TELEGRAMS.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2061, 1 November 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Wellington, Oct. 31. A deputation from the Licensed Victuallers Conference waited on the Government to-day, and pointed out the hardships they suffered by having to pay full rates for under proof spirits. The Government promised to give the matter their earnest consideration. Mr Louch has written a letter to the Minister for Lands, applying for a grant of 25,000 acres in the Bay of Plenty district, and stating he would bo firepared to bring from the United Kingdom a sufficient number of families possessed of capital, to settle on the land.

The City Council rejected the proposal to purchase a steam fire engine. A very sudden death occurred at the National Hotel this morning, A young man named Robert Dale, from Kaikoura, retired to bed at nine o’clock last night, after asking for a drink, which was supplied to him. When called for breakfast he was found dead. The cause of death will not be known until a post mortem examination is held. It is believed he has a wife in Dunedin.

CIIBISTCHUECn, Oct. 31

Thomas Dellay, alias Denis Anglin, was brought up at the R.M. Court today, charged witli failing to appear at the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on Jan. 6 last, to answer a charge of perjury. He had been arrested on a description published in the “ Police Gazette.” Under instructions from Mr Conyers, Commissioner of Railways, the employees on the Mi ddlo Island railways have lately been subjected to a series of tests for color blindness, by means of cards of various colors, with the following results : —Of the avhole number 21 per cent, were unable to distinguish beyond black and white. In Christchurch 13 out of 25(1 tried were partially color blind. On the Oaniaru section one only was color blind out of 230 men experimented on. It is the intention of the Department to have all those employees who occupy the position of signal men, and others who have to watch the approach of trains, perfect at promptly distinguishing colors. Some 200 unemployed mot in Cathedral Square this morning, and appointed a deputation to interview Mr Austin, Engineer of Public Works, asking that men leaving town should he paid Os a day, or receive provisions. To this he promised to attend. A telegram was also drawn up for dispatch to the Government as followsWe, the undersigned, on behalf of 300 men out of employment in Christchurch, respectfully acquest the Government to find employment for those not only willing, but able, to do a fair day’s work, and for which they deem they ought to receive six shillings per day for such employment, as their experience shows that piece work is not adapted to all parties. In the event of the Government not complying witli this supplication, a large body of the men, witli their wives and families, must immediately, through the Magistrates or other appointed persons, bo supplied with provisions to keep them from starvation.” Shearers are at a discount. The price has been dropped by 5s a hundred, and applicants for work arc much more numerous than the billets to be obtained. Oahabu, Oct. 31. The vital statistics for the month of October wore:—Births, 47 ; marriages, 9; deaths, 9. The Customs duties collected at the port of Oamaru during the past month amounted to £9OO 7s.