THE ALLEGED OPAL THEFT.

the following evidence waß taken after we • Went to press yesterday : - .lingo FriedLinder, merchant one of the doctors of the Record Reign Opal Mining Company, said thab on December 14 bhe Dyt-O-ors held a meeting, at which Lyons w«Li present. He said he could not explain th. disappearance of the stone. Witness then asked him if he was quite certain that the bag which he and Bryan carried down to the waggon contained the pipe opal whioh some of the Directors and other gentlemen who were with him, inoluding the Inspector of Mines, had seen blasted from the mine, was m the bag. He said he was, and that Bryan carried the bag containing the opal a short distanoe, and he then took it from Bryan and oarried it all bhe way to the! waggon, into whioh he put it. iUk-d hirri th.n if he had seen any strangers about m the vioinity, and he said he had not. -He alail) said he would have seen if anyone had been there. On Wednesda\ Lyons came to his office on private business, and when that had been transacted the subject of the opal stone wm again discussed. Witness said it would be a good thiag for bhe Company if tbe stone were found, and Lyons said he knew where it was, and after some further talk said he wonld bring it at nine o'olook. DuriDg bhe afternoon he oame and said he required £30 to enable him to get the mining atone ; tbat -terras offered £30 for thirty shares, bub as he-considered tbem worth £60 he would nob cell them. Persuaded him to aell £45 worth, and witness sold them for him and gave him the cheque. In the evening, towards nine o'clock, he oame baok and told witness that the missing stone vas not m Ashburton, but if- Witness would come with him to the Rangitata he would take witness to the place wfigire witness wonld " fall over the missing stone." Told him ib was nonsense to oome with suoh a story as that then, when m the morning he had said the missing stone was m. Ashburton. He lefb, but some time after wards returned, and said he required some more money — some £16 — and produced some more shares and wanted witness to buy them. Witness refused to buy, but offered for his firm to advance the money provided the missing stone were produced. He said ""all right," and m answer to a question •aid a man outside had the stone. He lefb, bat came back again and said he oould do . nothing. He then reminded witness thab he •nd two other direotors bad offered £5 each as a reward to anyone who should bring m the stone, and asked if bhe money would be Siven. Witness replied that the three irectors had not made any such offer. Lyons offered to bring the stone if he were paid £15. Witness deolined to pay, and Lyons lefb. Bj* Mr Raymond — Did nob know how many shares m the company had been •Hotted, or how many Lyons owned, but he was a large shareholder. If the report of iht l Inspeotor had been favorable on thab .tone, the value of the shares wou'd have very largely inoreased. Lyons was sus pended m consequence of what had happened m connection with this stone. Lyons had a large interest m the mine, and was not supposed to receive any salary. At one of his earlier interviews with witness, Lyons said he had a suspicion as to who had the stone, bat afterwards he repeatedly said he knew where the stone was and would b ing it,— -Agreed to bring it, but did not because witness refused to give him £15. Believed Lyons was blackmailing him. On December 14 accused said the stone might be worth £5 or even £10. B, F. Nicholl, one of the party who went to the mine on December 12, corroborated the evidence already given as to the finding of the atone, the inoidents of the journey, andt: the discovery of bhe false stone at the ' Rangitata Hotel. The value of tbe stone intrinsically he could not assess, bnt i ita value to the Company might have been -hcti-andt of pounds, seeing that it had been i placed before the Inspector of Mines m an nnqyießtionable manner, and would have gone before the Minister of Mines, and so the opal field would have been established. Ib was inexplicable to witness why Lyons, a large shareholder, should have taken bhe , •tone, for which one of the party offered 50s on bhe spot. Had no notion as to the change />f stone had been effected. J; R. Hart, another of the party, also corroborated. Heard Mr Norton give ■ accused instructions to give the stone to Mr , Wilson, and witness and Mr Norton also gave strict instructions not to allow the •tone thab remained m the face to be cut. Mrsanpdersand witness went down the hill before the rest of the party, and Mr Saunders had a bath m the creek; about •eventy yards from the trap, but m full view of it. Witness was changing his clothes and hid just finished when he saw Lyons come out of a gully at bhe bottom of bhe hii'. The gully was not m view of witness, but he could see the direotion whence he came when heswae on the flat. Ho was then apparently walking ever to tbe trap. Shortly after Bryan came down from the other side, a quarter of a mile from the trap. When Saunders had finished bathing he went after the horses, and witness went to the trap and oommenoed to mend the break. There. was no bag m the trap then. The only stranger on the ground was a young fellow who rode past without stopping. Finding thab he could not nail the old boot sole on the brake he -left the trap and went to Mr Saunders. Witness' baok was to the trap then, and he went about eighty or ninety yards. Saunders had got one horse, and he went baok to the trap ior Mr Saunders to get the whip and round ap the other horses, aad he himself harnessed the horse that had been scoured. All this time Lyons had nob come to the trap. Again went with his back to the trap to meet Mr Saunders, and got another horse, whioh he proceeded to harness, and then Lyons and Saunders came up with bhe two other horses and proceeded to harness them. This was the fir.t he saw of Lyons after seeing him oome up from the gully, and from twenty minutes to half an hour would have elapsed. Lyons then . away with a •adclle to Mr Wilson, Saunders and Bryan remained to mend bhe brake, and witness went to the creek to have a " snaok " with the others. If anybody had interfered with the stone m the trap, if it were .here, they must have been seen. First saw the parcel ia. the trap when they were starting for home. The parcel was blocking the brake, •ud witness lifted ib further into the trep. i Toe weight struck witness then, and he remarked about it. Was with the trap all this time to Rangitata, and nobody changed the stone on the way. From bhe time of arriving at Rangitata Hotel, which they did m bright starlight, to the opening of the bag I and the discovery of the fraud was less than fife minutes. By Mr Cutbbertson — Could not siy what Lyons was oarrying when he saw him oome from the gully, ot if he was carrying any thing. Would not attempt to assess the in* trioeio value of tbe stone, but ib was very valuable as a find for the Company. .By Mr Purnell— -Lyons had said he had a claim of his own up there, and ib would have been better for him to have found bhe stone on his own ground. Most of Lyons' shares m the Record Reign Company were mort gaged and many sold altogether. Could not _Ay th.b when Lyon's oame to Ashburton he was a penniless than ' W. H. Norton', one of the directors of the ..Company, and another of the party, also gave evidence mainly corroborative of thab given by previous witnesses. It was he who mad/5 the sporting offer of 50. for the stone, and he who cairied the false stone from the trap to the hotel. The stone was m three bags, and the outside sack was turned over at the mouth and pinned with hails. On missing the true stone, wrote a note to Lyons asking him to return the true stone immediately, and remarking on the foolish ness of such a practical joke. Fancying he might take no notice of this, a note of a more firm and praotioal character was sept to him. . — . Isaac Blissett, blaoksmilh, Rangitata, pa* sent by Mr Bryan with two notes bo Mi Lyons. This was between one and two or the morning of December 13. Found Lyoni ab Stew Point hut, about a mile and a hall from the mine, between five o'clock and seven. Lyons was m bed whep he gave hirr the notes. Henry Zander, chairman of the Reoorc Reign Company, put m. the certificate o incorporation. On Wednesday, Decern tei 15, Lyons was m his ofllce, and witneei handed him .notice of dismissal Wibneßi said to Lyons tnat he either had the opal oi knew where it was, and ib would be bebtei for all concerned to bring the stone back, and he would hear no more about jt Reminded him that on a previous oocasio* Whad ipjay^d bim a pimilar „briok, and h< -tm wj ling to look upon the matter m. «

joke. At first he said he had not the stone, and complained of the harsh treatment) he was receiving m dismissal. Witness said it was quite m his own power to set things right. Lyons replied *" If I did bring you the stone back I suppose you would give me m oharge." Witness said he would not do that, and that Lyons' conduct waß damaging the Company. Going oub Lyons said some thing, bub witness did not know what it wbb. Mr Purnell was proceeding to elicit the nature of the ''similar triok" referred to, but Mr Raymond objected, and His Worship sustained the objection. Witness— The opal lefb m bhe mine had nob been accounted for bo bhe Directors. Thab morning before ihe Court sab Lyons had asked him to gee the case ad journed, and he would fix matters up. After consultation with Mr Purnell the c^se had proceeded. ■ Lyons took the initiative that morning — not witness. By Mr Raymond — Was quite sincere m bis offer bo Lyons to say no mdre abont the stone if it were returned. Lyons discovered the field, bub witness had not heard that a reward would be given to the discoverer by Governmenb. Lyons had been working for the Company since 1896, bub since Oobober he had reoeived no wages. This was his own arrangement ; but he would have been paid by the Company. 'On December 12 believed Lyons was on the books for from fifty to seventy £1 shares. Did nob know how muoh of that was mortgaged. Lyons had never put any money into the Company. Witness had taken over fc everal shares from Lyons, and those shares did not now appear on the register m Lyons' name. Constable Eade gave evidence as to the arrest of aaoused on warrant at 3 a.m. on Deoember 24, at Stew Point hut This was the case for the prosecution, and accused reserved hiß defence on being com mitted for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Timaru on February 8, bail being allowed m one suiety of £100 or two sureties of £50 eaoh.

COMMERCIAL

■■ » Invbkcargill, January 6. The first of the season's wool sales was held to-day and proved very satiefaotpry. Over 9000 bales were offered, and the with drawals were few. Competition was ani mated for the besb lots, and all round tbe results were better than growers had been led to expeot by the somewhat dispiriting reports to band from northern sale?. Values were — Merinos about £d to j"d better than last season ; finest halfbreds and crossbreds about par ; well grown, sound crossbreds Jd to _d less than last year, and inferior dingy about j"d to ld down ; pieces, bellies and locks about £d to |d less ; finest half breds touched B_d and down to 7_d ; good sound, brighb orossbredß ranged from 7d to 7|d ; heavy and dark wool from s_d to 6_d ; pieces and bellies 3£d to sd.

THE CONVALESCENT WARD.

*> At a meebing of the Hospital Committee bo-day Mr Herring, of Alford Estate, wrote, asking for a refund of the subscriptions paid to the Jubilee Memorial Fund by him and the employees on the Alford Estate, oo the ground bhab the subscriptions had beeu paid towards the erection of a Convalescent Ward, and that what was now about to be erected at the Hospital aa a convalescent ward was nothing of the kind, bub simply, an alteration and addition to the existing hospital, and unsuitable for bhe purposes of a convalescent ward. Mr Stitt, Baid he was Borry Mr Herring had written such a letter to the Committee, who had nothing to do with either the selection of a site or the nature of the build ing to be erected. The Board, comprising bhe united bodie. having oharge of the fund had made the selection and adopted the plans, and all bhe Committee had io do was to carry out the work entrusted to them by bhe main body. He was astonished at what had been said by the pipers on the subject of the convalescent ward. No reporters had been present at any of bhe meetings, so that ; the wrougly stated circumstances mutt have : been supplied to the papers. It would be well for these prints to make sure of what ' they were saying before giving publicity bo i statements that were nob warranted by fact. Mr Bird Baid Mr Herring had called upon him, and had seen the plana pf the ward. Oa examination he found that one paper had said one room was only 14 x 12, whereas the ' fact was that the room was double that size. Mr Herring appeared to think that the ward should be a separate building altogether. Mr Paul said that what had been stated by one paper was by np means correct. The room most found faulb with had plenty of tight, and would receive plenty of sun. He would be sorry to accept money from anyone wbo thought ib was not being applied m the way intended, bub m this instance bhe spirit of bhe proposal was certainly being oarried ont. The Seoretary read the minutes of the meeting of the general body showing what had been decided upon, and that the Com pommibbee of management (the Hospital Committee) had been instructed to give effect to the decision of the general meeting Mr Williamson asked where then was bheir responsibiliby ? The Committee of Manage ment were only carrying oub whab they had been ordered to carry out. Ib was no use bothering about whab was said m these papers. They wrote at random and without knowledge, aud it was quite a common thing to find wrong sbabemenbs made. He thought) it was useless taking futther notice of Mr Herring's letter. Mr Stitt said Mr Herring was present ab bhe general meeting and should have raised any objection he hsd then. Mr Williamson said they had got no money from Mr Herring, bub from bhe General Committee, and they should refer Mr Herring to the jubilee Committee. He moved that bhe Hospital Committee had no po&rer to enter upon the subject or to refund bhe money. This was carried, and later on the Com mittee accepted Mr H.sk.n',B tender for the erection of the ward-

COUNTY COUNCIL.

, . The usual month'y meeting of the Ash burton County Couucil was held bo-day. Present— Mr 15. G Wright, M.H.R., and Messrß C. J. Harper, E. Herring, S. S. Chapman, M. Stitt, E. Richards, James ] Johnston, D. Williamson. j THANKS, J Mr Wright, on taking the chair, said thab he was m Parliament when they did him tbe hoaor to re-elect him chairman, and he had not bad an opporbuniby since bo reburn thanks for the honor, but he took this, the first opportunity thab presented, of doing so. It was matter of great regret thab the district was suffering so severely from drought, and he thought it was the duty of the Counoil to pass a resolution regarding this, expressive of sympathy with the farmers suffering. He wou'd tuke an opportunity to move m this direction later on. HON W C WALKER The Hon. W. C. Walker, who was for many years chairman of the Council, and now a Minister of the Crown, wrote forward ing a handsome oak framed photograph of himself for the mantelpiece of bhe Council Chamber, which was acoepbed, and a resolu tion of thanks for the gift was passed. The Chairman said ib would be a good idea to have the photographs of all present and past members of the Counoil on the walls of the ohamber. The Counby Council had done good work m the pasb, which a large area of country bad reaped bhe benefit of, and the County bodies were quite as responsible as Municipal Couuoils. Mr Chapman was of opinion that at least the portraits of such members as Mr John Grigg should have a plaoe m the ohamber. It was deoided to tender Mr Walker the thanks of the Counoil for the handsome photograph sent. THIRDS. The Engineer submitted the following schedule, furnished by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, showing probable amounts to aoorue from thirds ih the various districts : —

The Engineer pointed oub thab m bhe | matter of capitalising these thirds, clause 131 of the Land Act, 1892, would apply. chairman's statement. The Chairman's statement waß read as follows : — Mr James Brown, of Netherby, writes applying for a sufficient supply of water to irrigate about 300 acres m accordance with the Council's resolution ef July 6, 1895. Messrs Alingtou, Mummery, Oxley, and Compton state that are willing to sell dog collars on the terms offered by the Council. A letter from Mr Rule will be read apply ing to be liberated from his lease of one of the plantation reserves near Westerfield. A circular from the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association has been received drawing the Council's attention to the great danger resulting from tbe propigation of barley grass and other noxious weeds on road sides, and asking the Council if it can take steps to check the growth of these we.ds. The notices of the general rate have all been made out and are read} to be issued. Some correspondence has taken place between the manager of Acton Estate respecting the drifting of saud on Reserve 173. Mr Harper will explain what action has been taken m this matter. Mr Lambie notifies that some farmers from the Kyle district propose to wait on the Counoil to-lay to present a petition asking the Council to take over and extend the Acton irrigation channel. Messrs Gill and Wilkinson also notify their intention to wait on the Council as a deputation from the Chertsey district respecting a resolution passed ab a publio meeting re garden irrigation. Mr John Cochrane also applies to irrigate a portion of his farm. engineers' report. The Engineer reported as follows :— Ashburbon-Rakaia Water Supply — A good supply has been kept up m bhe auxil ary channel leading from the North Ashburton River to Methven, and all the races depend ing on it are fully supplied. The Pudding Hill stream is gradually lowering, but is still sufficient for requirements. During this week the Canterbury Mill take is being cleaned out, bub water for the Wakanui raoea has been let on nightly. The creek supply has, however, lately diminished to about one-fourth of its usual volume, and I had bbc Wakanui fl.b races supplied from the Wakanui Mill take, pending the turn ing m of parb of the south branch of the river Unto the north. This will be fully completed to-day. Tbe new sluice gates and obher works having been finished some time ago, all bhab remained bo be done was the temporary dam for turning the stream. DuriDg last month the supply from Rakaia river at Acton has on tbe whole beeu kept up well, any clearances which were necessary from time to time at the inleb paving been speedily effected. With reference to the -accompanying letter from the manager of Acton estate on tbe question of river encroachment above the intake channel, and the chairman's interview with him on bhe subject, it appears that the case will be met by the Coijncil agree'og to provide a good stock of willows for planting and protective purposes at the proper season — say aboub six months hence— and it would be advisable that this be done. I have bo report that the supplies m several instances have been irregular ahd intermittent owing to a system of tampering for irrigation purposes, which is now becoming very prevalenb. Tbe rangers report such as have come under their notice, and the sooner this sorb of interference' ia pub down, bhe better it will be for the general interest. *#ha'fc. ever tampers mignjj be inplin'ed tp think, there is no available surplus from present races to warrant irrigation, even of small areas, and largely increased supplies must be brought ip if irrigation ip any form Ig to \\e of general benefit. For comparatively small areas the utilising of the available surplus water from the South Ashburton river for Wakanui Flat district would, as previously reported, hs one which might he commended for inibiatory purposes. 1 understand this question of irrigation is now about to be revived, and brought before the Council by the settlers themselves, and probab y with some degree of unanimity. Ashburton-Rangitata Water Supply. — All the races fed from the South Ashburton main have a fair supply, except the terminal portion of P race m Lowcliffe district. This latter is apparently the result of tampering. The Hinds Gorge supply is getting very low, and the Limestone Creek main is dry— so thab the shortage there will probably be I felt as much as it was last season. The new race ab Winslow is finished, but there is still some loss through percolation. A schedule of thirds to accrue m this and other districts is hereto annexed,, '■ " ' Mount Somers Water SuppV— The mains are now m fair order, and the supply sufficient, but Alford races are light. " County Bridges.— -All the "re-decking presently required at Pudding Hill bridge has been completed. The' repaW of "ftth'flr bridges last month were of a minor kind. Sand Eiriftj Acton.^As this was threaten ing to sweep over the Council's reserve No 173, ib seemed necessary to make immediate for checking it, '411 ths pre, jiminarieja. haying now been settled. As the accompanying papers will show, ib will now be for the Counoil to sanotion the execubion of the work. PROTECTIVE WORKS Af ACTON. £he recommendation of thp "Engineer was agreed tp, '" ' ' SANP DRIPT. Mr Harper explained what had been done m regard tp the sand drift on reserve l"f_* at Acton, whioh had killed or was threatening a number of the large pines m bhe reserve. Byfthe thoughtless action of a settler who had broken the crust the sand had drifted and covered twelve acres of land knee deep. With Messrs Allan, Lambie, Oxley, and the , Engineer he had inspected the place, and had learned from Mr Allan what was bhe usual way of treating these e|and drifts Bucoeesfully. The sane* could- be .oheoked m this case at a oosb ; of £30, ' and he had authorta-cl the wor|- to be dbm , -

Mr Riohards said that drift had stopped now, and the position had somewhab altered, so that the danger was not so greab as ib had seemed ten days ago. Mr Harper said the work had nob yet been undertaken owing to the holidays, but Mr Oxley had been authorised to carry it out. The Council approved of what had been done by Mr Harper, and adopted the report of the engineer on bhe question. GABDEN IRRIGATION. Messrs Wilkinson and Gi 1, a deputation from the public meeting a f Chertsey, held to consider bhe question of garden irrigabion, waited on the Counoil. Mr Wilkinson, after pointing oub how necessary and how acceptable water for garden irrigation par poses would be m bhe Chertsey distriot, said the settlers were willing to pay for irrig-tion facilities, and stated that a large number of settlers m bhe oountry now surreptitiously used the water for garden purposes. Mr Gill said th >t in the Selwyn distric: farmers obtained water by p'pes at the tate of lOs per inoh of pipe capacity. The Chairman said the Council was always willing bo supply waber m districts where there was plen y, bub there was not plenty m bhe Cherbsey district The Selwyn oounty had a large-supply from the Waimakariri, and it was easy for that county to supply waber as Mr Gill had stated. Bub m this counby it was different. He read bhe report of the engineer regarding tampering, and dwelt on that olause at some length. He then read a list of tamperers m the Chertsey district, reported by bhe ranger, and quoted at length the report referring to Messrs Gill and Wilkinson, both of whom had openly tampered with the races. He drew the deputation's attention to the fine of £20 a day to which they were liable for cutting the raoe., and said they oame to the Counoil with a bad grace. They should have first made application to the Counoil before tampering with the races, and then they would have learned how the supply stood, but they oould nob be permitted bo deprive the lower settlers of their share of bhe water by appropriating ib for their own cabbages. In reply to a question by Mr Wilkinson, the Chairman said the whole available supply of water was now spread 'over the plains, and unless somo larger soheme were adopted and funds provided for it, he oould hold out no hope of immediate i relief. Ib would be necessary to go through | the form of taking a vote of the ratepayers, and the last tme that was done, and done unsuccessfully, ib oost £96. There had been bwo proposals put before the ratepayers, The first scheme would have cose £337,500, bub the second would have cost much lees (£60,000), bub ib was the second that had been vetoed by the ratepayers. That scheme tapped the Rakaia at Livington, and ran across the country to Digby's. This would have cost to the ratepayers 8s an acre first cost, the annual cost oame after that. The area served by the scheme would bave been 150,000 acres, and the amount of irrigation 10 iii ches per acre annually. Every oounty source had now been exhausted, and there only remained the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers to be tapped. Ihese would supply abundance, bub before they could be approached very substantial expenditure would have to be incurred. Mr Harper pointed oub that, under the Act the proposal to borrow for irrigation must come from the settlers themselves, who must take the initiative by approaching the Council. IRRIGATION. Mr John Lambie and Mr R. Mulligan appeared as a deputation from the settlers at j the beach (Kyle district) and presented a pebibion from the settlers there praying for an irrigation supply from the Acton scheme. In reply to the Chairman Mr Lambie said the setblers were quite prepared to pay any reasonable charge for the supply they were asking for, provided the supply weif both abuudaub and regular. What bhey were getting now was be! h small and intermit tent. They had expected last year, after the big fire, to get a better supp;y, but it had not come. The Chairman said the ranger's reports to hand had proved only too well that the intermittent supply was caused by the settlers m the Chertsey district tampering with the water and using ib for irrigation purposes to the loss of the settlers below. ' Mr Lambie said if the settlers were allowed to do the work themselves they would have the water dowu to Kyle m a ' week from the Acton head works. ' After consulting the deed of agreement ' with the Acton estate the Council dismis-ed the deputation with the assurance that the matter would be considered. After the deputation left, the Council considered the question of taking over the Acton irrigation works, bub as bhere was a good deal bo be done m the way of prelimin ary steps, it waß decided to hold a special meeting on Friday, January 21, to deal wibh the matter. [Left sitting].

To the Deaf and those troubled with Noises m the Head or other Aural Troubles' Dr Nicholson, of London, bhe world fapied aural specialist and Invenbor of artificial ear drums, has jusb issued the 100 th edition of his illustrated and descriptive hook on Deaf ness and Aural Troubles. Thia book may be bad from Mr F. Shaw, 160, Adelaide Poad, Wellington, N.Z., on receipt of - stamps. _4r Campbell, of the same address, _ was greatly relieved of his deafness by Dr. Nicholson's system, and takes pleasure m * spreading the news of the great specialist m New Zealand. A libtlebook on the cure of Rheumatism, Corpulence, Lumbago, and Indigestion by the same author, may be had from tyl Shaw on reoeipb of stamps. '

THE ASfiBORTOU GtARDIAtf . FRIDAY, JAftCARY 7, 1898.



ROAD DISTRICT. £ 8 d Rangitata 3755 3 5 Coldstream ... , ... 535 1 6 Anama 207 8 11 Upper Ashburton 1120 6 9 Mount Hutt 205 17 9 South Rakaia ... 147 4 1 Wakanui ... 314 19 7 Longbeach ... 6 8 0 Mount Somers ... ... „. 302 19 7 Hampstead Town District; ... 40 1 0 Total m County ... 6635 10 7



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Special Lines -* "FOR CHKISTMAS. • BY Steamer ''Mataura" a SPECIAL ' IMPORTATION OF GOODS fo CHRISTMAS, Just Landed. 45 Pieces of Newest English Designs m FALL NETS. m. 30 per cent. Under Usual Prices. A SPLENDID ASSORTMENT (some thousands of yards) ot CREAM & WHITE T.ACES, LATEST DESIGNS, Mach Under Usual Prices. CHRISTMAS CARDS IN ENDLESS VARIETY. FANCY HANDKERCHIEF^ IN IMMENSE VARIETY OF - DESIGN AND QUALITY. OALL AND SEE THESE GOODS, W.H.COLLiEE "THE CORNER. 1 ' Baker Bros. tj^URNISHING UNDERTAKERS, Comer of Wakanni Road and Cass Street* and at Baker and Browa's Coach Factory, Havelock Street. EVKR\ REQUISITE SUPPLIED, Telephone No. 69. ~J, WALKER, BAKER, WISHES to make known to his friends ' m and around Aahburton, thab he intends to commence business on January 3rd m the shop kuown as the TRIANGLE BAKERY, and hopes for a share of their patronage. l 2 191 FOR PRIVATE SALE ON EASY TERMS, OR , WOULD BE EXOHAMOED FOR TOWN r. PROFERTYX THAT Charmingly Situated Suburban Property on Belt Road, Allenton, ' containing about 6^ Acre, of the best land lin the County, with really good House, I Orchard, and every convenience ; at present ?, I occupied by H. F. Nieoll, Esq., under lease : oxpiring Maroh 5 nexb. 0 j Full particulars from 1 iSS WJWWAM HQRWSt



Henry Zander. NOTICE. mHE ENTRANCE to my Offices is now • m Moore Street, (lately occupied ,by Messrs Friedlander Bros. ) CORNSACKS— (FuII si_e. SEAMING TWINE-(5 ply t ) BINDING TWINE-(Douaghy b. JUST TO HAND. HENRY ZANDER. ■-* ■ 5000 PAIRS 1 OF BOOTS AND SHOES k TO PICK FROM. Try our newVleathers. Every pair Guaranteed. r JAMES liELLOR, TANCRED STREETI y MAKE NO MISTAKE. MELLOR'S ZEALANDIA BOOT STORE c m _ mm 1 rpHE PUBLIO BOOT BENEFI. Second to none m Canterbury • FOR GOOD CHEAP BOOTS & SETOEf t o JPwmounoed by ths Ashburton Public ( I give w->Ddorfo rciue for UtUc money.



CHRISTMAS--1897. NEW SEASON'S ERUIT. FLETCHER BROS. i ifc — LTAVE Just received by the following steamer-— lonic, Mataura, and XX Rimutaka—tbeir NEW SEASON'S FRT7JT, direct from the growers, andean safely say that it is some of the Finest Fruit ever brought to H ey. Zealand. The following Quotations will defy competition m regard to first it class quality : — r " 'H _t__* « neß . fc S afc .*" C » rrante . W P 6 *- * b 2 casks Sicily Almonds' ls 2d.per lb 50 cases finest Vostizza Currants, 5d per lb 5 cwt Mixed Spice, IM per packet, ilb 50 cases finesb Valencia Raisins, 7d per lb tin 6d v-»-*-. %m 50 11111 finw EfT* Ra^ iDB ' _i per lb 2 boxeß Jnrdan Almonds, 2s 4d per lb j -2?hSf*?.rir .*£ 7d oF,er0 F, er lb * <*>*• Mixed Lemon, Orange, and Citror- I ■* on l g « W Natural Figs, 8d Peel, 84 per lb, 21b for Is 3d 'I S lELMftli E per lb 10 ™£&T"* PeMB and *— * SEASONABLE GOODS. SEASONABLE GOODS. Worcester Sauoe, large bottles, 9d per bottle Enos Fruit Salts, 3s 3d per bottle FbSTob^l?^ 11^ pwbotUa Citrate of Magnesia, lsperbottle * isffiSSS Sfts t 1 " per tm Jel,y per *r ket ' 4 1 Lynx Brandjaimon P Bd £ tin Mullet, sttS^^Ai^^ ** j Herrings m Tomato Sauce, lOd per tin Anchovy Paste;?- per tin 1 Ub tins Sheep Tongues, Bd, 9d, lOd per tin Bloater We, 4Jd per t£ 1 Kippered Herrings, 10d per tin ' Loose Hops, is 3d per ib ' lib tins Rabbib m jelly, 7d per tin Pressed rfops, Is 4d per lb , & &nt^ t S Cap !i 8, l Bper^ ottle Unbleached Ginger, Is 2d per lb - ' Kfe^ FiDeß6 *™% Seeds P , 8d per lb 1897— PRESERVING SEASON— IB9B. ' PRESERVING PANS DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURERS. 8 quarts 7a, 10 quarto 8s 6d, 12 quarts 9s 6d, Light Steel Enamel Preserving Pans, besb and 14 quarts lis qaa l ity> 3j , 3s lid, 4s 6d, &5s 25 I OROOKERY DEPARTMENT. '. H-ABTBEN WARE, both Fancy and Plain, and everyone is welcome to step iv and see the bargains we have m this Department, without being pressed to buy, Plain Tumblers, 2s per dozen Nail Brushes, 3d each Moulded Tumblers, 2a 6d per dozen Pie Steamers, 4d each Printed Cups and Saucers, 2s 9d per dozen White and Gold Egg Cups, le 3d ncr drxen White and Gold China Cups and Saucers, 6s Alarm Clocks (good timekeepers) 3s lid P-W- f/f?,- nu- ,* _ Nickel-plated Butters, from 3s 6d each Celeste and 3 gold line China Cups and 5 hole Revolving Cruets, from! 7s 6d each- Saucers, 6s 6d per dozen etc., etc. * — — — :o: Kindly note that nearly all the above mentioned goods are imported by us direct from the manufacturers, ao therefore we are enabled to .ell as cheap m fact cheaper than any house m the trade. FLETCEfEBT BROS., I CASH SUPPLY STORES, *"* »r. « Ea « Street * ABhburton - an <* High Street, Christchurch. P -°" Box67 < Telenhone 24.



m.. J?_.k_R__A_l. THE PATENT ELASTIC STEEL HORSE COLLAR- Contractors to Her Majesty's Governmer (War Office.) Patented m Great Britain, Franoe Be! gium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italj South Australia, Victoria, and the Unite Sbabes of Amerioa, etc. LATEST AWARDS. Silver Medal, Birkenhead Agrioultura Sooiety, 1890.— -Silver Medal, Altringhan Agricultural Sooiety, 1890.— Diploma o Merit, Royal Military Exhibition, Chelsea 1890.— Bronze Medal, Prague Exhibition, 1891. t THE COLLAR is an invention which wins the approval of all ownerß of horses who once Give it a trial. TESTIMONIALS. To Mr P. Ferriman, Dear Sir, — I have taken great pains to see how the above Collars would answer, and as you have taken over the agency for them I am sending you this testimonial, hoping you will use it for the benefit of the farming community, as I am satisfied bhe Steel Collar is a great boon to this oounty on account of the great heab and boulders we have to contend with. I have used them for carting shingle m riverbeds and find that they ease bhe horseß very much. I have also used them m the hottest part of summer to put m turnip?, and find the horses wearing the Steel Collars finished much fresher and took leas feed to keep bhem m condition than those working m the leather collars. I had a mare smtto me wibh her shoulders quite raw, and her owner oould nob cure them. I started to work her m the Steel Collar, and within a month had her as sound as possible. Another man sent me a mare with a tumor on her shoulder. I worked her m a Steel Collar and had her well m a week. In fact I do not think they oan be too highly praised; and if once used no other sort will be used again. At the same time I would' like to remind all thab use bhem that bhey mueb be kept quite clean, a rub with a web oloth is all that is required. F. A. Saunders. Mayfield. Aehburton, November 30, 189T Mr F. Ferriman, Dear Sir— l have used the Patent Steel Collar and find bhem very satisfactory. My horses are never troubled with sore shoulders whon worked m theße collars. Thomas Bennett. . Ashburton, November 27. 1897 Mr F. Ferriman, Doar Sir— l am using six of the Patent Steel Horse Collars for draught horses, and although my country is very rough none \of my horses working m these collars ever suffer from sore shoulders. Whenever my leather collars fail I replace bhem with the steel ones. I always use them when breaking m young horsea, and never have any trouble with their shoulders. I have horses I oould not work unless I hsd the Steel Collars. John Dotle, THE A dvantages of the Collar MAY BE SUMMARISED AS BELOW ;— No Hames required ; It is easily fitted j It cannot get out of shape by wear ; Ib requires no stuffing ; There is no pinohing of the shoulders ; The jerk at starting wibh a heavy load is minimised, bhe collar beiog m itself a spring. The pull is distributed over a large surface of the shoulder, and does not come wholly on the outer edge, as is ofter the caße with the ordinary Collar. It never wants drying, and, therefore, * second Collar for use during that pro cess is unnecessary. Jb is cheaper, lighter, and more comfort able, and lasts longer than a Leathei Collar and The parts are interchangeable.. AGENT FOR ASHBURTON: F. FERRIMAN A. WARREN, BASKETMAKKR, "VTEXT E. W. Hall's, Herbalist, (near": opposite Aroade), TANCRED STREET, ASHBURTON. ALL KINDS of WIQKKRWORK M„ v - Ordjer %nd Repaired 12 _ Chamberlain's Cough Remedy oures cold oroup and whoopiug cough. It it pleasan safe and reliable. Foriftle by Ashburto D.i*g Company,



DA VID THOMAS. AROADE. SATURDAY,~TANUAR¥ 8, 1898. UNDER BILL OF SALE. MR DAVID THOMAS has received instructions from the holder of the Bill of Sale to sell at the above date and fix- ture,- at 1 o'clock sharp — 9 FIRST-CLASS MARES & GELD- INGS, all young. 1 Haok, 1 Dray, 2 Ploughs, 1 Massey- Harris Reaper and Binder (nearly new), 1 Portable Whare, al*o Covers and Harness for all the horses. Farmers wanting Draughb Horses would do well to attend this sale. D. THOMAS, 1 29 Auotioneer. ARCADE., ■ SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 8, 1898. MR DAVID THOMAS has received instructions from Mr J. B. Kirk bo Sell the whole of his CONFECTIONERY STOOK, Consisting of Scales, Weights, Counter Fittings, Lamps, Lollies, Glass Fruit Stands, and a lot of Sundries. Sale at 2 o'clock. 1). THOMAS, 1 30 Auotioneer. OAT SHEAF CHAFF. I AM a Buyer of Oat Sbeaf Chaff m any quantity. 12 89 D. THOMAS. — ■— — — — — — ■— ■ __-— mmmmmmmmm mm l Friedlander Bros., Limited. Wool Season, 1897-1898. OUR NEXT WOOL SALES, will take place at TIMARU ON WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12, 1898, AND AT CHRISTCHURCH ON FKIDAY. JAN. 14, 1898. Clients will please consign their clips, if intended for the Timaru Sale, to JOHN MILL & COS PRIVATE SIDING, TIMARU, where the Catalogues close on SATURDAY, JANUARY 8. And if intended for the Chri.tchuroh Sale TO D. H. BROWN & SON' 3 PRIVATE SIDING, ADDINGTON, Catalogues closing on TUESDAY, JANUARY 11. At both places the wool will receive our personal and most careful attention on arrival. Any wool that may be delivered at our Aehburton etores will be sent on to either Timaru or Christchurch fiee of oharge. Advice of corsignments should be posted to us promptly. FRIEDLANDER BROS., LIMITED. VT7E ARE CASH BUYERS OF WHEAT RYEGRASS OATS COCKSFOOT BARLEY CLOVERS CHAFF And all other Farm Produce, FRIEDLANDER BROS., L?d. T¥^ E ARE BUYERS OF HEAVY BRIGHT OATEN S^EAF CHAFF, FRIEDLANDER BROS., Limited*] f" , . -L± --'■ 1 .1 T. BuUook. TO LET, NEWLY Erected Tffo-Roomed Cottage, with Scullery, T,S. 822, situated m Cos Street. Possession gan fee given early next week, Apply t.Q T. BULLOCK. Agenb. TO LET, ' SHOP m Brick Building, Burnebt Street, nexb Mr Seymour. Apply to I T. BULLOCK. "FOR SALE. Suburban Building Allotments and other Suburban Properties situated m the Hanip-. stead Distriot ; also a number of properties m the Allenton Suburban District. Full particulars, prices and terms furnished on application. "Apply to ' T. BULLOCK. TO. LET at a low Rental -- Shop Dwelling, fronting East Streeb, _bu,th; also an Office or; B^oaU Shop m, the Arcade.' Rental 6s od per week. ' " w "" T. BULLOCK. fOfi SAW-! -re Building Allotments m Malcolm and Harland Streets, and other properties. TQ LET, at a* low rental-=*-Cottage and one *e re of land fronting Harland and Grove Streets ; also small Cottage fronting Graham's Road. Easy terms of payment will be accepted for any of the properties thab are for sale. T. BULL.OOK, SMOKE THE NEW VENUS Dark Aromatio Plug* Tobacco. THE OELfa4S"~*ATIM) $ BEST BBANL MANUFACTURED FROM, ' CHOICEST VIRGW*A LEA?. j Smok- Nm Vtnu.%



WANTED, LOST-rGrey tyare (h&G.),* from Tinwald. Reward.'— M. T. Healey, Ashburton. 1 39 , WANTED— A amart aebive ISoy. Apply W. Spaprqw, Eaat Street. 137 LOST, Small Gold Brooch, crescent shaped, between English Church and Al leu tou. Finder kindly return Mail Office. 1 38 WANTED— A visiting Governess for 'two little children. Application by letter. — Mrs Hugo Friedlander. 1 25 MADAME GIBBIS, Palmist, P.hrenolo- gist ; questions on health, tn'arriage, and buainess-J-Prince Albert Temperance Hotel, Wills Street, Ashburton. ' 1 17. E ANTED— In a quiet and comfortable home, two or jjrmre boarders. ' Ap- iga William Street.' " WANTED, to rent six or seve^-rootned house, either m, or within easy reach of Ashburton. One with gardeu', good Ty'ater supply, $nd sufficient paddpc^ ac- ebmtyiodatfon to run a horse and cow pre- ferred. Addreßs, rent and par- ticulars to V Enqiurer,"" _fj"ce o§ thia paper. TO LET, two Bhops m Jubilee Buildings, Burnett Street. Apply to Henry Stephenson. WANTED |Known.~Juat landed, New $ooJ:b— L-phxnvar, C-nffk\eU-\ Mar- t.ret Forster, Aimstus Solq;. Susan Tum- uli, by Gfanter ; lad of Mettle, mt Gwlrfi A G»y Little Woman, Strange Wii\t(r\ Story ' of Australia, by S^w,\ New Issue Chriataiq , ' Chßlr • The Horse, Armifagc • The Dog, * Stonehtnge, No 39 Australian Musio Book, Christmas Number Wigkens, Oole'o Funny | M«sig Book, Paling's Christmas Annual - ; at H. N. Anderson's, next John Orr & , ' Co. I i i \ _f£o__<i_i_ --CJE4 t is iSwperlj



Ayer's Cherry Pectoral For Colds, Coughs, Bronchitis, Sore Throat, Influenza, and Incipient Consumption, no remedy approaches Ayer's Cherry Pectoral. It has long been the most popular and successful anodyne expectorant m Pharmacy, and is everywhere approved and Tecommended by the Faculty. It ' soothes the inflamed membrane, i breaks up irritating mucus, allays » boughing, and induces repose. As si ; family medicine, Aysf ? | ' Cherry Pectorai takes the lead. For 3 the relief aiid cure of croup, whoop* » jpg-cough, sore throat, and all ."ip f piiimor-ary troubles to which tbe 1 y.oU n _" are so liable, it is i^valuabj").. I ijo household is quite secure Without j Ayer's ) Cherry r mi\w i , . \ - Pectoral. j JrKEBABED BY n Dr. J. G. -A-yer &j <30., a LOWIDLL, MASS., U. S. A. . «,,«»./ v*»/"w*v.'>.'*..'**' , */"v' v ' , '*"'V*«'*«'*«'*'.''^^«* T 6o!d Medals at the World's Chief * ft?r Pjcwnre of cheap imitnttans. fhe is nnnio— Aycr'r. Cherry Pectoral— is promi- * "•••'! ov tVir 'vrapper, and is blown iv the l _a_osßiia TEA 6 It. Hoeifc