GOSSIPPY NOTES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 126, 2 October 1877, Page 2

GOSSIPPY NOTES.

(FROM OUR TIMARU GOSSIP.) (Continued from our last.)

I have been favored with the sight of a bill introduced into the House by the Hon. John Hall, the short title of which is "The Cantrbury Public Domains' AetAmendinent Act, 1877," in which provision is made to enable the custodians of parks and recreation grounds to charge the people for tho right of entrance to their own freeholds on special or " other" occasions. The wording of the Act makes it lawful for any Domain Board in Canterbury, on the occasion of any exhibition, cricket match, meeting for athletic sports, or other occasion, to make such charge for admission of all persons to said Domains, Gardens, or Recreation Grounds, or any part thereof as such Board may seem fit, by advertizing notice of such charge once in the local newspaper. And any Domain Board may authorize the payment of the proceeds of any such charge for admission to tho promoters oC such exhibition, cricket match, meeting of athletic sports or other occasion. No one down here has heard anything about the bill, arid it is considered as a piece of uncalled for and unnecessary legislation. It is to be hoped that the House will reject the bill when it comes on again. The second reading takes place, I believe, on Tuesday, the 2nd October. Being , but a " new chum," I vaay not know all about the affair, but I am under the impression that the public of Canterbury paid for all Domains and Reserves of that kind. Another architectural hprror will soon be completed. The Court House and Offices in North street present anothei example of the colonial architect's queer taste. I shall defer sending you a full description of the buildings till they are finished. Suffice it for the present to say that they are of concrete. Why the Government should induce skilled laborers to come out here is a mystery, when they run up a " shoddy" building instead of using the local bluestone, which would last for ages, and in using which they would have given employment to many

skilled artisans, who are walking aboat with their hands in their f.ockota

Market gardening pays the frugal Chinaman. Since 1871 several of them have cleared out with "piles," made at ,the Otipua Creek Gardens. The last who went took over two thousand pounds with him. Such men would be desirable colonists if they would stay in the country, but as soon as John gets a few dollars, visions of birds-nest soup, and a chien a Iα chinoise float before his eyes, and be gets homesick. ISIIMAEL,