Gossip from Christchurch.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3595, 5 July 1880, Page 3

Gossip from Christchurch.

X-BT AN OCCASIONAL COKBESrONDSNT.)

In my visit to the reading room of tlio Canterbury College, I often come across your paper, I am always interested to see how the old Thames celebrities are getting on, but I bavo missed of late some of (ho old shinning lights; such as Major Cooper, the County Chairman, and the Colonel. ' You have go' plenty of Majors Captains, &c, but how can you possibly exist without a Colonel ? Christclmroh, like the rest of New Zealand is suffering the reaction that any man with common sense might see would set in from the effects of Sir Julius Voxel's scheme. I hope the reaction will not last longer than the prosperity. I have my doubts on that point. There has been an abundant harvest and everything is remarkably cheapi I don't know what state the country would have been in if there had been another bad harvest and Sir George Grey's six thousand paupers had arrived here. Another indirect result of the Vogelian policy is a soup kitchen for the destitute, started by the benevolent, and I believe yery well patronised. It is properly superintended, and open for all that like to partake of it. The steam tram cars are running about the streets, and I think will become very popular, as it is much, cheaper than cabs and buss; they don t drive quite so fast as a railway train ; if they did they would be veiy likely to knock down some of the unemployed who are swarming about the place like bees^ Christchuroh seems to be the centre of attraction of the great immigration movement. , I have just been reading in one oi your Eapers an account of the meeting of the torough Council respecting the loss in revenue by closing some of public houses. I think the Licensing Bench deserve the thanks of the Thames public for putting their feet on these boozing shanties, and as the Thames is so poor just now I would Bdvise them to close all pubs, and try McGowan's three shilling tea. Public house property in Christchnrch these last few years has gone to a very high figure. The Licensing BeDch have msde a firm stand against granting new licenses; the feeling of the public have been taken at public meetings on this matter, and, no doubt, the Licensing Bench httve been guided thereby, and old wooden pubs as they get out ot repair are being replaced by fine brick and stone holels.

PEIOB (o the transit of Verms in 1874, Professor Severn Bmoked any amount of glass to observe her with. Things have changed tince those primitive days. At Professor McLiver's divan you can now emote herself, raise clouds, and still make your observations without trouble. Buy McLiver's specially imported Venus at 6d and Is per tlick.

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