GOSSIPPY NOTES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 155, 11 January 1878, Page 2

GOSSIPPY NOTES.

(from our. timaru gossip.) The breach of promise case, M'Kinnon v. Loudon, caused some little excitement here, at the civil sittings of the Supreme Court, and numerous wagers were laid on the result. The cross-examination, too, of some of the witnesses caused no little amusement—one old lady in particular, •who speaks very little indeed in English, but who, I suppose, is not so mercifuj in Erse, once or twice put the. Judge and Counsel at cross purposes ; once the Judge thought that he could extract the sense of some phrase, and enquiringly asked ." what ? " then one of the lawyers (counsel I suppose you call them) next fired off a '' which ? " while another followed with a

" where ? " Amusing for the crowd in the Court, no doubt, but rather unpleasant for the witness. The verdict for £300 was decidedly against the summing up of .the Judge, and some talk was made of an appeal, but I don't think that it will eventuate, even taking into consideration that both the parties are Scotch, and so naturally have a taste for litigation. I have heard that the libel Ward v. Ball was to be brought on again. If the Judge has any friends it is to be hoped that they will advises him in the matter.

The Royal Italian Opera Troupe performed here two nights, one of our citizens

guaranteeing them so '■■much a night. I hear that he has lost Considerably. The Timarui.es only patronize cheap entertainments. I doubt if even Irving appeared here whether he would draw a full house on the second night. Of course there are people who patronize art as well as talk a great deal about it; they are the exception, and not the rule.

Doubtless your exchanges have informed you all aboutthe wreck of the brig Craig Ellachie. The schooner Kate M'Gregor was anchored very close in shore, and she rode out tbe gale splendidly, with two anchors down. The evening after the wreck the sea went down very much, yet the Harbormaster and the skipper of the schooner, who was ashore, kept watch in the lighthouse. It is reported that the skipper, being tired with his vigil of the previous night, and having Confidence in the strength of his vessel's cables, rolled himself up in his great coat and went to sleep. About midnight the mate of the schooner showed a signal of distress ; the Harbormaster seeing this, tried to rouse his slumbering companion, but all he could do Was to get a grumbling—'"Let her rip, the stupid is only afraid of being alone in the dark." An enquiry into the cause of the wreck of the brig was duly held at the Custom-house, but the result has not transpired, the evidence being taken and forwarded to some government official, who carefully pigeon-holes the papers. (To be continued.)