Australian Ducks in the London Market.

The appearance of Australian dn.cfcs for sale in the London market would have been deemed an impossibility a few years ago, but the increasing amount and cheapness of cold storage* s&ccoaamodation on board the larger steam vessels trading between Europe and Australia is gradually tfleoting a revolution in matters connected with the British food Bupply, and c-paung new openings for industrial enterprise In Australia. Among these !»t ter may be included dusk farming, which bid* fair to assume large proportions in th > near future. One of the most success ful colonial duck farms is situated in the immediate vicinity of Sydney Here, on an area of about six rc~i jb, fiom 5000 to 12,000 dueka may bearen »t one time, according to the season, a considerable proportion being Musoovys and the remainder Peking *nd Ayles bnryj. There are 30 incubators, capable of holding 3000 eggs, and a corresponding number of " foster mothers," to which the young birds are taken directly they are hatched.

The Herse of ths Study.

B«AVE MEN WHO ABE NOT MEN TIONED IN DESPATCH^. Just as there are heroes of the battlefipld whose Dame and fame are on every tongue, there are alao heroes of the btudy, whose courage is .equally great, although the world either knows nothing of it or is indifferent to it There has been nothing nobler in the history of brave endeavour than the courage with which Sir Walter Scott, in the evening of his liff, sefe to work to wipe off the debt of £130,000 in which he unexpectedly found him self involved by his partners. 1 his historic struggle against, adversity is well known to the world. It is less known that mush of his brightest and best work was done whil® suffering physical agonies almost greater than flesh could bear

For two long yeara, when he was writing or dictating " Bob Hoy," the « Heart of Midlothian," the " Bride of Lammermoor," and others of his finest works, his daily suffering was so great that he could not suppress cries of agony. When a sympathetic friend begged him to put aside bis work he answered, " Nay, Willie, only see that the doors are fast. I would fain keep all the cry as well as the wool to our selves; but as to giving overwork, that can only be when I am in woollen." And although at times he was so seriously ill that he gave up all hopes of life, he persisted in working just as hard as if ho were in the most robust health

It was the sam^ with " Tom " Hood, the poet and humourist, much of whose etieery humour came to the world from a bed of pain. When he started the magazine which bore his own name he had already taken to the bed from which he never rose again • and it was while he was actually in the shadows of the "dark valley" that he wrote those exquisitely pathetic and immor tal poem?, " The Song of the Shirt" and " The Bride of Sighs." Even when life was at its darkest his fountain of humour bubbled as joyously as ever ; and for every one of his own groans he gave the world v thousand laughs.

The stuuy, too, has its heroines ne well as its heroes., and none more worthy of honour than Harriet Mar tineau. Few authors have ever pro duced so much or such excellent work uuder such physical difficulties : for, apart from her deafness, which practi cally isolated her from the world for more than forty yeare^ her life was crowded with illnesses,

For five years, from 1839 to 1844, she wss Co; fined to her couch in dreary lockings at Tyneinouth j but she never allowed her illness, which threatened io be chronic:, to interfere'with her wok. It was during these years of 3oi;B'ine^sand suffering that she wrote some of her most charming books— " The Hour and the Man," " Life in a Sick Room," and ix»any delightful stories for children.

Earing the last two years of bis life Charles Dickens waged a daily battle against excruciating pains in his hands and feet, the heralds of the doom that was overtaking him ; but the pain only seemed to stimulate him to greater effort when he would have been wise to heed the warning;

Leigh Hunt waged a constant battle against poverty and illness, of which, however, his charging writings show no trace. When he was writing his aeries of essays " The Indicator," both Hunt and his wife were seriously il!; and he, to quote his own words, " almost ditd over the last numbers."

It will be remembered, too, that Smed'ey was a " hopeless and helpless cripple when ho wrote " Frank Fair leigh " and his other delightful books for boys; and many of his brightest passages were actually punctuated with groans of anguish. There are heroes, too, of later days men and women who work for our delight amid an environment of suffer ing. Mr Clark Russell, the cheeriest writer who ever brought a whiff of sea-air into the hooves of a city, is crippled by rheumatism, and his days are days of torture which, however, cannot damp his optimism or dull the ed^eof his industry

Mr Henty, during recent years, has been an almost equal sufferer ; but in defiance of pain he still produces two or three of his fascinating books every year; and Mrs Alexander, the gifted authoress of " The Wooing O%" is also a martyr to rheumatism, which, how ever, cannot keep her away from her beloved desk. Miss Edna Lyall is almost as much an invalid as Mrs Browning was, and it is only her brave heart that enables her to write one of her delightful novels for us every year And these are but a few of the silent sufferers and heroes of thb study whose courage is made to minister to our delight.

THE ASHBURTON OTARDUN; TUESDAY, OOIOBBK 2, 190 C

Printed and published .by AITRSB {Jonr Tyrkkia-Baxteb, of Burnetb itnel at* for the ProprJo.torF, RoBBBV Bku, ted He^by A»am Mackat, at their Printing Offioe, Burnett) Street, Aahbnrdon, IVB9DAY OCTOBER 2, UQQ



"Old Bissau*, wity in her schemes), Her eyes on Inriia oft has oasb, And of the future vainly dreama When thai) dear land is hers at las';. But era we think of that far day, Consider what we now endure— Be.d coughs and colds, that pass away Q0 taking Woods' Great Peppermint Cure QHEAHMAN BRO--:. have large etcc t Loasbvs Wahco,BnJ4-nic via n Kooiibfth, aua Giunamon Cure Smoke tfcw Venm



W. STRANGte; Pole Partners AHn T, COVEKDALK| Pbopbiktobb. : •__ IS ; — 'I HE CHEAPEST .WAT, ■ j THE BEST WAY, THE MOST SATISFACTORY WAY When baying anything h to PATRONISE A JLARGE IST'BLISHMeJNT, such as oar own. We bay ENORMOUS QUANTITIES F EVERYTHING* AT A TIME, AND WE BUY FOR HARD CAW. Consequently we can offer Patrons a very wide range of goods AT PRICES TO SUIT ALL PURSES. For np to date Drapery, Stylish Dresses and Drees Goods, Fashionable Mantles and Jackets, exquisite London and Continental Model Millinery, &c., &0., House Furniture ar.d Furnkhines, Wire Mattresses, Pnre, Swrset Bedding, First rate Venetian an other BHi.d , Ready Made Clothing (all these lines being manufaetnred by ourselves) WE APE UNRIVALLED fN NEW ZEALAND, WE ARE ALSO BESPOKE TAILORS, This great Department of oar Business being conducted on West End of London lines, BTYIISH. PEPFECTFITTING SUITS FROM £3 3 ■■' ■ ,■■ IT MAY KOT BE CONVENIENT FOR YOU To come to Town to Bee Us 5 if you cannot spare the time to come, you can WRITE TO US. PATTERNS, PRICES, AND PARTICULARS post free on application fco any address. HUNDREDS OF LADIES NOW SHOP WITH US BY POST, THIS SYSTEM WE FIND WORKS SMOOIHLY, EASILY, and PLEASANTLf AND GIVES GENERAL SATISFACTION. STRANGE~&"I]OMPANY f OHKIST< HtIHOH. Nnili British and Mercantile Insurance Company. LONDON & EDINBURGH. ESTABLISHED 1809. Incorporated by Royal Charter and Special Acts op Parliament. TOTAL FUNDS AT 31st DECEMBER, 1699, £14,409,089 Authored Capital &% 000,000 0 0 Subscribed Capital 2,750,00) 0 0 Pald-Up Capital £6J 7I?!?J 2 2 Balance of Profit and Loss 602 075 5 0 F.re Reserves 2,128,608 8 7 Life Fond—Accumulated Fond of ike Life Branch ... £8.149,481 12 7 Accumulated Fund of the Annuity Branch... 2,840,924 3 11 _ 10 990,405 16 6 £14,409,089 10 1 REVENUE FOR THE YEAR 1899. From Fire Department— Net Premiums, Interest, etc. ... ... ... £1,559,002 12 7 From Life Department— „..„,„ t Net Premiums, Interest, etc. ... £1,081,878 16 6 Annuity Premiums (including £321,162 11s 2d by single payments) and Interest ... 432,345 4 11 1 * - 1614 224 I 4 £2 073,226 13 11 The Ancumolated Funds of the Life Department are free from liability in respect of the Fire Department;, and in like manner the Accumulated Funds of the Fire Department are free from liability in respect of the Life Department, ESTABLISHMENT FOE 1900- PRESIDENT :- His Grace the Dxjke of Sutherland. VICE-PRESIDENT :— Thk Most Bonoubablk thb Marqto of Zetland, K.T. BXTR AORDIN ARY DIBECTORS :— The Right Hon. the Earl of Pfcrathmore. The Eight Hon the Earl of Aberdeen I The Rt Hon Lord Moncrleff of TalHe The Right Bon Lord Wolverton I The Right Hon Lord Forbes Baron Schroder. GENERAL COURT OF DIRECTORS :— Quinton Hogg, Esq., Chairman. !/,NDON. I EDINBURGH. Alexander H Campbell, Esq, Chairman « David B Wauchope, Esq The Hon Charles Napier Lawrence, George Auldjo Jameson, Eeq The Deputy Chairman Ralph Dnndae» Eeq Charles Morrison, Esq John Wharto'n Tod, Esq John Sanderson, Esq Sir James H Gibson Craig, Barb The Right Hon Lord Hillingdon Sit Thomas Clark, Bart Alexander Drake Eldnwort, Esq Sir Charles B Logan, D X S Charles J Cl Scotb, E*q Charles 0 Maoonochle, Esq Hubert F Barclay, Eeq Captain Robert Dondas, Yr., of At Vincent R Hoare. Esq nlston H R Arbuthnot, Esq John S Pitmali, Eeq John Pirpont Morgan, Jun , Esq George Founger, Esq Bruno Sch oier, Esq The Righb Hon the Earl of Elgfn, X G Manager of Fire Department — G H Burnett ........ j Sob Managers of Fire Department—W T Price and DMO Johnston Foreign Sub Manager—Philip Wlnsor Manager — Philip R D Maolsgan, Manager of Life Department and Actuary F R S E —Henry Oookburn, FI A, FF A Secretary—H J Sterenaon, W S Sob Manager of Life Department™ Acfcnary _ Tbomaß Wallace. FI A, Thomas Prlogle F F A Auditor—James Haldane, Chartered Accountalnb OBISF OFFICES :— LONDON ... ... ... 61, Threadneedle Street, B.C. Wesb End Branch Office ... 8, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, S.W. EDINBURGH ... ... 64, Princes Street. CHRISTCHUROH AGENTS ... ... ... W. WOOD & CO. F. FiSRRIMAff, ASHBDRTON



J. SEALY & CO., THE OLDEST ESTABLISHED REED FIRM IN ASHBriBTON. JCJ P r /^iy-v ARE stilt to the front, and are prepared to supply their many •O. (X) \J\J» Patrons with reliable SKEDS, of every description, GBHAti! WILL GROW, at lowest, market rates. SEEDS FOR THE FARM, VEGETABLE FEEDS, FLOWER SftKDS, & GARDEN REQUISITES of every description, Direct from the Growers and Manufagtubhbs. Oar Stocks of NEW SWAS'-N'S HKKDN are from the Celebrated Firms, James Carter & Co, London, and Peter Laweon & Son, Edinburgh, and they are of the best quality obtainable, FRUIT. FRUIT. FRUIT. LABGE STOCKS of all Seasonable FRUITS always on hand, ab lowett) ratw, H. M. JONIS. H. M. JONES. STATIONERY BOOKS. ACCOUNT BOOKS. f)CA Or^A ENVELOPES, imported direct. Commercial Envelopes £UU* \J\J\' from 3s 6d per 1000; 5000 at 3s per 1000. Boxed Stajionery, latest styles, from 6d,«9d, la, Is 6d, 2a box. PIANOS. ORGANS. 44 payments of £1 each will purchase a spUmdid overstrnng, fall trichord, massive iron-frame Piano, up-to-date in every particular. Only £1 required to be paid at time of purchase, Call and see this before you buy elsewhere. Organs from 10a per month; Pianos from 20s per month, CRICKETING AND LAWN TENNIS MATERIAL Jnst arrived, ex Gothic, from Wieden and Son's, London. RACQUETS, London inlaid, "Victoria, Invicta, Champion, Match Popular BALLS, Plain and Covered, Slazenger'e, Silvertown, Wisden's, CRICKET BATS, Warsopp's, Wisden's all caiu, Duke's, Union, Hearnes and others. BALLS, Hearne's, Duke's, Wieden's, Craven, Match, and Practice Balls; H. M. To N E S . NOTICE TO FARMERS. yyn AEE CASH BUYERS- OF PRIME Mil LING WHEAT IN AN* QUANTITY Please take your Samples to the Mill We can supply Corosacks at cost price, CANTERB URY ROLLER FLOUR MILLS. (ROLLITT AND C 0.,) D. WOOD, Manager 17th Marjfa, 1900. MELLOR'S ZE A LANDIA BOOT STORE 111 111 I «|I Bjji^Sifl^"^ -^ji^^tr I I^-^^L **** j^^^l^^^lP^^ JB^^h' rp'HE only Up-to-date Boot Shop in Ashburton. For real good Value, Style, and Fitting try the " ZEALAJN IA BRAND.' Every pair guaranteed* Remember our Price s the CHEAPEST, and oar Stock the LARGEST In Canterbury. If you want good Value for very little Money, then be sure you go io tit cji T T fXT\ ' zealandia boot store, (DANORBD BTHBFT, 6SHBUBTDN G. MEDDINS, 11 THE PEOPLE'S IRONMONGEB," Opposite Arcade, Burnett Street. """"""UWH MOWERS, LAWN MOWERS. •New Easy, 1 •P. aod N. 'Philadelphia,' * Carbine,' etc. GARDENING TOOLS & REQUISITES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION INCLUDING Spades, Hoee, Rakes, Digging and Weeding Forks, Troweli, Hedge Shears, Syringe*, Watering Cans, J.R Hose Pipe, eto. DAIRY UTENSILS & TINWARE.—Churns, Milk Pans, Skimmew, Patent Milk Buckets and Strainers, Butter Pats and Moulds, Billeys, Panaklnß, etc HOUSEHOLD & BUILDER'S IRONMONGERY in endless variety REGISTER GRATES & MANTLE PIECES RANGES r~R ANGEB. Scott's, Orion, Zealandia, Challenge, Champion, etc. (The CHBAPEBT BHOP in Ashburfcon for any of the abo?e: My Motto is ' Small Profits and Quiok Returns,



BELFAST AND FAIRFIEI 4 l> FREEZING WORKS MANURES. ARK THE BEST f^OR iUjiNIP, RAPE WHBAT, AND ANY OTHER CROP. SPECIAL MANURE can bo tnacb for ;*ny kind of Soil, or description of crop. t* ATJBFAOTION GIVEN EVEBYWHERE LAST SEASON MANUBfI CAN BE SUPPLIED IN 1 Owt. or 2 Owl, SACKS Orders received by iTRXEDJLAINDJeR BHOK, Limited., DJLVII) THOMAS, OR J^mß^J*'?*? FARMERS CO-iiFKRATIVE A BISOOIATIOW OF 1 C3ikI>JTI3RBU«,Y, Limited., OANTERBUBY FROZEN MiAT AND DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORT COMPANY. LIMITED. 880 F. WAYMOU Saor-iwy. New Zealand Insurance Company. I^BTABLIShTd' L _ 1859 CAPITAL^ONF MILLION. THEPBEMIEB AND WEALTHIEST OOLOHIAI* COMPANY, NOTED FOR PROMPTNESS AND LIBIRALIT^ PAID-UP CAPITAL AND RESERVES— ££00,000. FIRE AND 'MARINE RISKS. ALSO,- RISKS ON GROWING CROPS, THRff HltfO. MACHINES, Ac, ACCEPTED AT LOWEST TORRENT Ra KW HANMER _; AQKNT ASK YOUR SHOE DEALER FOR EVERY fyp # # ENCOURAGE PAIB / COLONIAL GUABANTEED. "RQATO &r SITOT^S IN|DUS|T|Biy t MANU/ACTUEED BY S. ANDERSON. TIMARTJ. LINOLEUMS. LINOLEUMS. r\UR FIRST SHIPMENT FOR THE SPRING NOW LANDED, EX S.S uOTHIO Choice and Novel Designs in all Widths. Remnants of Last Season's Goods at Reduced Prices. CARPETS, CARPET SQUARES, RUGS & MATS. MITCHELL AND TURNER, •_ _ _ : ■.-■■ -i . ■' I SMOKE ONLY NEW VENUS PEBFECT TOBACCO. CHARMING SPRING NOVELTIES. JUST OPENED: 50 CASES NEW GOODS. VTEW MILLINERY, FLOWERS, FEATHERS, RIBBON, &0. New Dreis Fabrics, Sergei, Coatume Cloth; will not shrink or epob with rain. Noreltiea in Zephyrs, Prints, Fancy Piques, Spotted Mußlins, Lusties, plain k figured* Special Value in Black DreßS Goods of all kinds, Magnificent Assortment of Plain and Figured Silks, Mantles; Corsets", P D and 08, and also various other makes ; Lace Cortaint, White Counterpanes* UmbrelUs and Sunshades, all prioes. Up-to-date Millinery, very atylish. DRESSMAKING.—Ladies leaving tbeir orders are getting every satisfaction (in fib and style. TAILORING.--A thoroughly up to date Stock of Suitings and Trouseringa in Ecgliib, Scotch, Irish, and Colonial Tweeds, Satisfaction Guarantbkd. 10 Oases of LINOLEUM and CARPETS just opened. ANDUE W 0 R R.



TO LET, At a Low Rental PBEMISE^ in Mu.r* Street, ju?t below Eoyal Hotel, ately occupied by Hiioh* ing and Miii Son, .... T BTOLOOK MBS JOHNSTON rpBACHER of tfaa Pianoforte and Singing. Havelook Street. BUY Direct From KrjKS*nd — Famous ' Khaki" Cyoles. Great cub in the trade ; Brat class quality at bed rook price! for cash ; eingfe machines at £4 18 ; two machines, £8 11b ; three machines, £12 2b; freight and duty paid to Wei ling! ops Ladies' cyoles 10* per machine extra; Quo tation* for ten bicycles and over on appH ZP^rJ 0?? ' Rmn * Khaki Company Stedall's Baildtngs, Portsmouth, England, McCORMICK~ Q TILL leads the World in Harvesting Machinery, being awarded the 1 GKAND PEIZE" AT THB PARIS EXPOSITION AND MORE SPECIAL AWARDS than all other Competitors put togethcf Ear men are requested to see thhif Machine before ordering elsewhere. Morrow, Bassett & Go % ASHBURTON M. PRIEST, Manager FOR SALE, A GRAND LITTLE FARM OF \KC\ ACRES, situated I£ miles frottt JLOxi Tlnwald Yards, splendid home* etead, well divided, with water in eacfi paddock. Price low and easy terms Also,— O^A ACKES»in the fees* ot order, good 4i I\J homestead, Tinwaid. Very low price will be accepted for this Farm B. W. HANMIR, ~~ E. W. HANME JS, TO FARMERS. I AM prepared to make very liberal cub advances on all produce—Grain, Wool, Frozen Mutton or Lamb, Sheep Skint, eto« etc., which may be plaoed in my handi for sale here—or for sale by my representative in London. * I shall not charge any Oommiuion hen for the advance—and my repreeentativei in London having the full knowledge of dealing with all produce consignments which they may receive, and having plenty of money to meet my drafts, will not sacrifice anything entrusted to their care, if thfcre is the uliqhfceet chance of doing better by holding for a while. The question of selling indtt* crlminately because they do not know per* sonally the consignor, is a v^ry itrong fetj fcure in the mode of, doing their bu io«st^ which has always recommended them. B. W. HAKMER. A. AGEE AECHITEOT ARCADE OBAMBBRS ASHBURTON. TF you want a NEW HOUSE, or'Alfc«tt tlonß, or Newest Style of Decorations, ONBULT MR AGER. Call and see the NEW FIBEOSE BlilNß Imitation of Venetian, at half the price. 5 19 J. V. DE BEER WATCHMAKER * JEWELLER TT AS jast received a Large Shlpmen OF WATCHES, WATCHES 6 Dozen Nickel Levsrs at 27fl 6ft Specially made to order, Strongly biallfc to suit hard wear. 2 Years Guarantee; 8 Dozen NICKEL WATCHES at 20lJ The beat value in the Colony, 1 year 1* Guarantee. A New and Full Stock of Genfc's and Ladies Gold and Silver Wafcollll to hand. SPECTACLES New Frames and Lenses on the Interchangeable System. To meet the requirements of thrift using the famous "LAZARUS' Spectacles a special importation of bit Frames and Lenses to hand, SIGHT 'TBBTING A PERFECT Fit GUARANTEED. J. V.DE~BEER WATOHMaKER 4 JEWELLER, ,,', . . Ashborton ... ' , .;. ' ,