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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2314, 17 August 1880, Page 3

We understand that one ot the larrikins who destroyed a quantity of window glass iix Timaru on Friday night has been arrested up country. Humor has it that the offender is identical with a young man who lately figured in an affiliation case.

Another section of the monolith at the Breakwater’ was completed this afternoon. At the present rate of progress the second contract will soon he finished, The diver is still at work directing the boring operations in the solid rock for the new timber wharf. Pile-driving will be commenced as soon as this has been done, but the rock is exceedingly hard axxd the boring difficult. It is understood that on the completion of the contract for the main works the steam crane will be laid up for a few weeks for repairs, the rollers on which the machinery revolves requiring renewal.

The “Hawke's Bay Herald,” in the course of an article strongly attacking the Audit Department, tells the following story : —“ A tradcsni.au in Napier had an account for about £3O against the Government. After waiting some time, as is the usual experience of those who want money from the New Zealand Government, a cheque for the amount came dowix. It was duly countersigned and paid. The surprise of the tradesman may be conceived when, tw° or three months afterwards he received a severe letter from the department concerned saying that ou several items of the account there had been an overcharge, and that this excess would be deducted. Enclosed was a second cheque for the second amount less the deductions. He was honest enough to return the cheque at once pointing out that the account had already been paid in full. He has not since heard anything about the overcharges.”

The Wanganui “ Herald ” has the following ; —“ An officer of the Government, who is described as a Commissioner, addressed a few days since a telegram to Sir G. Grey in Maori, asking Sir George to take up his case against the Government, and promising some startling disclosures. Sir George Grey handed the telegram to an interpreter, who translated it as if it had been written by a Native, which Native signed himself an assessor. Thinking it referred to one of the Native asssessors who had been dismissed,Sir George showed the telegram to Mr Bryce, desiring to know the cause of the dismissal. The Native Minister replied that it was only one case out of twenty-seven assessors, who had been relieved of office in order to promote retrenchment. Sir George Grey then asked the Minister if he would be good enough to state the reason on the telegram formally, so that he could reply. Mr Bryce took away the telegram, and handed it to an interpreter, who brought it back with the startling information that it was from a Commissioner, not an Assessor, and that the said Commissioner was a wellknown Government officer. The Minister duly informed Sir George of the discovery, whereupon Sir George observed that considering the way the Minister had got the information he should not take any notice of it, but the Minister sharply replied that since it came before him he would notice it, and so the matter stands. It is evident the officer telegraphed in Maori because of .some lurking fear that the telegraph office could xrot retain so great a secret as a high official intriguing against his Ministerial head.”