Page 3 Advertisements Column 1

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2377, 29 October 1880, Page 3

Discontented with the 10 per cent reduction, a hundred members o£ the Armed Constabulary force on the West Coast have resigned their positions. It is understood (says the Oamaru Mail) that the Government will not fill their places. This is so far satisfactory, inasmuch as the Government will save thereby at least <£so a day. But the expenditure for “ defence ” purposes on the West Coast is still between £4OO and £SOO per 'day, and one feels inclined to wish that the Government may be led into still further reductions of such a reckless waste of public money by additional retirements. No one knows why such a force is maintained, except it be to bolster up the languishing district which is represented by the Colonial Treasurer. It is farcical to pretend that there is, or has been for years, any danger of a Native out-break in the district. “Mike, come in and take a drink,” He rolled his eyes upward, he brought them down, and replied : “ Darlint, I thought twoz an angel spakin’ to me.” A little fellow, turning over the leaves pf a scrap-book, came across the well known picture of some chickens just out of their shell. He examined the picture carefully, and then with a grave, sagacious look, slowly remarked —“They came out ’coz they were afraid of being boiled.” The wife of a Norman peasant is ill. A physician is called in. “Will you pay me ? asks the mistrustful doctor. Oh ! monsieur,” says the husband, bolding up five louis,kill her or cure her these are yours.” The patient dies and the doctor demands the five louis. “ Pardon, ” says the widower. “ Did you kill my wife ?” “ No.” “ Did you cure her?” “No alas!” “Yery well, since you neither killed her nor cured ber, you did not keepby our agreement, and I owe you nothing.” Social Amenities. Papa (to Mabel, who has been to a juvenile party)—“Did any one pay any attentions, Mab ? ” Mabel —“ I don’t know.” Papa—“ I mean, did any one talk to you, or dance with you ?” Mabel—“ Well there was a little boy who made faces at me.” For continuation of Neivs see fourth page-