NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2118, 6 January 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The diver went down again this morning for the purpose of depositing some half dozen bags of concrete at the base of the . breakwater to fill up the inequalities in the ground, caused by the removal of the rock brought up yesterday afternoon.

Our annual-calendar andpres entation sheet, will be issued to.niorrow.

At the District Court Waimate on Monday, the only case called on, was that of Pearson v. Connell, (trustee in Pearson’s estate) a claim for £l5O, value of certain horses alleged to have been illegally seized, together with damages. As the plaintiff had accidently broken his leg, and was unable to attend, the case was adjourned. We understand (says the Dunedin “ Herald ”) that William Waters, of Octagon fire celebrity, has received his insurance money, and has gone away, leaving a number of inquiring friends.

Gum-digging is evidently a good standby for the unemployed of Auckland. The “N.Z. Herald” of Dec. 25 states that the steamer Argyle, on her last trip to Wangarci, took down about 20 unemployed, on the terms which we stated a few days ago—namely, that the fare has to be recouped to the owners of the steamers out of their first earnings. The report from the district is, that many more of a similar class can make a comfortable living out of gum-digging, and the owners of the steamer will frank another hatch of men who are really desirous of trying their luck on the dig-

gings. The letter-earners of the Post-office Department have hit upon a delicate way of putting it in the matter of Christmas-boxes, by sending in an envelope a ■ card to the householders of their postal-delivery district, wishing them the conqilimcnts of the season. If this delicate attention does not “ fetch ” them, nothing will.—“ N. Z. Herald.”

At Dunedin and Blenheim the strike of the telegraph operators still continues, the men, who arc said to be the best experts in the department, refusing to accept the unsatisfactory terms offered by Dr Lemon.

A bazaar, in aid of the Oamaru Athcnfuum, which was held during the holidays lias produced £520.

The Inward Suez mail arrived at the Bluff, early yesterday morning, and the Timaru portion of it arrived here, por special train shortly before 1 o’clock this morning.

Some boys fishing off the breakwater yesterday evening, hooked a shark about five feet long. The numerous sharks caught this season should render bathers very cautious.

Perambulators on the footpaths have been tolerated in Christchurch, but the police have drawn the line at bicycles, and several prosecutions of fast youths have lately taken place. The special constables sworn in recently to assist the general police, Avere disbanded yesterday evening at 7 o’clock. About 350 Avcrc assembled at the police station and delivered up their insignia of office, in the shape of badges and batons.

The natives at Mokau haA’c made arrangements for Avorking the coal deposits on the river, and the first cargo will be brought off in boats to the steamer Hannah Mokau this week. The tender of R, McLean of Toxton (£1780) has been accepted for the station building contract of the AVaitotara section of the Foxton-Ncw Plymouth railway. Some of the Special Constables who AA'erc dismissed last cA’ening are indignant at the want of formality displayed. They conqffain that having served Her Majesty Avithout fee or reward daring the holidays they were ordered to give up the potatobeaters and badges and dismissed without the slightest acknowledgement—not even with a caution.