NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2124, 14 December 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Cashel Street Improvements. The suite of offices in Cashel street West adjoining the office of this journal, and formerly occupied by the well known firm of Montgomery and Co. prior to their removal to Colombo street, have undergone a complete transformation at the hands of Messrs King Bros., of Manchester street, whose alterations to the same have resulted in the addition of another handsome ironmongery warehouse to those already established in this busy thoroughfare. The Temperance Hotel, at the corner of Cashel and Madras streets, is being rapidly proceeded with, and, although so short a time has elapsed since the foundation stone was laid by the Primate, the building is nearly roofed in, and without doubt will be completed by the contract time. The Labor Market. —After the late cry of scarcity of work to bo obtained, it is refreshing to see by general evidence that the end of the crisis has come. For instance, Mr Skene reports from Dunedin as follows ; “ At last we have seen the end of the cry for work and bread. All hands are now wanted for farms, dairies, stations, hotels, and private houses. Couples are in good demand, and even those with children are now actually accepted. Shepherds have felt the dulness a good deal. It is evident that all men fit for this country will bo needed soon. There are no idle carpenters, bricklayers, masons, Ac., now. Private servants are as scarce as ever, even with the late shipment with Captain Whitson. Shearers are in full swing, and if this fine weather continues station work will bo completed much sooner than usual. Rabbitors will not do much until winter is in again. Upon the whole affairs look much more hopeful, but let matters be as good as thoy may, we will never be without grumblers and detractors, and men who loaf round, living on tho earnings of their abused wives. Wages keep steady for good people.” The Banghora Assault Case. —At the Rangiora Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day, four of the men who assaulted Mr O. Hugo, by nearly strangling him with a rope, were fined each £5, or, in default, one months’ imprisonment. Three of them went to gaoL Funeral. —The remains of the lata Mr Andrew Duncan were interred in tho Addington Cemetery yesterday. The funeral was tho largest ever seen in Christchurch. Kaiapoi Woollen Factory. —lt will be seen by advertisement in this issue that the works at tho factory are to be extended. It is said that the main bailding will be increased in length lOOft.Jand the width will be the same as the present one. The company also asks for offers "of land in town, upon which it is supposed they purpose to erect promises for the sale of goods. Fatal Accident —The “Timaru Herald” records the death on Friday of a young man named Walter Qoostrey, the son of a farmer in the Hook Valley. In company with a brother he was driving a team of horses in a wagon loaded with wool. The wagon was not furnished with a brake, and on going down tho hill the horses started off, and in trying to restrain them the deceased was thrown down, and tho wheels passed over his hips, inflicting such internal injuries that he did not long survive the accident. Medical assistance was at one sought, but the unfortunate young man died before the doctor arrived. An inquest was held on Saturday at the residence of the father of the deceased, and a verdict of accidental death was returned, the jury commending that all drays carrying heavy loads should provided with brakes. The Kellys on a Starring Tour. —The “Morning Herald” learns from a gentleman who has just reached Dunedin from Sydney that it is intended to exhibit Miss Kate Kelly and her brother Jim throughout New Zealand and America. The entertainment is expected to comprise riding on their own horses, which they intend to take with them from place to place, as an additional attraction. A Novel Hive —The local paper says that some Akaroa bees have appropriated to themselves a novel habitation. It appears that they descended a chimney of Mr E. Bouraud’s house, and finding no more suitable refuge, established themselves under a table in the room. In this peculiar locality they have already constructed two large sheets of comb, and bid fair, if unmolested, to fill the space between the top of the table and the floor. Manuhiei's Pension. —Commenting on tho negotiation with the chief Manuhiri relative to the pension offered him by Sir George Grey, the “Nelson Evening Mail” says :—“ Hero the correspondence closes, but there is enough to show that Sir George Grey’s * dear old friend ’ was very cleverly handled, and that the arguments brought to bear with the view of inducing him to become a pensioner of the Government were so power! ul that even his sense of selfrespect, strong as it seems to have been, broke down before them. It (the correspondence) begins and ends somewhat abruptly, and is chiefly interesting for the qu&intness of its style, and the exhibition of tact displayed by Sir George in inducing a chief in high position to accept a pension from the Government, the object being through him to influence the King, Tawhiao, who about that time was getting troublesome.” Death op an Old Maori Settler.— Death, the great leveller, has removed another of Greymouth’s earliest inhabitants, if not the earliest settlor on the West Coast of New Zealand—we (“ Grey River Argus”) allude to the venerable Maori chief Tainui, who died on Tuesday, 28th ult. The old chief was nearly eighty years of age, and may bo regarded as the last of the purely Maori race on the West Coast. The old man must have been a fine stalwart savage in his early days, and until recently he was hale and hearty, but within tho last few months he became stone blind ,and it was a pitiable sight to see the old chief feeling his way about the grounds belonging to his house, or being led by one of his relatives. A kindly old gentleman was Tainui, and he will be missed by the children especially,with whom he always liked to converse. The old chief was buried in the Maori cava in the limestone rock, at the head of Mawhera Quay. The body was enclosed in a zinc coffin with a glass face, through which the old warrior can be seen. Thb San Francisco Mail—The E.M.S. Australia, with the above mail, arrived at Auckland yesterday. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphed last night as follows : The southern portion of the mail will be transhipped to the Hawea, which leaves tonight for Taranaki and Wellington, arriving here on Wednesday morning. Tho Canterbury axd Otago mail will be forwarded by the Wanaka, leaving this port at ten o’clock on Wednesday morning. Cole’s Circus.— The change of programme yesterday at the circus was evidently highly appreciated by amusement seekers, as it was well attended in the afternoon and crowded to excess in all parts in the evening. Miss Linda Jeal exhibited her versatility by a capital act on the slack wire, going through some very clever juggling feats with balls, balancing plates, &0., whilst on the wire. With her sister she also gave an excellent double act of horsemanship, both of the ladies riding with much grace and success. Mr Stevens introduced several new feats of balancing a cask and balls, &c., and Fico did a very clever stilt act. Mr Mclntyre sang a now song, and did so remarkably well, whilst tho performing stallions, as on former occasions, elicited loud applause by their clever feats. The other portions of the programed were very effectively gone through by the various members of the company. This afternoon and to-night the same programme will be repeated.

West Christchurch School.—An entertainment of a more than ordinary successful character took place last night at the West Christchurch School, in aid of the prize fund, when there was a large attendance. A capital programme was presented, comprising gongs by Misses Ness, Bobinson, and Johnson, glees, &e., by Mr Merton and assistants, readings by Messrs Craig, Thornton, and McConnell. The specialties of the evening’s performance were the duetts by the Misses Simpson, two tiny vocalists, whose efforts elicited a hearty encore, and the singin? of the scholars, who under the able tuition of Mr Foster sang admirably.

Eh-opening op the Theatre Eoval.— The management have concluded arrangements with brated wizard and magician, to open at the theatre for a season during the Christmas holidays. Mr Carey, well known as a caterer for public amusement in Wellington, arrived yesterday to prepare for the professor’s arrival, and the theatre will be opened on the 24th inst. Professor Hasolmayer has been a long time absent from this part of the world ; and is said to have added considerably to his repertoire , and to have, in fact, a stock of wonders on hand quite inexhaustible.

Art Unions.—Mr P. Paterson has determined upon disposing of the very h ndsorae kauri suite of furniture, to ■which reference has been made, by art union. There are, including this, several valuable prizes. There is also on view at Mr Hawkea’ rooms a small but choice collection of paintings by local and other artists, which it is intended to dispose of by art union at an early date.