Christchurch Notes.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXI, Issue 1042, 13 July 1894, Page 6

Christchurch Notes.

[From Our Own Correspondent.] Since last writing little of importance has tranpired here worth recording, especially so far away as the Clutha. People at your end of the island would not be the least interested to know that so-and-so had been " run in " for drunkenness, that Hard -Up, the merchant, couldn't pay his creditors 20a in the £. So, besides these ordinary everyday tepics, we have little more to talk about. Our weather certainly has changed for the better, and we are looking forward to being able to skate to our daily toil, instead of wallowing through a suscession of mud-holes, bearing the euphonious name of street. For about a fortnight Jack Frost has been the boss of the show, and held the reins pretty tightly. Some mornings put one in mind of the good old winter mornings in the south, when the water would almost freeze as it was being used for washing. The old saying "As the clays lengthen the cauld strengthens" has been fully borne out this winter with us ; for since the turn of the year it has been very keen indeed, The ■ demon influenza is paying his annual visit, and gripping all and sundry. This is a visitor who is no respecter of persons, and plays his prank with rich and poor, young and old alike. " Mountain dew " and quinine has no effect on him this time ; nothing short of blisters being required to shift him from between the shoulders of his victim. lam afraid our prohibition friends must have prayed for the visitation of a special kind of grip, on which whisky would have no effect, so that argument that alcohol was not necessavy Would have some weight. Speaking from experience, a little drop of the craytur is preferable to blisters any day of the week. Our breeders have been well represented at the Sydney sheep snles this season. Messrs (rrigg. Threlkela, Overton, and others well-known in the trade, sent lartre consignments of ewes and rams, which brought very satisfactory prices at the fair. Altogether about 3000 sheep went from Canterbury, the Union Company running boats for their special carriage. Some of the hotels closed in Christchurch present a most dis'mnl appearance. The lessees, of course, remo\ r ed their belongings almost immndiately, and the owners of the buildings to protect the windows from being broken have had them all closely boarded up. The more centrally situated places are to be altered and fitted up as shops, for which purpose they will answer admirably. Closing at 10 o'clock floes net seem to have had the I effect intended, for those who were used to going home " full up" at 11, go at 10 " very much full " all the same. It stands to reason if a man took from 8 to 11 to drink a gallon of beor, it would not do him so much harm as if he jammed it down in an hour less. A memorial porch is being erected at the cathedral. This work is being done to the order of a lady in memory of her deceased husband. It is to be a massive structure, but as only the foundations are in yet no idea can be obtained as to its ultimate appearance. When the Harper memorial gate is erected our cathedral will present rather an imposing appearance. Now, Sir, at this time of the year, you will be, like other editors, -warning correspondents that during the parliamentary sessions correspondence must be condensed, owing to pressure on space, etc. As no doubt the doings and sayings of our wiseacres in Parliament assembled will be of more interest to your readers than the occasional scribbles of your occasional correspondents, I will not transgress further.