni on 3 p.rn.-GREENSTREET, Rev. T. A Hamilton. 3 p.m.—DROMQRE, Mr Gates. 6.3o—Evening Prayer. REV T. A. HAMILTON, _ ■ -_-i' I—— __■_ 00 noNteoersuadeFTo buy any of/fye/m/fa/ions* \ ♦> /f?s/s/- on fiav/ng m \ \~ (Awarded' GoMa/ic?sf/tffrMecfofe) I CirWirO/fBIMDiDTMS Ifieyarepureanc/w/io/esome & M6sstmoneyan<f s experience, can itn. ~HO L ID AY. f\ls SATURDAY, (New Years' Day) ths GuAßDi^r will not be published. !



_f —'apbis Of N»W ADVKBTIBBMBI»T8. »Xj>v- ... . . „ , Service at Allenton school, 0uu...., Churoh Notices—Sb Sbephen's, Primitive Jfefchodisb, The Tabernacle. Railway Deparbmenb -? Train arrange pstnta for Sfew ¥«w« P»^



±vOZIJhJ TEA £?^P p«__w^prWw*



JpaT iK Time job Chbistmas.—ln order to keep " up-to-date" with our steadily increasing business we have decided to efiecb considerable alterations to our premises and to make room for the builders we have resolved to greatly reduce our etopjc befqrp Chrjstr^as. We baye thetefaitvj chlled a'large ftuautity of -«ur Tweed* aj»df Worsteds, etcj, vtn cigar at the following reductions;— Men's salts to measure, usual price 90s. now 70s j Men's trousers, usual price 255, now 15s 6d; etc We have alio pleasure in notifying that we have just been appointed agents for the famous -"British Lion' and " Waverley" Bioyeles <botfc gents' and __rM whjph «• ar*_aow seilin* with tilth* ''up'to.d^te ''iimprovemeatisiai the lowest; cash prices, or on the most liberal tarffi9 *<> euiu the convenience of .oar customsrt. (Every machine guaranteed).-, Craxghkad Aim Bwlbyman, the leading