NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1671, 28 June 1879, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Deainagb Woees. —Operations in connection with the drainage works have now extended up Yictoria street, only a small portion yet unfinished being left at the junction of Durham street, and unusual efforts have been made to complete this and get the drain filled in. All through the wot, till a late hour last night, men were engaged at this point. A Rake Occiteeence. —There was not a single case, even of drunkenness, to bo heard in the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. This is a fact which speaks volumes, either for the growing tempt rate 1 ab ts or impecuniosity of the population. Tit foe Tat. —A little incident occurred last night at the close of the meeting at the Oddfellows’ Hall which is too good to remain unrecorded, A well-known member of the legal profession had been present during the proceedings, and appeared to take considerable interest in them. When the meeting broke up, this gentleman, inspired by a spirit of hospitality, invited such of the unemployed section of the community as wore present, and felt so disposed, to accompany him to the nearest hostelry and take a drink. The kind offer was promptly accepted by fifteen thirsty souls, and an adjournment was at once made to Morton’s Hotel. The order was given for the drinks, which mostly assumed the modest form of “long glasses” of beer, a beverage the British artisan’s soul a* a rule delights in. But mark what followed ! Another gentleman, who was standing at the bar—of a poli-tico-economical turn of mind —waxed wroth at what ho erroneously regarded as an unjustifiable piece of extravagance on the part of the unemployed. Q.uotli ho to the imbibers of beer —“ How is it you can afford to quaff tankards of beer in these distressful times, when the groat unemployed cry aloud for work ? Would it not bo better and wiser if you were to spend your superfluous cash in in the purchase of bread rather than malt liquor!” Then up spoke a mechanic, and explained that they were indebted for the baer, they wore drinking to the learned gentleman who had just shouted. “Yes,” replied that learned party, and —addressing the caviller—“you can supply the bread. Fifteen drinks, 7s 6d; fifteen loaves, same amount. You pay for the bread, and wo shall bo upon even terms.” “Agreed,” replied the other party, at the same time writing out an order for the loaves and appending to it the name of a we’Lknown firm of auctioneers and estate agents. The legal gentleman’s soul rejoiced at the good ho had done, and, to make assurance doubly sure, repaired this morning to the baker’s shop on whom the order had been given and personally superintended the distribution of the loaves.

Petticoats and Pigtails.—The day before yesterday, a lady of the Irish persuasion was walking along Lichfield street when an adventure befell her. She had got as far as the humble abodes of tho Mongolian race, Jwhieh face| Coombes’ new factory, when an opprobioua and ribald epithet was aid ressod to her by one of a group of Chinamen, who were airing themselves in front of their dwellings. The lady, however, was equal to the occasion. She did not go for a policeman, bat “ went” in another sense for tho Celestials. Swiftly and firmly grasping two of their pigtails she promptly twined them together, and then went on her way hauling the captives to her prowess after her. In vain they struggled and yelled their captor tugged them in her wake, and it required the united efforts of their compatriots to rescue these sons of Corfucius from [the British matron they had insulted. Fenians as they Week.—Says a correspondent to a southern contemporary writing on the derivation of the word “ Fenian.” A Fenian, then, was an Irish Militia man, or Volunteer, and before a recruit could pass for service in that army he should be able to perform or accomplish the following drill: — Firstly, he should stand in a cornfield and ward off the arrows of nine men of any other nation with a black thorn stick, two feet long; secondly, he should jump fifty-two hurdles the height of his chin; and lastly, he should run the same distance stooping as low as his knees, and pick a thorn out of his heel without loosing time, the whole regiment of Militia being after him, and if he were caught by any one Fenian he would not pass as a recruit.

Oub Social Pest.—A contemporary, in referring to the impudence of colonial boys, says that a youth was rscently locked up at Stawell, Victoria, for insulting behaviour in the public street. The following morning he requested to be released, as he wished to attend church. This piece of colonial impudence is on a par with the impertinence of the larrikin who was fined 40s at Ballarat last week, and demanded a receipt for the money. The Hokitiea Laueeatb.—Tho poet Cross is writing a poem, at the request of the Hokitika local committee, for the Sydney Exhibition, to accompany the Hokitika exhibits.

Cold Coiifobt —Speaking of a possible campaign and the hardships which tho Armed Constabulary may have to undergo, tho Taranaki “Herald ” says : —“ Their campaign may not be a long one, and if they can derive any comfort from comparison with worse surroundings, they can think of the hardships the Russians had to encounter among the Balkans.”

Ths ScttooLiiASTEß Abeoad. —The Southland “ Times,” on the 21st inst,, thus notified the fact that that day was the shortest iu the year;—“ We have reached the limit of contraction in the matter of the shortness of days, and soon may look forward to some appreciable expansion.” A Falling Stab.—The London correspondent of the “Madras Times” says:—-“The star of Mrs Lantry lias set. Her face has been in many cases removed from the windows in which professional beauty is exhibited to its admirers, and other faces are worshipped in its stead. The idol of the moment is a very youthful creature, whose portrait bears the name of ‘ Connie Gilchrist.’ This interesting being, I believe, is engaged at one of the theatres. She is yet iu ‘ frocks but a pretty face and graceful figure have made her queen of her more elderly rivals, and she enjoys the felicity of exhibition in a multitude of attitudes and in various costumes of various colors. The run upon her portrait and the interest in its exhibition indicate the worth and magnitude of the objects on which the heart of the Cockneydom is set, SYDENHAM WE3LEYAN ChUBCU. The Rev. J. S. Smalley will conduct services tomorrow morning and evening. The evening subject will be “The Scarlet Thread, the bond of the Bible and Christendom.” The galleries that are being built in this church, are rapidly approaching completion. They will occupy three sides of the church, and will provide additional accommodation for 300 persons. The panel work, which is the most conspicuous feature, is of Oregon timber, very beautifully carved. Light iron pfilars, with elaborately wrought capitals, support the galleries. It is expected that the work will bo finished by Sunday, July 13th. Meanwh :l o services are held in the church as usual. Extkaordinaby Fecundity,— lt is stated on good authority, no less a one than a person who has seen the children all alive, that there is a married lady residingin this province who has given brrth to twins eleven times iu suesession. On the principle that it is considered a happy lot to contribute largely to the population of one’s country, this must be.the most fortunate mother in Canterbury. Bible Christians.— The Rev. A, Blake, of Otago, will preach in the Templar Hall, Worcester street, to-morrow at 11 a.m., and at Addington at 6.30.