NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2692, 4 November 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

To-morrow Mr Bryce descends upon Parihaka, bat in whac way is yet a secret, and what sort of reception he will meet with ia yet a mystery. If the Natives will do as Te Whiti tells them, they will probably collect into a body in the middle of their settlement, or they may remain in their wharcs, in either case ignoring the presence of Mr Bryce and his escort, and refusing to answer a word to what may be said to them. They may, however, act otherwise, and endeavor to receive their visitors as friends, and offer them the hospitalities they usually provide for distinguished travellers. Te Whiti may repeat, when the dinner hour arrives, his famous saying, “ Thc'potato is cooked,” When the meaning of the phrase will be no longer dubious. This would certainly be To Wbiti’s best defence. The Englishman is proverbially best humored after a good dinner—feed perhaps would be the better word under the circumstances supposed—and if ’Te Whiti minds what he is about he might be able to wheedle the Minister into withdrawing first the threats of the Proclamation, and then the soldiery. We do not believe that the natives will offer any armed resistance, but they very likely will meet any rough handling with equal resistance. Our Volunteers will find in that ease that the “ Maori hug ” is no joke.

Attention is directed to Messrs Park and Anderson’s advertisement over the leader column. Messrs Maclean and Stewart will offer for sale at their Horse Bazaar, to-morrow, the horses and plant belonging to Messrs Jones and Peters, the Breakwater contractors.

The Engineer of the Lyttelton Harbor Board’s dredge reports after a ten months trial, that Westport coal is 15 per cent, better than Newcastle coal.

The colonial imports for the last September quarter are estimated at £2,093,189, and the exports at £924,262. The exports for the quarter are about the same as in 1880, but the imports are half a million larger. Timam is credited with £36,251 of imports, and £25,501 of exports.

The Rotomahana left Melbourne for the Bluff, and the Zealandia and Hero left Sydney for Aucklan 1 yesterday. Another Foreign Insurance Company is about to commence business in New Zealand, the Scottish Imperial.

It is said that Sir George Grey is coming South as so on as his health permits.

A new Jewish Synagogue was opened at Christchurch yesterday, and the ceremony was attended by clergy of all denominations. The collections amoa nted to £250, a good deal more than that was collected at the opening of the Cathedral. The “ Ark ” is made of New Zealand marble.

Two men have been charged at the Eesident Magissrate’s Court at Auckland with making a false statement, by attesting registration of claims for voting. The defendants pleaded guilty. But the case was dismissed, the Magistrate considering the 7th section of the Act did not apply to an attesting witness, but to the claimant. The Ashburton County Council persist in their belief that the pile design adopted by them for the Rangitata traffic bripge will answer, in spite of all that the Geraldine Council and Mr Wakefield write or say to the contrary. The County Engineer has just reported that 50 piles have been driven, 38 fully, and the other 12 from 20 to 24 feet below the surface. Only one pile broke out of the last 18 driven.

The Akaroa regatta committee have written to the Manager of the Union Steam Shipping Company asking that a steamer be laid on from Timaru to Akaroa on the 15th instant, returning on the evening of the 16th or morning of the 17th, so that the people of South Canterbury may have an opportunity afforded them of visiting Akaroa during the regatta. Should the company consent to lay on a steamer it is certain to be well patronised, as many of the townspeople would be glad to have an opportunity of visiting such a picturesque spot.