THE STORY-TELLER.

A BOARDING- HOUSE IDYLL

By Miss Braddon.

The dining-room of Cholmondeley Mansion presented a rather cheerless aspect on Sunday morning. The younger ladies, limp and feverish from last night’s dance, either breakfasted in bed ox struggled wearily into the room just as the table was being cleared. The Cholmondeley dowagers, o’erspent with chaperon-work, or with the mingled excitement of 100 and a little something hot, made the Saturday ball an excuse for a lie-a-bed Sunday, and appeared generally about lunch-time, cross and pions. As for the gentlemen-boarders at the mansion, they had lost heart and appetite overnight, and pulled at their food in a jaded way—an English Sunday sitting heavy on their souls. •

Indeed, having arrived on the previous Saturday evening, and partaken, in a mild way, of the current festivities, I hardly expected, from an intimate ac quaintance with the habits of the house, to find anybody interesting at breakfast except Mrs. Bowser, our respected hostess, pi-esiding at the head of an ocean of clean table-cloth, flanked at intervals by one or two of the disconsolate gentle men aforesaid. “ Breakfast on the table from nine to ten,” was the order of the house ; and entering the room midway between these hours, I found it, as usual, but thinly tenanted, and had no difficulty in obtain ing the seat I claimed as an habitue of the Cholmondeley, on Mrs. Bowser’s left hand. Of fifty inmates of the house, who with a very few “ outsiders,” had danced out the week in the first-floor drawing room, there were present at breakfast only some dozen men and two ladies, who had attended an early function, and made a conspicuous display of prayei'-books on plates before them. At the head of the table, Mrs. Bowser dispensed tea that had been hot. At the foot Miss Amelia, sister and assis-tant of the hostess, dispensed coffee thatwas still warm. After saluting Mrs. Bowser, inclining my head to Miss Amelia, and including the rest of the company in a bland bow, I became aware of the circumstance that a gentleman, a new comer to the Cholmon deley, occupied the seat of honor on Mrs. Bowser’s right, which from time memorial had been devoted to Mrs. Twistleton, (of whom more hereafter,) and in her absence, to the personage of next importance then in residence.

No sooner had my wants been supplied from the hot meats frizzling in the fender, than Mrs. Bowser begged leave to intro duce me to her distinguished friend the Count Bouilli, who was honoring Chol mondeley mansion with his presence. It would be impossible to conceive anything so essentially French as the Count’s general appearance. His dress was Parisian, his beard, and especially his moustache, could have been nurtured nowhere out of Paris ; the extreme diffi culty he experienced in finding the right English words, and pronouncing even the easiest of them with an English accent, showed how unusually foreign lie was, how extravagantly un-English. “ To be made introduce to me, it was to him a more happy moment, than he could conceive.” In his struggle after English idiom he seemed to have lost all idiom. The conversation between us was not very animated, for my distinguished “ vis-a-vis ” seemed more inclined to eat than talk. Madame bestowed her smiles upon us alternatively, and noticing my furtive surprise at the Count’s peculiar ities of manner and costume, gave me a series of winks with her left eye, as much as to say, “ Oh, yes ; isn’t he a nice man 1 So charmingly French !” My admiring investigations were, how ever, intenupted by a general rising on the part of the breakfasting gentlemen, which attracted the attention of the Count and myself. It was caused by no less a circumstance than the appearance of “the belle of the Cholmondeley.” Heither the young lady who was at pre sent installed in that office, nor, as far as my experiences w r ent, any of her prede cessors, had ever before honored the Sun day breakfast-table with their presence. Their manner -was to tell each of their cavaliers severally that they were going to church at a quai-ter to eleven pi-ecisely, and then when the time came and the hall was full of young gentlemen moodily gazing at each other, in may colored scarfs and spotless gloves, to slip demurely out of the back door with mamma, returning at lunch time to ravish such of their ad mirers as had not started on a twenty mile walk in despair, by making them guess who had been the favored compa nion at church. It will save much confu sion if I explain at once that mammas are at a discount at Cholmondeley Mansion ; we know them only as their daughters’ encumbrance, who may prove trouble some at times.

k. These remarks will serve to explain the sudden rising of the male element 'at the breakfast table—an example which the Count and myself, not to be singular, imitated at once. Half of us were in love with Miss Edie Twistleton, and the other half were strug gling feebly with the passion ; so that when she made her gracious appearance in the breakfast-room, and advanced to say “ Good morning,” to Mrs Bowser, it was natural that we should spring to our feet, and that at least a dozen chairs should be offered by as many gentlemen, who further, with their disengaged hands, made clutches at plates of muffins and re mainder jiortions of frizzled ham as step ping-stones to the beauty’s favor. While the excitement was at its height, two dis tinct sniffs were audible from the direc tion of the ladies with the prayer books. (to be continued )

THE ASHBURTON HERALD

[ Wednesday, March ?q i 1880,



Educational. MISS GOODGER, has much pleasure in informing the Ladies of Ash burton that she is about to open a PRIVATE SCHOOL, and solicits their pttronage. SUBJECTS : English, French, Music, Plain and Orna mental Needle Work. Referees : The Very Revd. Dean of Christchurch, and J. P. Restell, Esq. Terms on application to MISS GOOD LIER at the Somerset Hotel, Ashburton. J’or address, gee future Advertisement



Acland, Campbell, and Co. THURSDAY, 11th MARCH. HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, COWS, TRAP, HARNESS, Ac. Acland, Campbell, & co., are instructed by Mr. Gaukrodger to offer by public auction, on THURSDAY, 11th MARCH, All liis Household Furniture, Cook ing Utensils, Milch Cows, Trap and Harness Ac., Ac. Also, A large quantity of good Oaten Straw, all hand tied. The Auctioneers beg to draw attention to this sale of Furniture, as it is all new, only having been in use for twelve months ; and also that as Mr. Gaukrodger intends leaving this province, every lot will be sold without any reserve. ACLAND, CAMPBELL, A CO., 94c Auctioneers. Public Notices. CAUTION. ANY PERSON BATHING in our Mill Race without our written per mission, will be PROSEC GTED. 132 c SAUNDERS BROTHERS. NOTICE. RATING ACT, 1876. VY/HEIEREAS at a sitting of the Assess * » ment Court for the Road District of Longbeach, held this 28th day of FEBRUARY, at Longbeach, before me, F. Guinness, Judge of the said Court, it was proved that no Valuation List had been prepared as required by the said Act. Now, therefore, under the provisions of Clause 28 of the said Act, I order that a Valuation List be made, and I hereby appoint FRANCIS GEORGE PARRY LEACH to be the Valuer for the said dis trict, and I do further fix SATURDAY, the 20th day of MARCH next, the day for the completion and inspection of such list, and that the last day for delivering objections thereto shall be SATURDAY, the 10th day of APRIL next. The Court will sit at 10 o’clock in the forenoon on Saturday, the 17th day of April next, for the purpose of hearing and determining all objections to the Valua tion List for the' said district, FRANK GUINNESS, Judge. 585 g 148 c



NOTICE. RATING ACT, 187 G. TIITHEREAS at a sitting of the Assess * * ment Court for the Road District of Mount Somers, held this 23rd day of February at Mount Somers, before me, F. Guinness, Judge of the said Court, it was proved that no valuation list had been prepared as required by the said Act. Now, therefore, under the provisions of clause 28 of the said Act, I order that a valuation list be made, and I hereby appoint FRANCIS GEORGE PARRY LEACH to be the valuer for the said dis trict, and I do further fix SATURDAY, the 13th day of March next, the day for the completion and inspection of such list, and that the last day for delivering objec tions thereto shall be the 3rd day of April next. The Court will sit at 10 o’clock in the forenoon on Monday, the 19th day of April next, for the purpose of hearing and determining all objections to the valuation list for the said district. FRANK GUINNESS, 99c J udge. T. Bullock. THE undersigned has the following PROPERTIES to LET with a pur chasing clause, or FOR SALE on liberal terms of payment — ACRES good WHEAT LAND, all ploughed and ready for cross ploughing for wheat ; situated about three miles from the township. ACRES, near the above ; also good WHEAT LAND, ploughed once and ready for cross-ploughing. ACRES, partly improved, near Wins low. This will be sold very cheap, and' on very liberal terms. TOWN PROPERTIES. T 7 ALU ABLE BUSINESS SITE in Bur * nett Street, being T.S. 177, next the “ Mail” office. “DART of T.S. 139, Peter Street. This will be sold cheap, and on liberal terms. TO Railway Employes, Mechanics, and Others.—FOß SALE, cheap, Lot 78, situated on East Town Belt. Terms, £5 cash ; balance by monthly or quarterly payments. T. BULLOCK. Conveyances. THE LONGBEACH COACH ! /N EORGE WILLCOOKS respectfully vX acknowledges the liberal support which he has received during the short time his Coach has been running, and solicits a continuance of the same. The fares by Willcocks’ coach are exactly 3d. per mile ordinary fares, and lid. per mile for Saturday return. They are as under— Longbeach to Ashburton, ordinary 55., return Bs. Waterton to Ashburton, 3s. Gd. ordi nary, Gs. return. Ashton to Ashburton, 3s. ordinary, ss. return. Wheatstone to Ashburton, 2s. Gd. ordinary, 4s. return. SINGLE FARE RETURN ON SATURDAYS. The coach leaves the Booking Office, Quill’s Commercial Hotel, each day at 3.15 ; Post Office, 3.30. 0 c; ECOOKSON, Wills Street, runs the . MAIL COACH from Ashburton Railway Station to Green Street, Alford Forest, and Mount Soiners, every Tuesday and Friday, returning Wednesday and Saturday at 8 pan,



Edmiston Bros. & Gundry. THURSDAY, 2otii MARCH. ASHBURTON MUNICIPAL RESERVES. T|/fES§RS. EDMISTON BROS. and XVX GUNDRY have been favored with instructions from the Borough Council to LET BY PUBLIC AUCTION, at their rooms, East street, on THURSDAY, 2 sth MARCH, the following very VALUABLE SECTIONS in the Township of Ashburton for a term of 21 years — T. S. 210, West street, next to Messrs. Jameson Bros’. Storo. T.S. 211, corner of Baring Square. These sections are first-class BUSINESS SITES, being close to the railway station, sidings could be easily obtained. Also, Reserve No. 1689, Fronting Wills street, Cameron street, and the East Town Belt. This Reserve has been divided into ten ots, upon six q{ which are erected SIX TWO-ROOMED COTTAGES. These lots will be let separately on 14 years’ lease. Sale at 1.30 p.m. EDMISTON BROS. & GUNDRY, 584g-147c Auctioneers.



TURNIP SEEDS SALE by the undersigned— Green Top Yellow Aberdeen Purple „ „ Devonshire Grey Stone Mammoth Purple Top White Stone Stubble Grass and Clover Seeds. White Clover Red ~ Timothy Alsike Lucerne &C. , &C. , Gorse Italian Rye Cocksfoot Perennial Trefoil &c. Building Material. 100,000 FEET OF ASSORTED TIMBER White & Black Pine Black Birch T. and G. Flooring Y.D.L. T. and G. Lining Totara ? Kauri, &c., &c. COALS AND FIREWOOD IN ANY QUANTITY. EDMISTON BROS. & GUNDRY, East Street. Agents for the SOUTH BRITISH FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY. Capital £1,000,000. Risks taken on all kinds of Property, Growing Crops, Grain in Stack, Thresh ing Machines. EDMISTON BROS. & GUNDRY, East Street. FARMS FOR SALE in blocks of 50 to 100 acres. Price from £2 15s. per acre. EDMISTON BROS. & GUNDRY, 10Gc East Street. MR. JOHN LLOYD CRAWLEY, Auctioneer, Stock, Land, and Commission Agent. Farms, Town and Suburban Sections, for Sale and to Let. J. LLOYD CRAWLEY, AUCTIONEER, Offices, Saunders Buildings, Ashburton. 737 a FORMS PRINTED “To Let” and “ For Sale ” —can be obtained at the Herald Office. T" HE PENNY made the postal system of England a success. So has it made the Herald. Everybody buys the Herald



Eusiness Notices. REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF BREAD. DWARD TAYLOR has reduced thp 'J Price of his best Bread to sd. Cash at shop, and if delivered by cart, sid. EDWARD TAYLOR, Saunders’ Buildings, 119 c ASHBURTON. C. PERCY COX, L AND AND ESTATE AGENT ANT VALUATOR, ASHBURTON. MONEY TO LEND APPROVED FREEHOLD SECUBITY Agent for Union Insurance COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND. 717



ANSTEE’S DINING ROOMS, TANCRED STREET, ASHBURTON. THE Proprietor begs to inform visitors to Ashburton, and the travelling public generally, that the best accommo dation for Boarders in Ashburton is to be had at the above establishment. A LIBERAL TABLE & MODERATE CHARGES. MEALS AT ALL HOURS ... Is. BEDS ... ... Is. BOARD & LODGING ... 18s. & 20s. PRIVATE REFRESHMENT ROOMS FOR LADIES. PROPRIETOR, J. G. ANSTEE. 985 a PAPERHANGING WAREHOUSE, TANCRED STREET, Ashburton - . J. R. CHAPMAN PAINTER, PAPERHANGER, SIGN-WRITER, Etc:., Has much pleasure in stating that, owing to the large increase of Business, he is now Importing from the Manufacturers— PAPER HANGINGS, WHITE LEAD LINSEED OIL, WINDOW GLASS, BRUSIIWAPE, And all the necessaries of the Trade, and is therefore in a position to compete with any house in Canterbury for price and quality. Every description of work in the trade executed under personal superin tendence. Competent workmen sent to all parts of the country. ESTIMATES GIVEN. 43 a TINWALD BOOT AND SHOE SHOP. BOOTS! BOOTS!! THE Undersigned begs to draw the at tention of the public to his well as sorted stock of Ladies’, Gents’, and Chil dren’s Boots, which he has just received, and will dispose of CHEAP. Motto— “ Small profits and quick returns.” All kinds of Boots made and repaired on the the shortest possible notice. 591 g C. HAWKINS, Bootmaker. REMOVED TO WAKANUI ROAD, Next to Post Office. JOSEPH WARD, FAMILYBUTCHER, BEGS to inform the Public of Ash burton that he will Open as above on Saturday next, and intends selling for cash at a REDUCTION in PRICES. First-class Beef, 3d. to sd. per lb. First-class Mutton, 2d. to 3d. per lb. Legs, 3id per lb. JOSEPH WARD, 892a* Butcher. Drawing paper, ail sizes, just opened at WEEKS AND DIXON, East street. T) ALL PROGRAMME CARDS in 13 very neat styles, with Pencils and Ribbons, printed at the Herald Office, East street, near Railway Station, CHINIQUY’S LECTURES.—Just Ar rived, New Edition. H. M. Jones, Baying Square.



Business Notices. TO FARMERS, LIVERY STABLE KEEPERS, SPORTING MEN, AND OTHERS OWNING HORSES. GEORGE KIDD, Moors Street, BEGS to announce the fact that the PRICE for SHOEING hacks and light draught HORSES is now REDUCED to 7s. per set, and that all horses of this description will be specially attended to by himself. Horses liable to cut are shod on a prin ciple of George Kidd’s own invention, which has proved an effectual cure for brushing. All kinds of blacksmith’s work, and repairs to agricultural machinery of any description done on the shortest notice. GEORGE KIDD, 75c-52Gg Moore street, Ashburton. ASHBURTON COPPER, ZINC, IRON, & TIN PLATE MANUFACTORY. JOSEPH HYDE (Late Foreman at the Malvern Works England, and the Canterbury Works, Christchurch, New Zealand) BEGS to thank his friends of Ashbur ton and surrounding districts for the liberal support accorded him during the past two years, and to intimate that he has opened NEW BUSINESS PRE MISES in Moore street (next Mr. Neate’s chemist shop) where he is prepared to execute every description of Plain and Japanned Tinware, Lamps, Gas Reflec tors, Chimney Tops, Portable Washing Boilers, Baths, Cheese Vats, etc. LOCKSMITH, BELLHANGER, GAS PI! TER. Artesian Wells, Beer Engines, Pumps, <fcc. Steam Kettles, Hot Closets, made on the premises. Estimates given for Spouting. All work done under J. H.’s personal Superintendence, and guaranteed. J. HYDE, Moore Street, Ashburton.



PUBLIC NOTICE. BOOTS! BOOTS! T. CHAMBERS WHILE THANKING the public of Ashburton and surrour ding dis tricts for past favors, begs to inf< rn them that he has received, and to arrive _ at his place r,f business, East-street, a WELL-ASSORTED STOCK Oi' LADIES’, GENTLEMEN’S, AND CHIL DREN’S BOOTS AND SHOES Of all descriptions. T. C. also calls special attenLi 1 to the Measure Department, and iir> ites the gentlemen of Ashburton to inspect the superior class of Sewn Boots and Shoes he is now making. Riding Boots, Shooting Boots, Walking Boots and Shoes, Cricketing Boots and Shoes, and Running Shoes. WORKMANSHIP UNSURPASSED. A PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED T. CHAMBERS, PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Next to Montgomery’s, East-street. MEDICINE . ASTRINGENT, a certain cure for Diarrhoea in Children or Adults, Is. 6d. and 2s. Gd a Bottle. CAMBRIDGE’S BLACK CUR RANT COUGH ELIXIR, Is. 6d. and 2s Gd. a Bottle. CAMBRIDGE’S ORANGE QUIN INE TONIC WINE, 2s. Gd. and 4s. Gd. a Bottle. CAMBRIDGE’S EXTRACT OF BARK, CURES SORE, TENDER, and CRACKED NIPPLES. CAMBRIDGE’S ESSENCE of RENNET, 3 Drops will lurn a pint of milk into delicious sweet curds, Is. and 2s. Gd. a Bottle. J. M. CAMBRIDGE, Chemist, MEDICAL HALL. N.B.—Teeth carefully Extracted. 2s. Gd. BRE AD ! BREAD! Co-operative Bread and Biscuit Factory. Triangle, Wakanui Road, Ashburton. A. TLIIE LE, BEGS to inform the public that he is now in a position to SUPPLY BEST BREAD, Gd. per 41b. loaf, unsur passed. Delivered daily to all parts of the Borough, also, Confectionery, Ac. Mixed Biscuits reduced from Is. to Bd. per lb. Wedding Cakes made to Order. 122c-570g JUST ARRIVED—English Papers and Magazines, Young Ladies’ Journal, Bow Bells, London Journal, Ac., Ac. H. M. JONES, Stationer, Baring Square. LABOURERS requiring work can secure first opening by applying early at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is. WANTED, those in search of employ ment, to call and enter their names at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is. SERVANTS requiring situations, call and get your names entered in the Herald Registry, Is.



Business Notices. VALUE EXTRAORDINARY. THE Great Bargains OF THE SEASON. GREAT CLEARANCE SALE FOR THIRTY DAYS. ORR AND CO. HAVING resolved to clear out tlie Balance of the Bankrupt Stocks purchased by them during the Season (amounting to over ten thousand pounds) regardless of cost so that they may commence the Autumn Season with en tirely a new Stock, ORR AND CO. Will also offer several cheap lots pur chased by them during the late depression. Special Bargains. 90 Pair Twilled Kaiapoi Blankets at 4s. under the usual price. Kaiapoi Flannel at Is. 4d., Is. 6d. to 2s. English Flannel at Is., Is. 2d., Is. 6d., to Is. 9d. Prints at sd. and 6d., worth 9d. Brown Hollands, 7d. to Is. COSTUMES. 56 Costumes at 215., worth 355. 6d., a Baigain. 64 Print Costumes at 7s. 6d. to 12s. Gd., worth 20s. 1700 yards Dress Goods, Alpaccas, at Bd., lOd., and Is. MILLINERY. Trimmed and Untrimmed Hats at half price. 2 Boxes Flowers, sold at 6d. per spray. Ladies’ Underclothing at very much under usual prices. 20Dozen Stays at 3s. Gd., 45., 4s. 9d., to ss. 6d. CLOTHING. Men’s Suits at 15s. under usual prices. Boys’ Suits at 15s. 6d. to 355. Youth’s Suits at a little over half-price. Braces, Ties, Collars, Socks, and Shirts, unusually cheap. 20 Dozen Harvest Shirts at Is. Gd. to 2s. Gd. BOOTS. Men’s Boots still sold at Bankrupt prices. Youth’s Boots in great variety. Ladies’ Kid Boots at old prices. 1 Case Children’s Boots at Is. and Is. Gd., a bargain.



TAIL OB ING DEARTMENT. WE HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN ANNOUNCING TO THE PUBLIC THAT A Tailoring Branch HAS BEEN OPENED IN CON NECTION WITPI OUR CLOTHING DEPARTMENT, HAVING MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH MESSRS. CRAIGHEAD AND CO. (LATE OF EDINBURGH AND SAN FRANCISCO), PRACTICAL TAILORS, TO MkKE UP ALL ORDERS EN TRUSTED TO US IN THE VERY BEST STYLE. A PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED. SCOTCH, ENGLISH, and COLONIAL TWEEDS IN GREAT VARIETY. THE CELEBRATED BLARNEY TWEED (CORK) KEPT IN STOCK. FANCY COATINGS IN GREAT VARIETY. SUITS from M 4s. DRESSMAKING DEPARTMENT. Dresses, Costumes, and Jackets made up to order, under the superintendence of a first-class Dressmaker. WEDDING & MOURNING ORDERS PUNCTUALLY ATTENDED TO. ORR AND CO., IMPORTERS ASHBURTCN AND RAKAIA.



Business Notices. JUST ARRIVED, A CHOICE ASSORTMENT OF OFFICE AND HOUSEHOLD STATIONERY PAPER HAGS, ACCOUNT BOOKS, DIARIES. &c. To Meet the Requirements of the County of Ashburton, WEEKS & DIXON Are now Importing, direct from the makers, Every description of Commercial, Law, and General Stationery, which they are in a position to supply, wholesale or retail, at prices that will compare favorably with any house in the Colony. The Goods now being opened up include a Choice Assortment of Plain and Fancy. Note Papers and Envelopes, and some very superior kinds. 10 CASES STATIONERY 10 BALES PAPER



Commercial and Law Stationery Notepapers in great variety Envelopes of the newest styles Inkstands and Bottles Pens and Penholders Pencils and Pencil Cases Account and Pocket Books, Etc. Biscuit Bags Flour Bags Milliners’ Bags. Wholesale and Retail. LIBERAL DISCOUNT FOR CASH. BOOKS (SCRAP, ALBUMS, &c.,” n ;&c.) We have a small lot of the above, and being desirous of clearing out these articles, we shall be glad to dispose of them at VERY LOW RATES, so as to make room for incoming consigments of General Stationery. WEEKS AND DIXONS Saunders’ Buildings, EAST STREET ASHBURTON.