NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2580, 28 June 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The work of connecting the wharf with the railway is rapidly going forward, and in the course of two or three days a line of trucks will be able to get right down to the wharf, thus facilitating considerably the work of loading and unloading grain, &c., which at present has to be conveyed to and from the wharf by means of carts. Strangers who visited the Breakwater a year or two ago are amazed at the progress which has been made during that time with the work of construction. During the past twelve months the Breakwater has been greatly extended, a wharf has been added, the approach has been formed, and the unsightly heaps of stones and mud over which the visitor to the Breakwater had formerly to clamber before he could set foot on the blocks, have long disappeared. The wharf, when completed, will form a capital promenade on the long summer evening, and will doubtless be well patronised. Mr Proudfoot having finished his River-ton-Orepuki railway contract, has shipped his workmen and plant off to his works in New South Wales.

The Hospitable and Charitable Aid Board Christchurch, has at the request of the Borough Council consented to demote h portion of the Immigration Barracks, Timaru, to the temporary accommodation of women, who have been deserted by their husbands and 1 ft without means. His Worship the Mayor informed the Council last evening that he had been induced to communicate with the Board, in consequence of the numerous applications he had received for assistance from deserted and destitute wives.

In reply to a question at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, Mr Dale, building surveyor, said that there jwere about 20 men breaking stones for the Borough at the present time, and that several fresh applications for this work had been made recently. The Council endorsed the action of the Works Committee in calling for 500 yards of spalls in order to afford work for the unemployed. Any man who may be desirous ;of doing so may apply to be put on at this work. The presentation by the members of the Fire Brigade to the Borough Council lately of an account for £6 18s for “refreshments’’ supplh d to the Brigade, while working at the Saltwater Creek fire, has been the cause of some grumbling on the part of the Council, who refused to pass the account for payment. The Council evidently does not mind standing what Dick Swiveller would call “ a modest quencher ” to the members of the Brigade when on duty, bin they draw a line at £G or £7 for drinks until they have learnt what is the custom elsewhere. Amongst the outward correspondence read at last night’s meeting of the Council was a copy of a letter addressed to the Councils of Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin, enquiring what is the usual practice of those Councils with regard to refreshments at fires.

Some exciting scandals may be expected shortly through the medium of the Melbourne Divorce Court, the gay Lotharios holding good rank. Rear-Admiral Earl Clanwilliara, who commands the detached squadron now visiting the colonies, was formerly, as Lord Gilford, first naval lord of the Admiralty. It is rumored that the services of numerous officials in different departments of the South Australian Civil Service will be dispensed with next month. Mr Steinfield, ex-Mayor of Ballarat, is visiting Europe to further the establishment of a direct line of steamers between Hamburg and Bremen and Melbourne. The latest eccentricity in English women’s dress is ankle bangles. Probably this new fashion is due to Mrs Cetewayo who visited England lately. The Paris “Charivari” recently had a burlesque of the poisoning scene in Lucrezia Borgia. She rises and says:— “My lords, that ham was American ; and you are all trichinrcd men !” An American publisher says that during the last 14 years his firm have had over a thousand novels submitted to them in manuscript, and of this number they regarded only two as worthy of publication.

Albert Victor, the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, is a tall, slender, delicatelooking boy, slightly resembling his grandfather. His brother George is short, stout and round-headed.

Speaking at Pyrmont recently, Archbishop Vaughan stated that since his arrival in New South Wales, no less than £200,000 had been subscribed for religious purposes in the archdiocese alone.

The other day a man in the act of kicking his wife slipped and broke his leg in two places. This should be a warning to wife-beaters. Always see that your feet are well braced before beginning work.

The Arkansas Legislature has just passed a law making it a misdemeanor to sell in that State a dirk, bowie knife, sword-cane, or brass knuckles of any kind, except such as are used in the army or navy. The constitution is of a different character now from what it was a few years ago, when a tourist requested a leading lawyer to show him the State constitution. The legal light pulled out one of the drawers of his desk and produced a bowie knife and a revolver.

Forged notes of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney are in circulation, Trickett, the Sydney sculler, is visiting America, to try his skill and stamina against the leading oarsmen. Mr C. D. Nicholls says the gold industry in Australia returns a profit of 40 per cent, on the cost of production. Telegrams state that further writs are out against the Sydney “ Bulletin,” amounting to £IB,OOO, for libel damages.

It is officially stated that Mr Berry will not accept the Victorian Agent-General-ship so long as he retains the confidence of his party. The following is from the “ Morning Herald”:—Dunedin, it would appear, is about to become the scene of another unemployed agitation. The day before yesterday a deputation waited upon the District Engineer, and urged the neccessity of work being provided to meet cases of distress. Yesterday a number of the same men interviewed the Mayor, and put forward a similar plea. The men say that there is a large number of people out of work in Dunedin at present. Many of them they allege to be in a half-starving condition, without a place to sleep in, and deriving their chief sustenance from fishing on (he wharves during the daytime. If these statements are true, something should be done in the matter, for wc endorse the opinion of a well-known Otago politician that in a country such as this no man should be out of employment.

Small pox is dying out at Honolulu. There were no fresh cases for fourteen days previous to the mail steamer calling. Mr Joseph Ballinger, plumber of Wellington, died suddenly yesterday. He was riding in the tram, when he was seized with aht and expired. He was 60 years of age. _ Railway travellers are referred to an announcement in another column of Mr J. H. Glasson, of the Railway Station Refreshment Rooms. The highly successful Service of Song “ Eva ” will be repeated to-night, at the Oddfellow’s Hall, Barnard street.