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Colonial
Mutual Funds
One Financial Center
Boston, Massachusetts
02111-2621
October 19, 1998
VIA EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: Colonial Trust III (the "Trust")
Crabbe Huson Small Cap Fund
The Crabbe Huson Special Fund
Crabbe Huson Equity Fund
Crabbe Huson Managed Income & Equity Fund
Crabbe Huson Real Estate Investment Fund
Crabbe Huson Oregon Tax-Free Fund
Crabbe Huson Contrarian Income Fund
(Collectively, the "Funds")
File Nos. 811-881 & 2-15184
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 497(j) under the Securities Act of 1933,
please accept this letter as certification that the Prospectuses and Statement
of Additional Information dated October 19, 1998 for the Funds does not differ
from that contained in Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 (the "Amendment") to the
Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A. The Amendment was filed
electronically on October 19, 1998.
The Funds' Class A, B, C, Prospectuses and Supplement thereto each dated October
19, 1998 and Statement of Additional Information dated October 19, 1998, are now
being used in connection with the public offering and sale of shares of the
Funds. The Supplement to Prospectuses dated October 19, 1998, was also included
with the Amendment.
A Prospectus of certain Funds which offer Class I shares and also dated October
19, 1998, is also contained in the aforementioned Amendment.
Each Fund is a separate portfolio of the Trust.
Very truly yours,
COLONIAL TRUST III
Ellen Harrington
Assistant Secretary
cc: M. Muller (5)
B. Slavet
E. Edson
Portfolio Managers
D. Young(2)
