Ayres, Richard, Medical Herbalist and Botanic Chemist, Botanic Dispensary, 90 Cuba Street, Wellington. Branches: Riddiford Street and Molesworth Street, Wellington. Telegraphic address, “Ayres, Wellington.” Telephone 132. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, The Pines, Coromandel Street. Agents:—Auckland, Mr. W. M. Smith; New Plymouth, Mr. T. W. Forster; Palmerston North, Mr. J. Williams and Mr. J. Hepworth; Pahiatua, Mr. C. Ridd; Nelson, Mr. J. Stanton; Bienneim, Mr. J. C. page 491 Poole; West Coast, Mrs. Barber, Dennistin; Dunedin, Mr. W. B. Kindly; Brisbane, Mr. A. Dall. This business was established by Mr. Ayres in 1890 on a very small scale; but as he soon made himself known by his successful treatment of a variety of stubborn cases, his trade grew rapidly from the first. He has now three fine shops, and he claims for himself the distinction of employing a larger number of hands than any other chemist or herbal chemist in the Colony—if not in Australasia. The Cuba Street property is leasehold and Mr. Ayres has spent several hundred pounds in adapting it to the needs of his business. The Molesworth Street property is also leased; but at Newtown (Wellington South), Mr. Ayres owns the freehold of not only his shop but also of that adjoining it. For several years he had a branch establishment in Jackson Street, Petone, but that has been recently sold. At the principal shop and factory in Cuba Street there is a very fine plant including a drug well, a powerful mass-making machine, Pinder's roller pill machine and piping press, a coating machine and a capsuling machine. The trade mark is a lion, and the numerous proprietary articles manufactured and sold under this trade mark find their way to every part of this Colony, and not infrequently to the others of the Australasian group. In a remarkably well-got-up list bearing the imprint of Messrs. Edwards, Russell and Co., Limited, Mr. Ayres sets forth over a hundred proprietary articles, among the most important of which may be mentioned:—Ayres' Asthma Powder, Lion Brand Baking Powder, Balsam of Horehound and Aniseed, Blood Purifier, Dr. Lane's Catarrh Cure, Ayres' Composition Powder and Composition Essence, Dr. Vaughan's Corn Cure, Eau de Cologne, Royal Embrocation (for horses), Ayres' Eucalyptus Extract, the Food of Health, Glycerine Jelly, Glycerine and Cucumber, Gout and Rheumatic Liniment, Grape Saline, Hair Restorer, Aromatic Herb Tobacco, Indigestion Mixture, Irish Moss, Koromiko Dysentery Syrup, Lavender Water, Lime Juice and Glycerine, Liver Mixture, the Male Fern Vermifuge, Nervine Essence, Neuralgia Mixture, the Nursery Hair Lotion, Herbal Ointment, Pile Ointment, Compound Extract of Sarsaparilla, Superior Seidlitz Powders, Rosemary Tricopherous, Plain Tooth Powder, Cherry Tooth Powder, Vegetable Worm Powders and Worm Figs. A number of special lines are announced, including:—Ayres' Herb Beer Extract, (a shilling bottle of which is said to make eight gallons of sparkling beer), Raspberry Vinegar Extract, Sarsaparilla Wine Extract, Lemon Extract, Lime Extract, Grape Extract, Cider Extract, Pine Apple Extract, Ginger Wine Extract, Elderberry Wine. Extract, and Warmine (a winter drink). Mr. Ayres claims that a shilling bottle of any of these will make a hundred delicious drinks. The ordinary cordials of extraordinary quality are also among the many productions of this house, besides all the essences, and a superior sauce called the “Bon Gusto Relish.” In all these lines a large trade is done; but probably the largest turnover is in the “Lion Brand Baking Powder,” the excellence of which is borne out by numerous special testimonials. Mr. Ayres has travellers constantly “on the road,” and his goods are sold by chemists and storekeepers. His agencies include Gager's Electric Belts. During his business career Mr. Ayres has received numerous valuable testimonials from those who have been cured or relieved by his treatment, and he is at all times willing to show them to sufferers who wait upon him for advice. The proprietor of this establishment was born at Shellingford, Farringdon, Berkshire, England, on the 29th of October, 1847. His father, Mr. George Ayres, was gamekeeper and estate manager for Captain Butler, and was well known as the descendant of an old family in that part of England. At Farringdon Mr. Ayres was educated, and here too he imbibed a good deal of the knowledge which has since been so useful to him. His mother was like a family doctor in that quiet little village, and used to grow the herbs with which she accomplished her cures. In 1880 Mr. Ayres decided to try colonial life, and embarked for Wellington per ship “Maraval,” and at once entered into business. For the past twenty-six years he has been a local preacher in the Primitive Methodist Connexion, and has occupied many positions of trust and responsibility in church matters, including the office of conference representative. Mr. Ayres was married in 1873 to Miss Ellen Smith, daughter of Mr. John Smith, and they have five children. The eldest son is already in the business, and the eldest daughter is married to Mr. John Castle, who has been connected with the business for the past eight years, during which time he has successfully passed all the examinations as a pharmaceutical chemist.

Barraclough, Henry, Herbalist, 131 Adelaids Road, Wellington. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Agents throughout the Colony. Mr. Barraclough, who was born in Victoria, came to the Colony in 1868, and was educated locally. He gained his early experience as a herbalist in Auckland and founded the present business in 1881. His connection extended so rapidly that it became necessary to secure convenient premises. Having secured a fine leasehold site, Mr. Barraclough erected the substantial eight-roomed shop and dwelling house now occupied, about 1886. The ingredients page 492 from which his celebrated preparations are prepared are imported direct from London. Among the large number of proprietary medicines, many of which have already attained popularity throughout the Colony, the following may be named as the leading lines:—Progandra, which is the registered trade mark of a fine corn cure, the block about which is reproduced herein; Acacian Lung Balsam, Nos. 1 and 2; Magic Nervine, for toothache; and Barraclough's Rheumatic Liquid, in sixteen ounce bottles, 8s. 6d., or 10s. post free, which has been instrumental in permanently curing many long-standing cases. Besides medicines, Mr. Barraclough prepares an excellent Lemon Saline and a Herb Beer Extract, a single bottle producing four gallons, both of which are commanding an excellent sale. The preparations can all be obtained from any chemist or storekeeper in the Colony. There can be no doubt that many medicines imported can be produced in New Zealand. Mr. Barraclough claims that he is demonstrating this every day, as he is supplying storekeepers and chemists in all parts of the Colony without any increase in price, notwithstanding the increased duties lately levied. This is a natural result as these colonial medicines are better than the imported ones—giving greater satisfaction, as they are not cure-alls. Thus, the sale is continuous, which is the best evidence of the value of the medicines. The proprietor has not offered his preparations to the public until they have been thoroughly perfected. The advantages to the storekeeper who stocks them are various, but principally the fact that he can sell them cheaper than the imported medicines, and at the same time get a greater profit.

Other Herbalists.

Hardie, G. M. Herbalist, 62 Adelaide Road. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Established 1890 and conducted by present proprietor since 1893.

Rasmussen, Herr, Herbalist, 91 Lambton Quay, Wellington. Head depôt, 547 George Street, Sydney. Branches at Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, and Hobart.

Trethewey, Robert, Medicine Herbalist, Vivian Street. Established 1880.