THE STORY-TELLER.

THE LOST BANK NOTE. Chapter 1. It was not on a first impulse, but after due reflection, that I, George Dunning, articled clerk in the office of Messrs. Bustler and Clark, Solicitors, decided on retaining the bank note which I had found behind my desk. My first impulse, I need hardly say, was to carry it to one of the firm, with an explanation of the way in which I dis covered it. .For the money was certainly not mine ; and I hope I was a sufficiently honest man, if a poor one, to scout the idea of keeping what did not belong to me. So, as I say, my first thought was to carry it to one of my chiefs the earliest thing next morning, and to relate how, moving my desk in a search after a favourite peri which had sl'pped behind it and the wall, I had come upon this Bank of England note amid the dust and scraps there accumulated. But second thoughts brought doubt, and perhaps a grain of selfishness. Sup pose, I argued to myself (the rest of the clerks were gone for the night : I had the office to myself, and plenty of leisure for reflection), suppose this money does not belong to Bustler and Clark more than to myself? They have only tenanted this office for abou* two years, and the note is dusty enough to have lain between the desk and tlie wall for eight or ten years. Then Bustler and Clarke took the furni ture as it stands, on moving in. It is possible the note may have lain there all the time. If they had lost it, I should surely have heard something of it. All things considered, I may have a right to keep the money without forfeiting my claim to be called an honest fellow ; at all events, I shall acquire that right if 1 convince myself that the note never be longed to Bustler and Clark. -Thinking it out thus, I again scrutinised the valuable scrap of tissue-paper in my hand. Upon first finding it, I had thought it was some such trash as Tom, our office boy was accustomed to purchase in the street. Tom was for ever buying cheap penknives which would not cut ; cheap cast-iron cannons which burst with the first discharge. And a favorite bar gain of Tom’s was to spend a penny in a curious assortment of useless articles, including four brass rings, a sham breast pin, a counterfeit sovereign, a printed puzzle, a couple of ballads, and a note for five pounds on the “Bank of Elegance.” Therefore I thought my treasure trove might be one of Tom’s precious Bank of Elegance notes. Yet it was no sham paper money, mine ; but a veritable Promise to Pay, signed on behalf of the Governor and Company of the nationl establishment. Number 07i,482 ; and for five hundred pounds. Trembling with hope at so sudden an accession to fortune—more wealth than I had ever owned at once—and with the fear of losing it as suddenly, I reopened the safe which it was my duty to lock at night, and took out the bill-book. Herein I knew the numbers of all bank-notes were entered which passed through the hands of Bustler and Clarke during the last five years, I should find a'record of it in a special portion of the bill-book apor tioned to Bank of England notes. I ran my eye down the money columns, looking for five hundred pounds. A chill sense of disappointment struck me as I came upon an entry opposite a date of some eighteen months back; Number 07,482 had passed through the hands of Bustler and Clarke. Moreover .it stood recorded as having been paid away to William Wylde ; and there was a marginal note attached : “See letter of instruction from Theophilus Langbrace, Esquire,” with number and date quoted. Here was a mystery at the outset. Number 07,482 had been paid to William Wylde eighteen months ago, and yet 1 held it in my hand. I hunted up the letter of instruction referred to, among the tied-up correspondnce of a couple of years back. The entry was correct. I found the letter of Theophilus Longbrace, one- of the firm’s clients, authorising Messrs Bustler and Clarke to pay William Wylde the sum of five hundred pounds “in discharge of all claims ” on Theo philus Lanbrace, and further requiring Messrs. Bustler and Clarke to obtain Wylde’s receipt in full for the amount. T remembered . Wylde now. A shabby actor, who filled secondary parts at a transpontine theatre, and who frequented a tavern at which our office boy Tom was too often seen. It was in Tom’s presence that I had met Wylde, in whom 1 saw little to admire or even to tolerate. A boastful, truculent man he seemed at the best, much given to gin and to an inordi nate estimation of his own abilities which were more patent to himself than to the manager. He had married, as I learnt from Tom on the first introduction, above his station ; in fact, it was said that his wife had been a lady, the daughter of our client Theophilus . Langbrace. How Wylde’s vulgar manner and loud assertive ness had fascinated her was a mystery which the poor lady would never answer now, for, she was dead. It had been an ill-assorted union ; and Wylde who had received some assistance from his father inrlaw during his wife’s life-time, fell into worse ways after her death, .and grew morp drqpkpn, paqre dissipated, and more arrogant. This, then, was the person for whom the note for five hundred pounds had evi denty been intended, and who appeared in our books as having received Number 07,482. That he had never come into possession of his due, the - obvious gift of his father-in-law, was proved by the note in my possession. The mystery was pot to bo cleared up that night, it was Cprtain ; so \ determined to wait till next day, and question old Qraham. Qld Graham was a clerk in the employ ment of Busier and Clarke, a fellow worker of mine, and with whom we younger fellows held little communion. He was a shy, little, broken-down, pre maturely old man, whose retiring habits r and general Amorousness left nothing in common between him an the rest, who made few acquaintances. The younger men spoke of old Graham with a half oitying, half contemptuous tone, as one whose ways of life did not consort with the ardent spirits who enjoyed existence on eighty pounds a year. I believe I understood the. old man the best of all my colleagues. We were good friends, for beneath that shy and shambling exterior he possessed a kind heart, and he,had a treasure in his home of which the rollick ing young bloods at Busier and Clarke’s never dreamt. I alone . could . estimate

that treasure. I alone was a welcome guest in the modest ground floor at Ken nington, and knew how much beauty and gentle worth were represented in Kate Graham. My intimacy with her father had taught me this, and the knowledge soon brought a warmer feeling. Seeing how dear she was to him, I had come to hope for a time when I should supplant him in her care and love. I knew that I was welcome in the household (it consisted but of himself and her), and I left the rest to time and constancy. As matters stood, I was too poor to marry, until the discovery of the five hundred pound note awakened a hope which I determined should only be realised according to the dictates of strict honesty.

(7 o be continued. )

The Timaru Breakwater.

We do not know if the Timaru break water is in any danger of demolition from the report on the Timaru Harbor Works by Mr. Blackett, Colonial Marine Engineer, laid before Parliament, but we should say Mr. Blackett himself will bo in great danger should he ever again dare to cross the boundaries of Timaru. This is how, in his report above mentioned, he dares discourse about the darling of the Timaruvian heai-t : —“My recommenda tion, therefore, is this, to stop the building of the breakwater at once, and afterwards to remove and break it up, so as to lessen the prejudicial effect on the beach adjoin ing the lands and railway on the north. The damage to the Main Southern line through the diversion of the sea bj 7 the breakwater is stated to be very ex tensive, and certain to increase enormously in a progressive ratio. This is an unsatis factory result of the heavy expenditure already incurred, but both Mr. Carruthers and Sir John Coode gave distinct warning of the danger. ” Mr. Blackett’s reason for thus advising is his belief that the break water is causing incalculable damage to the railway line, which must in the end require the expenditure of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Press Messages.

Amongst the intended legislation of the session just commenced is a measure to facilitate the transmission of telegraphic messages to the press in the event of a temporary interruption. The present regulation is that all messages must be forwarded according to the order in which they are received, whether they can be delivered or not at their destination im mediately after their receipt at the office to which they have been sent. By this rule, when the telegraph line is blocked late in the evening, private messages that by no possibility can reach the person they are intended for till after the resumption of business next morning are sent on to the office they are intended for, where they must lie till the messenger resumes duty at nine o’clock. While these messages occupy the wires, simply because of their priority in sending in, press messages, that can be delivered where they are addressed, are kept back until the line is clear, and are consequently too late to be of any use to the newspapers. Should the new Bill pass this state of things will be altered, the private messages that would not and could not be delivered until the following morning will be delayed, and the press messages forwarded as long as there is a chance of their delivery, which is up till one a.m. Press messages will, under the new ; Bill, obtain precedence, after a stoppage, but care will be taken that the private telegrams will not suffer delay in actual delivery. This new arrangement will be a decided improvement, inasmuch as the general public will not be incon venienced, while the press will enjoy a benefit in the removal of what has always been an annoyance and a grievance.

More Reproductive.

Opposition papers are making an outcry over a somewhat reticent passage in the Governor’s speech—namely, that “public works already constructed must be made more reproductive.” One newspaper cor respondent has found a mare’s nest, making the discovery that this increase in reproductiveness refers to intended in crease in the passenger and goods tariff on the railways ; and it is alleged that should this increase eventuate the provinces where there is the greatest extent of rail way mileage will suffer in consequence. This would be only natural, for where the most railway traffic is done, there would surely be the greatest extra contribution to the revenue of the railway. But Go vernment have as yet given no sound whatever on the subject, beyond the single line in His Excellency’s speech, and until they have announced what they really intend to do, surmises either one way or other, unless some more tangible authority is given than the imagination of a newspaper correspondent not in the Go vernment confidence, are only laughed at. Is it not just as likely that instead of raising the tariff in the hope of bringing in more money without any extra outlay, Government may see it to be advantageous, with a view to in creasing both passenggr and goods traffic, to reduce the tariff in a very great degree. The railway companies at Home and in America, when they find their receipts are falling off, do not increase the tariff but reduce it, and the resnlt is usually per fectly satisfactory. There can be no doubt whatever that were the fares charged on our railway lines reduced to figures within the reach of the million a far larger proportion of the population would and a greater extent of carrying trade would be done were the goods rates lowered. For instance, would not the parcel traffic between Christchurch and Ashburton be very much added to if the fares were low enough to be in no case higher than the value of the parcel sent, as they sometimes are at this moment; and would not quite a rush of travellers visit the city every week if a day’s sojourn in Christchurch did not include in its ex pense to a family man a too heavy item for railway fares. We do not pretend to know any more of the Governmental mind than those who circulate idle rumors of what Government intends to do. John Hall keeps his own counsel until the proper time comes, and does not babble to every man he meets what he intends to do. But we have sufficient faith in his good sense, and the good sense of his colleagues, to believe that he will go about his increase of productiveness in the most business like way possible, and not adopt a course on the face of which non-success and dis aster are plainly written.

THE ASHBURTON HERALD, TUESDAY, JUNE i, 1880.



J. E. Buchanan and Co. This Day. TO THE RESIDENTS OF ASHBURTON AND OTHERS. IMPORTANT SALE OF BUILDING SITES, TOWN AND COUNTRY PROPERTIES. Messrs, j. e. buchanan & co. have been instructed by various clients, to SELL BY PUBLIC AUCTION, AT THE ASHBURTON TOWN HALL, ON TUESDAY, ist JUNE, AT TWO O’CLOCK P.M., The following Properties : SPLENDID SUBURBAN QA SECTIONS, Situated between the Wakanui and North Belt Roads, having frontage on both, about 200 yards from the East Town Belt. 30 25 SUBURBAN SECTIONS 25 80 Fronting the North Belt, close to Messrs. Montgomery and Co.’s Brickworks. TWO FIRST-CLASS DWELLING {HOUSES IN PETER STREET, R.S. 27716, containing— ACRES 80 Situated at Wakanui at the back of Mr. Butterick’s. Terms at Sale, exceptionally easy. The Auctioneers will be able to give every advantage to intending purchasers, and solicit the attendance of the public. For Sale plans and particulars, apply to J. E. BUCHANAN & CO. 499 e Auctioneers. T. Bullock. TO LET FOR CROP OF WHEAT 150 AOE B 8 150 Near Mr. George Ashton’s, Wakanui. ACRES 65 200 Near the above. ACRE S 200 About six miles from Ashburton, on the Wakanui Estate. FOR SALE OR TO LET, WITH A PURCHASING CLAUSE, 450 AOKE FARM 450 Well watered on Longbeach Run. Also, ACRES 165 Ashburton Forks, now in grass. For Sale, cheap dwelling house of seven rooms, nearthe Parsonage, East Town Belt. . To Let, two shops in East Street. Also Office in do. Two-roomed house with lean-to, in Mona Square. Two-roomed cottage near Mr. Hay T. Smith’s Also, That old established blacksmith and wheelwright’s workshop, and Dwelling House in Ashburton, centrally situated, close to the Somerset Hotel, and now in the occupation of Mr. H. J. Edwards. For full particulars Apply to 453 c T. BULLOCK. Tenders. WAKANUI ROAD BOARD. TENDERS. TENDERS are invited for the follow ing works : No. 23—Seafield road, re-formation, &c., adjoining Fairfield Estate. No. 24 —Beach road, making foot path on east side from Town Belt to Trevor’s road. Specifications can be seen at the Board’s Office, Moore street, and tenders, accom panied with 5 per cent, deposit, and endorsed with No. of contract, will be received till 10 a.m. on THURSDAY, June 3rd. FOOKS & SON, 887g-493c Surveyors to the Board. Business Notices. BEST NEWCASTLE COALS LAMBTON COLLIERY. 50s. PER TON - I A PER CENT. DISCOUNT J-U for CASH. SPRINGFIELD .COALS 40s. PER TON. 10 Per Cent. Discount for Cash. To be delivered in my yard. Acoonnts to be paid monthly. 359 C ~773 G C. PERCY COX.



Edmiston, Gundry & Co. FOR SALE, BY PRIVATE TREATY. THE undersigned have for sale by Private Treaty, the following Pro perties : R.S. 28216, 7,8, 9, containing 686 acres, which will be sold in farms of 100 acres and upwards. This property is within 4 miles of Ashburton township, is very good land, and will be sold on very reasonable terms, viz, 10s. per acre cash and the balance at a low rate of interest on a term of years. . . 210 ACRES on Gould and Cameron’s run. This property is partly fenced with gorse fences. 128 ACRES at Chertsey, all securely fenced, and is at present sown *' ? with turnips. This property will be sold at a low price on easy terms. 125 ACRES at Greenstreet, securely fenced with live fences, and sub divided, and a permanent stream of water. 285 ACRES at Greenstreet, to be sold or let on a purchasing clause in one or more blocks. This is excellent land, and laid down in English grass, and well watered with creeks. This would make a capital farm, and will be sold on very liberal terms. 210 ACRES close to the township of Ashburton, with good dwell ing-house, stable, granary, &c. This property will be let for a term of years at a low rent. 600 ACRES at Orari, in one or more blocks. 150 ACRES at Tinv aid. A capital farm, being all fenced and ready for cropping. There are three creeks running through this pro perty. 150 ACRES at Ashton. A well com pact farm, together with house, stables, &c. Price very low. 800 ACRES at Mount Possession. 1500 ACRES near the spread Eagle Hotel. T.S. No 879, Ashburton. T. S. 301,. 302, Burnett-street, Ash burton. T.S. 247, Kermode Street, Ashbur ton. T.S. 182, 183, opposite Church, Tinwald, a bargain, &c. EDMISTON, GUNDRY, & CO., Auctioneers and Estate Agents. Agents for the gOUTH BRITISH FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY. Capital £1,000,000. Risks taken on all kinds of Property, Growing Crops, Grain in Stack, Thresh ing Machines, &c. EDMISTON, GUNDRY, & CO., East Street. 106 Business Notices. All Hot! All Hot! Hot Pies, Hot Tea, Hot Coffee, AT ALL HOURS, AT rnHOMAS mAYLOR’S, EAST STREET. . 492 c PRACTICAL WATCH & CLOCK MAKER, JEWELLER, &c. % X ROBT. MURRAY, MOORE STREET, BEACH ROAD, ASHBURTON, HAVING had over thirty years’ ex perience in some of the leading establishments in England and Scotland, trusts by good workmanship and atten tion to business to merit a share of the patronage of the inhabitants of Ashburton and County. A well-assorted stock of Watches, Clocks, Jewellery, Spectacles, &c. Watch Glasses and Keys, of best quality, fitted. All Watch and Clock Work and Jewel lery repairs executed on the Premises. . Specimens of Workmanship by R.M. shown in the window, [ . ... AT MOORE STREET (Next Door •to the Road Board Office), ; BEACH ROAD, ASHBURTON. 824g-429c



Business Notices. Dissolution OF Partnership. —o ORE AND CO., ~p)EG to announce that they intend to DISSOLVE PARTNERSHIP on Ist SEPTEMBER. They will therefore, on Saturday, May Ist, offer the whole of their superior stock, amounting to over £20,000 worth of DRAPERY, IRONMONGERY, AND GROCERIES, AT COST PRICE. The reductions in price extends to every Department in our Business, And we trust our Customers will pay PROMPT CASHf DURING SALE. All Goods will be marked in plain figures with Red Ink. jT $ |f i All outstanding accounts must be paid at once so that partnership accounts may be adjusted. ORE & CO., ASHBURTON & RAKAIA April J24th, 1880. || P.S.—A Large Shipment of Drapery Goods just opened up ex Pallala. Guns! Guns! Guns! POWDER. SHOT. CAPS. ORE AND CO. J|~AVE now on hand a very fine assortment of BREECHLOADING DOUBLE AND SINGLE-BARREL GUNS, And as these have been imported direct from the manufacturers, are prepared to Sell at'fthe most .Prices — From[£2 10s to'£2s. ORR AND CO Is9c-9g



Business Notices. T. R HODDER & CO. HAVE much pleasure in announc ing to their friends and the public generally, that their stock of WINTER DRAPERY, MILLINERY, ; MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING HATS AND HOSIERY, BOOTS AND SHOES, IS NOT • TO BE SURPASSED FOR QUALITY AND ASSORTMENT, Each Department being replete with everything suitable for the season. JUST TO HAND— A Very Large Assortment or Melbourne Clothing, MADE ESPECIALLY TO ORDER. T. R. HODDER & CO. having been encouraged by their greatly increased trade in the Clothing Department, have ENLARGED THEIR PREMISES, Enabling them to keep a Larger and More Varied Assortment. Tailoring In all branches by most experienced hands. SUITS, RIDING TROUSERS, HABITS, &c., made on the most im proved principle, at the shortest notice, and as cheap, or cheaper, than any house in Canterbury. T. R. HODDER and CO., seeking to Encourage Local Industries keep a well assorted stock of Kaiapoi, Roslyn, and Mosgiel Manufactured Goods. Boots and Shoes, Imported and Colonial make, from the best Christchurch and Dunedin Manufacturers. T. R. HODDER & CO., while not pro fessing to sell everything at COST PRICE, are prepared to meet EXISTING COM PETITION and to encourage all Cash Purchasers. An experience of twenty six years Colonial storekeeping has taught our Firm the. value of a Cash Grocery Business, which they have found succeed so well in Ashburton since bringing down the prices of many leading commodities, which course they are still prepared to continue and show their preferring PROMPT CASH, rather than risk long credit with large profits. Ironmongery AND Crockeryware AT LOWEST PAYING RATES. Sole Agents for Singer’s Sewing Machines Sole Agents for Wanzer Sewing Machine. Agents for Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company. T. R. HODDER & CO. 407 c LATEST STYLES FROM LONDON & ■ PARIS.: : . CRAIGHEAD & CO., Merchant Tailors, TANCRED STREET, (Next Orr*& Co.) PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED. 982a-445c c O T m O N CO., HORSE CLIPPERS, 24 Years’ Colonial Experience. HORSES BROKEN IN TO SADDLE AND HARNESS. Moderate Charges. Apply Baldwin s Hotel, or Brighton Boarding House, Triangle. 842g-450c HORSE BREAKING. THE undersigned is now prepared to Undertake the r BREAKING of HORSES to double and single harness, also to saddle. • ;•••:• Mr. Willcocks has had a very consider able experience in Australia, and his success there as a Trainer is sufficient guarantee as to his ability. All orders to .be left at the Coach Office, Commercial Hotel, Ashburton, or the Wheatsheaf Hotel, Wheatstone. 403c-816g GEO. WILLCOCKS. HORSE FEED. HORSE FEED. CRUSHED OATS. THE Undersigned are prepared to CRUSH OATS in any quantity. WOOD & CO., 511c-909g Ashburton Brewery. EVERETT BROS. AND CO., CHEAP DRAPERS, HAVELOCK STREET, ASHBURTON. E. B. and 00. are now showing their iT INTER APERY, Comprising V\ EVERY NOVELTY IN EACH DEPARTMENT. NEW GOODS ARRIVING MONTHLY. 1 605 c



Business Notices. FURNITURE ! FURNITURE ! ! Made to Order by pHARLES RADER; CABINETMAKER,; - : FURNITURE DEALER, &C. Chests of Drawers, 3ft. 6in. x 3ft. Gin., 7 with five drawers, Price 70s. . ; > . : -\.i Scotch Chest of Drawers, with six drawers, ’rice £s' 10s. f ;;;; Kitchen Cupboard, from 30s. Do. with Dresser, from 40s. ;r‘ Venetian and other Blinds, Curtainy- Poles, Oxford and other'Picture made to order. Furniture repaired and renovated. GREAT SOUTH ROAD, TINWALD, Beyond Clark’s Grain Stores. For Sale, a Light Waggon, nearly new, in good order, Price £22. A good chance , for anyone requiring a useful conveyance > cheap. ....... . 346 c HALLO! HALLO! QUILL AGAIN. r , REDUCTION IN PRICES. BOTTLED WINES & SPIRITS. ; T. QU I I.L, SEEING the necessity of a Wholesale' Bottling, Wine, and Spirit Store in Ashburton, has determined to supply that J: want, and therefore begs to submit the: following list of Prices, every article 1 guaranteed to be of the best and purest description. PRICE LIST. Brandy Flasks, 2s. and 4s. per- flask. Fine Old Port, per Bottle, ss. and 6s. Superior old Dry Montelado, (old Sherry) 9k. & 6s. _ ; Very old Scotch Whisky, per Bottle ss. Fine old Irish Whisky, per Bottle, ss. Superior old Jamaca Rum, per Bottle, ss. Fine old Martelle’s Dark Brandy, per Bottle, ss. Hennessey’s Brandy, per Bottle, 6s. Superior Square Gin (J.D.K.Z.), per ' Bottle, 6s. Superior- Old Tom (Swain Booth’s), per Bottle, ss. All other brands equally Reduced. 1 ‘ QUILL’S Assorted Dozen of Best Wines and Spirits for £3 10s, containing— -3 bottles Brandy 2 „ Port 2 ~ Rum (Ready packed, and forwarded to any part of the County on the shortest notice.) 2 bottles Whisky 2 ~ Sherry 1 ~ Old Tom One trial will prove to Quill’s customerf the quality of his taps. ’ COMMENCING MONDAY, 26th APRIL. Open from 7 a.m to 6 p.m. during winter d • A, _ months. ■ • Note Address— • T. QUILL’S, SLfS WHOLESALE BOTTLING STORES, Coimmercial Hotel, i (Near Railway Station), Ashburton. 751g-336c DON’T! PLEASE! DON’T! STOP ! DO STOP! S' j 350 TOP before you give your next order _ for a Suit of Clothes. ’ ) 1 j* IF you want Style, Fit, and Quality, try the Undersigned. READ the following, then call and in- • spect the Goods. (YARDS READY ) 350 T 0 ( CUT. JUST ARRIVED—The best Stock of Winter Cloths to be got for money SUPERIOR in quality to anything ever yet shown in Ashburton. ( SAMPLES 70 J T 0 (SELECT FROM ) Comprising the following : j German Cloths, plain and fanoy, the, i most fashionable Beaver Cloths, suitable for Winter Scotch Tweeds, assorted Mosgiel „ „ : Kaiapoi ~ ~ West of England Cloths Bedford Cords \ Irish Frieze, &c., &c., &c. OALL and inspect this Splendid Assort ment before you order. MOTTO: Small Profits and Quick Returns. Terms—Cash. 70 and Finish second to none. EC £1 is. Cash for a Pair CONOMYI of Trousers ) £3 15s. Cash for a Tweed f Suit, , The Address is— : -r ; ' • G. J. F. LUBLOW, THE TAILORING DEPOT, Triangle, Ashburton, Between Post Office and Baldwin’s Central Hotel. 782g-390c ALL PROGRAMME CARDS in very neat styles, with Pencils and Ribbons, printed at the Herald Office East street, near Railway Station, THE PENNY made the.postal system of England a success. So has it made the Herald. Everybody buys the Hera u>