Christchurch Notes.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1033, 11 May 1894, Page 3

Christchurch Notes.

— • — , [From Our Own Correspondent.] The annual unemployed agitation has sprung up again. There is said to be a good deal of distress amongst the labouring classes, who have had a very slow summer, and have been totally unable to make any provision of the winter, when work is almost unprocurable. Several have been sent away to relief works in various localities, and there are still a goodly number remaining. This winter the lamp-post agitator has had to take a back seat, the clergy and others taking up the cry on behAlf of the distressed families. Only the most pressing cases are being dealt with at present ; as work cannot possibly be found for all for sometime. Fat sheep are at present hanging heavy on the hands of owners. The freezing works are closed down, and there is no other outlet for the heavy stocks coming forward. Prices on the London market are very low, and shipments will probably be held back until things brighten up a bit. Thousands of store sheep are turned awav unsold from the market every week, graziers not caring to operate while already holding heavy consignments j of '-' fats." What a pity it is that so many fine ewes are sacrificed every A. pen of 15 were killed last week by a local butcher for consumption, each ewe turning the scale at over lewt, and all carrying lambs. Week after week this goes on, and in time must severely diminish our breeding stock. " Besides local amateurs, Mr H. S, Reunert, a well-known Dunedin baritone, will contribute musical items," so read an advt. in our local papers last week in connection with the Art Society concerts. H. S. R. w.is in grand trim, and delighted a large audience with the " Village Blacksmith." and " Hero upon my vessel's deck." Such a favourable improsaion did your ex-lion create that he will probably be soon again asked to visit us. I For a few weeks past we have been favoured with the company of a number of •' talented " gentry in the shape of a gang of spielers and burglars. Three during burglaries were committed last week, one in the citv and two in St. Albans. The Caledonian Hotel was broken into and the safe ransacked, and a goodly sum of money extracted. The burglars made thoir way to the landlord's room and secured his trc users in the pocket of which the key of the safe »vas kept. On getting up the landlord looked in vain for his garments, which after some time were picked up in a passage, and he then discovered, that he had been robbed of a fortnight's takings. A private house was next tapped and the sum of LlO abstracted from n, drawer. This was done during the afternoon. On Thursday night a baker's shop in Victoria Street was entered, the proprietor's trousers procured as in the Caledonian Hotel case, the safe being npend and the sum of L4O in notes, silver and cheques secured. The cheques were picked up by the police in a garden on the North Belt during the following day, but nothing further haß been heard of the remainder of the booty. The ghost scare which recently prevailed in Christchnrch has reached the quiet little township of Waimate. A tall white object, was seen to flit about the i roads and leap high fences with comparative ease. Two young athletes, while out training, discovered the supposed ghost gliding about in a plantation near the road. A chase ensued, with the result that the athletes were run to a standstill, after covering about a mile of first-class steeplechase country in grand style. The following night a party turned out armed with six-shooters, determined to " do or die." On approaching a farmhouse a white object was seen near the gateway and a volley fired, buc the object of the displeasure still stood, erect. On closer examination this ghost turned out. to bo nothing more unnatural than a horsecover which the farmer hnrl hung on the sate to dry — he now contemplates making a pea- j sieve out of it. Another start was made and after a short walk the " real live ghost" was " spotted " in an orchard, and a hot chase followed, with the result that Iho men with the guns were hopelessly left behind. The following day an advertisement appeared in the local paper something like this : " Lost from my i house, street, alarge'piebald wallaby. Anyone giving such information as will J load to his discovery will he rewarded." — The mystery was explained.