Christchurch Notes.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1025, 16 March 1894, Page 6

Christchurch Notes.

iFKOM OUR OWN COBKEiiPONDKNT, |

The Gothic left Lyttelton a full ship, having besides general cargo and passengers, some 60,000 carcases -of mutton, besides legs of mutton and beef. I notice our G.0.M., Sir George Grey, took his passage .home by this floating palace. May he enjoy ifc, and return to us full of life and improved in health.

The rifle meeting, which ,was concluded on Wednesday last wrek, was a very successful gathering in every respect. The champion of 1894 turned up in Captain Smith, of the Dunedin City Guards, who shot very consistently all through the meeting. Otago this year took the lion's share of the prize money, topping the other provinces by something like LIOO. The weather from start to finish was perfect. Neither too hot or cold, and the wiiyjy element seemed to be on its best behaviour.

The Amuri sheep fair held last week was a failure as compared fco previous years. Prices all round ranged 2s 6d to 3s below those obtained at the fixture last year. This is one of the largest annual sheep fairs held in the Province, and this year the number of sheep penned ran close on to 60,000, which is a nice little flock. Owing to the rough country in fche Amuri the merino is the favorite breed, bufc many of the runholders now are turning their attention to various crosses, with a view of entering more freely into the frozen meat trade. In a few years t?rae, instead pf having the * Amuri wool kings,' if the crossing proves successful, we will have to change -» wool ' to ' mutton.'

Our clergy are at loggerheads over tho licensing election. While Isitt Bros., are red-hot for prohibition, the Bishop of Christchurch and the canny Dr Elmslie, of the Scotch church, have joinecLforces on the 25 per cent reduc* tion ticket. A meeting; was called by the moderate party on Friday to discuss the situtation, but owing to the prohibition party taking upon themselves to pack the room, no definite decision was arrived at. This ' packing ' business is a most obnoxious feature in connection with the liquor campaign. If a moderate meeting is called, prohibitionists « run the show,' and vice versa. Nothing can be gained by such tactics, and theopposition factions would show much better taste, and gain the respecfcof the community, if they would, plainly speaking, mind their own business. - . - *

The final clearing .sale on the Cheviot estate comes off this week. As the leases of the various grazing runs expire on the Ist of April, the stock must all be cleared ofl befsre that date. The entry will include 70,000 sheep and lambs, cattle, horses, and all the farming plant. "-

Last Friday a schooner was despatched from Lyttelton to Port Robinson with a. cargo of timber and other building material. Two steamers are constantly employed in the trade between Lyttelton and Pert Robinson, and are well loaded on each occasion. (Here will be a. nice site for some enterprising newspaper proprietor.)

I see your townsman, Mr W. Guest, in Christchurch at present. He is, I believe, a delegate to the Wesleyan Conference. It is quite refreshing to see the face of an old Olutha friend occasionally. There are several old Oluthaites anchored here now, and they all seem to be doing well. I saw the Rev. Walter Knowles the other day, and he looks well, though, like everyone else, growing old. His father the Rev. W. Knowles has altered but little, and still retains his fresh face and sprightly step. The Rev. J. N. Buttle is also here, and has changed but little j I see he is to be transferred to Mornington. Mr A. R. Webb and family are still here, and the young people have grown almost beyond re cognition. There are several other familiar faces occasionally met with, and a hearty hand-shake, and, if time permits, a long yarn about the Clutha and bygone days follow.

Some senseless idiot has been playing the role of ghost here lately, going about at all times of the night dressed in white, frightening women and children ; but if a man happens to be near the would-be unearthly makes himself scarce. It is a pity he couldn't drop across someone in possession of a gun, when probably a shot in his worthless carcass would bring him to his senses.