The British Coal Supply.

All over the coal areas of England, Scotland, and Wales, coal miners are murmuring for higher wages in conse quence of the high summer prices now j ruling ; and threaten an organised de mand for an increase of 3a in the £, on the plea that since the masters are getting 40 per cent, higher prices, they are entitled to 15 per cent, participa tion. Several of the masters appear disposed to go more than h-Uf way to meet their employe* i, for the recent output from the mines has been far short of the requirements, and by con ceding a rise in wages the output would be increased, for the miners p edge themselves to work five days a week instead of four, if the rise is granted. A special correspondent in the Daily Express shows that«our stock of coal it a personal and a national necessity, and even if practically inexhaustible, yet the means of producing it am limited, while the demand is continu ally growing. The British coal owner is supplying foreign Governments with tens of thousands of tons, the destina tion of which is apparently the naval depdfcs, and hence, as we have not enough for ourselves, the Britisher has to pay more for his coal because owners are selling the sinews of war to the foreigners.' He argues that we shou'd so far suspend the principle of Free Trade as to stop the exportation of coal till the price within the United Kingdom has fallen to a reasonable figure; for individoil profits cease to be legitimate when made at the ex pense of national welfare. There ought to be a Bill at once passed in Par liament prohibiting the export of coal. Another Home paper says :—Collieries are able to get betjter prices from ouf- sido sources than from English con sumers, and consequently sell to the best market. The most valuable coal for naval purposes is the smokeless coal, and it has been found that both Russia and France are buying this from England in large quantities j 140, 000 tone of Cardiff coal have been ord« red by Russia to be delivered in the Black Sea before the end of the year, aud Franoe is laying in stores at all her naval ports. The revenue derived from the export of coal is £80, j 000,000 a year, and, while we canuot afford to loae this revenue, and to destroy an industry which employs million? of our own capital and hundfe Is of thousands of our working population, it is felt by many that we should do well to keep our smokeless coal from getting into the hands of a possible enemy.

POETICAL BURGLARS

Quite recently a countess who had been despoiled of her jewel case, con taining diamonds to the extent of £5,000, received that artie'e by parcel f o^, along with the following :—

Fo swaef, so sweet, the diamonds in their settings ; So sweet, the pearls, oh, Counteae B——; So blithe !»nd gay I'll live upon their " gettings," From pub to pub I'H drink the health of thee.

A thief who broke into a nobleman's mansion near Maidenhead and stole a quantity of eilver-plate, besides drink ing a bottle of port wine, left, with characteristic effrontery, a rhyme, written in chalk on the dining-table,

which ran :-— Your silver makes me jump for joy, Bu 1"! j>y soon turns to sorrow ; Your porb ie bad, methinks that I ShaU feel a pain to-morrow. Not long since a burglar who ransacked the house of a magistrate, while the inmates were asleep, com posed the following little rhyme :— Ho snng anl peaceful in year Olapham home, While you"re asleep, I've socked to roam. Good-bye, my lord, I may not tarry, So now no more from Burglar Harry. It serms strange that in the dead of night a burglar should draw a picture, but not. long since a man who robbed th» house of a prominent pro-Boer drs w a by no means badly executed sketch of bis victim, below which he added :~

** Stop the war ! Stop the war J" is your persistent cry, Your politics are shocking, they make me pipe my eye. Yoa may stop the war, you may stop your chat, But you can't stop me, though I've got your hafc Some months ago a convict, who struck his gaoler insensible and theo escaped, robbed a house of a suit of clochea, a hat, and n pair of boots, and left his prison dress hanging up on the hat rack in the hall, with a facetious message attached to it, which ran :— Although good name I ones did lose, I step in yours, a good man's shoes ; My character ia bad, I know 'lis true, But I leave my clothes, as they may fio you.

Something New in Wedding Gifts.

"What shall we give her?' That is a question which desolates innumerable breakfast tables when the morning post brings the announcement of an approaching marriage. A most valu able precedent has been set by a batch of Lady Randolph Churchill's friends, who clubbed together and presented her with a beautiful gewgaw in the shape of a pear! and diamond tiara. The example should be followed widely. Individual effort is apt to fritter itself away in superfluous Halt ppoons and unnecessary photograph frnmpg. Given a bride, it is pretty certain that many of her friends will be friends of one another. And how much more pleasant for'the bride and how much simpler for her friends is the pooling of affection in a really valuable gift ! The perennial difficulty of the wedding present is in a fair way to solution.— Daily Chronicle. j

TOE ASHBURTON OtAßDtAtt t MONDA?, OCTOBFfc 1, l§oo

Printed and published by AIJBEB powr Tyerell-Baxteb, of Burnett afreet aui for fcha Proprietors, RoßKßtt Bkll «b& Hehby Abam Maokat, at th«ir Pitatu* Office, Baraetfc Street, Aihburton, MONDAY OOIOBKE 1, llqq



AN HONEST POLITICIAN.



The Australian colonies voted their delegates £1,000 each to cover their expenses in London in connection with the passing of the Imperial Federal Bill. Mr Barton and Mr Kingston found that sum quite inadequate, and it has b en found ReoPßsary, in each ca^e, to vote a further sum of £500. Mr Deakin, how ever, found the modestßum of £550 safficent to cover all bis expenses, and he has actually returned £450 to the Victorian Treasury!



riIHOiSE who desire a convenient house .1. and ui-to-date, Bhould consulb Hard lev Bros., for °t*d supply of hob and cold vratec



W. STRANGE] S©lk Partnebs and "*X, COVBBDALK Frofbietobs. —_—_«.:x>■ ii i i ' THE CHEAPEST WAY, THE BEST WAY. THE MOST SATISFACTORY WAY When buying anything Is to PATRONISE A .LARGE ESTABLISHMENT, auchas our own. We buy ENORMOUS QUANTITIES F EVERYTHING AT A TIME, AND WE BUT FOR HARD CAM. Consequently we can offer Patrons a very wide range of goods AT PRICES TO SUIT ALL PURSES For np to date Drapery, Stiylish Dresses and Dress Goods, Fashionable Mantles and Jackets, exquisite London and Continental Model Millinery, &«., &0., House Furniture and Furnishings, Wire Mattresses, Pure, Sweet Bedding, First rate Venetian an other 81h.d.% Ready Made Clothing (all these lines being manufactured by ourselves) * WE AXE UNRIVALLED IN NEW ZEALAND, WE ARE ALSO BESPOKE TAILORS. This great Department of oar Business being conducted on West End of London lines, STYLISH. PERFECTFITTjHGSUITS FROM £3 3 IT MAT NOT BE CONVENIENT FOB YOU To come to Town fco see Ub ; if you cannot spare the time to come, you cm WRITE TO US. PATTERNS, PRICES, AND PARTICULARS past free on Application to any addresd. HUNDREDS OF LADIES NOW SHOP WITH US BY POST, THIS SYSTEM WE FIND WORKS SMOOI ELY, EASILY, and PLEASANTLY AND GIVES GENERAL SATISFACTION. STRANGE~S >~COMPANY f OHRISTCHUKOH. Nfith British and Mercantile Xnsu ance Company. LONDON & EDINBURGH. ESTABLISH feD 1809. Incorporated by Royal Charter and Special Acts op Parliament. TOTAL FUNDS AT 31st DECEMBER. 1899, £14,409,089 Authorised Capital £3,000,000 0 0 Subscribed Capital 2,750,000 0 0 Paid-Up Capital ... £687,60# 0 0 Balas.ce of Profit) and Loss ... „ 602 075 5 0 Fire Reserves 2,128,608 8 7 Life Fund—.Accumulated Fund of the Lifa Branch £8.149,481 12 7 Accumulated Fond of the Annuity Branch... 2,840,924 3 11 10.990,405 lob £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— „«.„»„.- Net Premiums. Interest, etc ... £1,081,878 16 5 Annuity Premiums (including £321,162 lla 2d by single JOO OJS paymentß) and Interest ... 432,345 4 11 —■i—..—<«^"" 1 514 224 1 4 £2 073,226 13 11 The Accumulated 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 Duke of Sutherland. VICE-PRESIDENT :— The Most Bohotoable thk Makquis of Zetland, K.T. IXTRAORDIN ARY DIRECTORS :— The Right Hon. the Earl of Ftrathmore. The Bight Hon the Earl of Aberdeen I The Rt Hon Lord Monorieff of TulH j The Right Bon Lord Wolverton I The Right Hon Lord Forbes Baron Schroder. GENERAL COURT OF DIRECTORS :— Quinton Hoeg, Esq., Chairman. LONDON. " i EDINBURGH. Alexander H Campbell, Esq, Chairman I David B Wauchope, Eeq The Hon Charles Napier Lawrence, George Anldjo Jameson, Eeq TheDepaty Chairman Ralph Dundas, Esq Charles Morrison, Esq John Whartoii Tod, Esq John Sanderson, Esq Sir Jamee H Gibson Cr&ig. BaH The Right Hon Lord Hillingdon Sit Thomas Clark, Barfc Alexander Drake Kleinworr, Eeq Sir Charles B Logan, D X S Charles J O Scott, Eeq Charles O Maoonochie, Esq Hubert F Barclay, E?q Captain Robert Dondas, V?., of Ar Vincent R Hoare. Esq nlsron H R Arbathnot, Esq Jchn S Pitman, Esq John Pirpont Morgan, Jun., Eeq George younger, Esq Bruno Schoier, Esq The Right Hon the Earl of ElgJn 9 X G Manager of Fire Department —G H Burnett —•— Sub Managers of Fire Department — W T Price and J M O Johnston Foreign Sub Manager—Philip Wlnsor Manager — Philip R D Maolagan, Manager of Life Department and Actuary F R S E —Henry Oookburn, FI A, FV A Seoretary—H J Stevenson, W S Snb Manager of Life Department- Actuary - Thomas Wallace. FI A, Thomas Pringle F F A Secretary—F W Lance _ , , -_.. _ Q Soil, itors-Bircham and Co « Solidtors-Dnndas and Wilson, O S Auditor —James Haldane. Chartered Accoantaint OBIKF OFFICES:— LONDON ... ... ... 61, Threadneedle Street, E.G. West End Branch Office .., 8, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, S.W. EDINBURGH 64, Princes Street. , CHRISTCHURCH AGENTS ... W. WOOD & CO. F. FJSRRIMAI?, ASHBGRTON



J. SEALY & CO., I] THE OLDEST ESTABLISHED SEED FIRM IN ASHBURTON. JQ JV r /"^yv ARE still to the front, and are prepared to supply their many «O« OU \^Um Patrons with reliable SEEDS, of every description, THAT WILL GROW, at lowest market rases. SEEDS FOR THE FARM, VKGETABLE SEEDS, FLOWER SEEDS, & GARDEN REQUISITES of every description, Direct from the Growers aud Manufacturers. Our Stocks of NEW .SEASON'S SEEDS are frnm the Celebrated Firms, JAMK« Carter 4 Co, London, and Peter Laweon & Son, Edinburgh, and they are of the belt quality obtainable. FRUIT. FRUIT. FRUIT. LARGE BTOC R8 of all Seasonable FRUITS always on hand, at lowest rates, H. M. JONES. H. M. JONES. STATIONERY BOOKS. ACCOUNT BOOKS. 9P\A nnO ENVE^OPES, imported direct Commercial Envelopes f rom 3 8 6d per loO o ; 5000 at 3s per 1000. Boxed Stationery, latest styles, from 6d,|9d, le, Is 6d, 2s box, PTANOK ORGANS. 44 payments of £1 each will purchase a splendid overstrung, full trichord, massive iron frame Piano, up-to-date in every particular. Only £1 required to be paid at time of purchase. Oall and see this before you bay elsewhere. Organs from 10s per month; Pianos from^2os per month. CRICKETING AND LAWN TENNIS MATERIAL Just arrived, ex Gothic, from Wisden and Son's, London. RACQUETS, London inlaid, Victoria, Invicta, Champion, Match Popular BALLS, Plain and Covered, Slazenger's, Silvertown, "Wisden's. CRICKET BATS, Warsopp's, Wisden's all caio, Duke's, Union, Hearne's and others. BALLS, Hearne'e, Duke's, Wisden's, Craven, Match, and Practice Balls; h. m. Ton c s . notice to farmers. ■y^B ABE CASH BUYERS OF PRIME Mil LING WHEAT IN AN? QUANTITY Please take yonr Samples to the Mill We can supply Oornsacks at cost price. CANTERBURY ROLLER FLOUR MILLS. (ROLLITT AND C 0.,) D. WOOD, Manager 17th Mar.sh, 1900. MELLOR'S ZEA LANDIA^BOOT STORE w^ W* M"\ w^W* m ■ I 1 ■ 1 11 /ii^^H^ ■ ■■I'll I 111" | jJ&>4i&^'^^ s^l^^Kv nPHE only Up-to-date Boofc Shop in Ashburton. For real good Value, Style, and Fitting try the «• ZEALAN IA BRAND.' Ivery pair guaranteed- Remember our Price s the CHEAPEST, and our Stock the LARGEST in Canterbury. If you want good Value for very little Money, then be sure you GOffO 11/rCfT T A"R ' Q ZEALANDIA BOOT STORE, (KANORED BTFBFT, ASHBURTDN G.MEDDINS, " THE PEOPLE'S IRONMONGER," Opposite Arcade, Burnett Street. JUST OPEUID LAWN MOWERS, LAWM MOWERS. •Now Easy,' •F. and N. 'Philadelphia,' 'Carbine,' etc. GARDENING TOOLS & REQUISITES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION INCLUDING Spades, Hoes, Rakes, Digging and Weeding Fork*, Trowels, Hedge Shears, Syringe*, Watering Cana, J.R Hose Pipe, eto. DAIRY UTENSILS & TIM WARE.—Churno, Milk Pans, Skimmers, Patent Milk Buckets and Strainers, Butter Pats and Moulds, Billeys, Panakiog, eto HOUSEHOLD & BUILDER'S IRONMONGERY in endless variety REGISTER GRATES & MANTLE PIECES RANGES "jR, A N GE«. Scott's, Orion, Zaalandia, Challenge, Champion, etc. The CHEAPEST SHOP iv Ashburton for any of the aboTe; My Motto is ' Small Profits and Quick Returns.



BELFAST AND FAIRFIELD FREEZING WORKS MANURES, ARE THE BEST pOR TURNIP, RAPE WHEAT, AND ANY OTHER CROP. SPECIAL MANURE can be mad 3 for any kind of Soil, or description of crop, ? VTISFAOTTON GIVEN EVERYWHERE LAST SEASON MANURE CAN BE SUPPLIED IN 1 Owt. or g Owt. SACKS Orders received b/ FEIEDLANDKB BBOH,, lAtnltedu, DAVID THOMAS, OR TM.MS IS.'gL. FARMERS OO.l»PlliBATXTB ASSOCIATION OF CAWTERBtSiY, Limited,, CANTERBURY FROZEN MEAT AND DAIRY PROPTJOE EXPORT COMPANY. LIMITED. 8 w P. WATTMOU Secr»i»ry. Hew Zealand taranes Oonipaay. 88TABLI8 h"b~D°'"~l. «. 18 5 9 CAPITAL^OnF MILLION, THE PEEMIEB A^D WEALTHIEST OOLONIAIb COMPANY, NOTED FOB PROMPTNESS A3TD LIBBSRALirS, PAIP-UP CAPITAL AND RESERVES— £400,000. FIRE AND idARINR RISKS. ALSO,- RISKS ON GROWING CROPS, THBIT HJWO MACHINES, *o M ACCEPTED AT LOWKST CURRENT EIA 'h W HA N M'EE AGENT AISK YOUR SHOE DEALER FOR EYBRY fY? . . ENCOURAGE PAIK / COLONIAL OUABANTEED. & SHOES, '"W** MANUjTACTURBD BY S. ANDERSON, TIMARU. LINOLEUMS. LINOLEUMS. f a r\UR FIRST SHIPMENT FOR THE SPRING NOW LANDED, EX B.S uOTHIO Choice and Novel Designs in all Widths. ' Remnants of Last Season's Goods at Reduced Prices. CAKPETS, CARPET SQUARES, RUQS & MATS. MITCHFJX AND TURNER. SMOKE ONLY . NEVS _ (o) _ VENUS PERFECT TOBACCO. CHARMING SPRING NOVELTIES. JUST OPENED: 50 CASES NEW GOODS. VTBW MILLINERY, FLOWERS, FEATHERS, RIBBON, &o. New Drew Fabrics, Serges, Costume Cloth } will not shrink or spofc with raits. t Novelties in Zephyrs, Prints, Fancy Piques, Spotted Muslins, Lusbtes, plain & figured• 1 Special Value in Black Dress Goods of all kinds. Magnificent Assortment of Plain and Figured Silks, Mantles; Corsets, P D and 08, and also various other makes; Lace Curtain*, White Counterpanes! Umbrellas and Sunshades, all prices, Up»to-date Millinery, very stylish. DRESSMAKING.—Ladies leaving their orders are getting every satisfaction (in fib and iityle. TAILORING.--A thoroughly up to date Stock of Suitings and Trouserings in English, Scotch, Irish, and Colonial Tweeds. Satisfaction Guaranteed. 10 Oases of LINOLEUM and OARPETS just opened. ANDREW ORR.



McCORMICK QTILL leads the World in Harvesting Machinery, being awarded the '■GRAND PRIZE 1' AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION AND MORE SPECIAL AWARDS than all other Competitors put togetifOr Farmers are requested to im thif Machine before ordering elsewhere, Morrow, Bassett & Go 9 ASHBURTON M. PRIEST, Managtr SMOKE n NOSEGAY TOBACCO! The Latest and Best Manufactured by 0 Wili/übib & Co., Ricfo- yad t V.A. _______ - FOR SALE, A GRAND LITTLE FARM OF 1 K(\ ACRES, situated 1± miles from LO\J Tlowald Yards, splendid bom* etead, well divided, with water in eaol) paddock. Price low and easy terms Alio, £\ry(X ACBEB, in tha best of order, good &I \J homestead, Tinwald. Very low price will be accepted for this Farm B. W, HANMER, BUY Direct From England — Funotti 11 Khaki" Cycles, Great cat in ttM trade ; first-olaes quality at bedrock prlflM for cash ; single machines at £4 18 ; two machines, £8 lls j three machines, £12 Sf} freight and duty paid to Wellington! Ladies' cycles 10a per machine extra } #0* tations for ten bicycles and over on appll cation. — John Hobst, Khaki Companf Stedall's Buildings, Portsmouth, England* I HAVE Trust Monies for Investment Hi sums of £500 to £5000 on FzMV Mortgaqh at lowest current rates, DAVID ZANDER, __ Tarcred Styeet E. WT^A N M E B, TO FARMERS. I AM prepared to make very liberal Oaili advances on til produce—Grain, Woo( Frozen Mutton or Lamb, Sheep Skins, etv, etc., which may be placed in my hands f«r sale here—or for tale by my representatives in London. I ehall not charge any Commission hit* for the advance—and my representatives la 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 there is, lit slightest chanco of doing better by holding for a while. The question of selling indif criminately beoauee they do not knowpu* sonally the consignor, Js a v«y strong feint ture in the mode of doing their bn Intaft which has always recommended them. E. W. IJANMER. A. AGER ARCHITECT. ARCADE OBAMBIRS ASHBURTON. TF you want a NEW HOUSE, orlAltori tions, or Newest Style of Decorations, CONSULT MR AGER. Call and see the NEW FIBBOSI BLIND Imitation of Venetian, at naif the pilot, 611 J. V. DE BEER' WATCHMAKER & JEWELLER TTAS j net received a Large Sbjpmti OF WATCHES, WATOHE& 6 Dozen Nickel Levers at 2ft| 6d Specially made to order, Strongly bill! to suit hard wear. 2 Years Guaranty 3 Dozen NICKEL WATCHES at 204 The beet value in the Colony. 1 yetrfl Guarantee. A New and Fall Stock of Gent's and Ladies Gold and Silver Watdull to hand. S PECTACLES New Frames and Lenses on th§ Interchangeable System. To meet the requirements of thflß using the famous "LAZARUS* Spectacles a special importation of faff Frames and Lenses to hand, SIGi-JH'i? -T-BltaVTlll^jaV . A PERFECT lID GUARANTEED* J. V.DE~BEEE WATCHMAKER & JEWELLER, Aehburton