CHRISTCHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1022, 14 March 1882, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

By a Waikaiupa visitor. On my arrival at Christchurch the first consideiation was breakfast, and as, of course, I (lid not know my way about, I at once called a cab and directed the Jehu to the first hotel that oame into my head Aniviug there, the " noble cabby" wished to overcharge me, but when, after disputing, I took out my pocket-book and asked for r.is number, name and address, he quickly took his proper fare, and " disparsed"-as paddy siyß-at the rate of knots. The lintel accommodation nf the'_' Cmhediitl City," to take it aB .a. whole, is nothiusj to lionet of, and what they will do with the visitors to the exhibition I really don't know; there ate plenty of hotels, but very fow of a kind likely to meet with favor from persons who are used to the really grand establishments of Melbourne, Sydney, and other large cities, One thing a visitor to thia city is likely to notice more than others, and that is the scarcity of "the men in blue." I don't pretend to know what the strength of the Chtistclmrch Police force is, but whatever it may be, it is not adequate to the requirements of the city. This is evidenced by the numerous outrages whioh are allowed to puss by unpunished. A scene occurred, .here the other night wbioh would' be a

disgrace to any omluced fown, let albM this. A woman was struck down b'e'fdri her husband's eyes by a drunken' Unity guard, who was supported £y a few otb# oi the same class, and her natural teetor not being man enough lo tab her part she was considerably hooked aboM before assistance arrived. Of course tbl police were not to be fourd-they had other business on hand. A man who had been counting hiß money over while wit- .' nesting a play in one of the theatres, wan aurprised at the end of the piece to find hiß pocket cut open and the money wait Thureare numerous other cases IotSo*" quote, such as garmting harmless fadW viduals who are unable to protect them- ' " selves, But the ruffianß sometimes make a mistako, and one of them got a crack with h life preserver the other night that ■he is not likely to forget. It was only a little man lie tackled, but the "preserver" did the trick. Scenes like these occur almost nightly, and if precautions are not Boon taken in augmenting the police force, and haviin; the lonely parts of the town tatter lighted, Christchurch will become a second 'lVxbb, and gunsmiths will become the leading tradesmen of the" city of the plains,"