The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLYMONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1045, 6 February 1882, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLYMONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1882.

We understand that the Boatman's Jockey Club have abandoned their intention to hold a race meeting in March next. The Comedy and Burlesque Company closed their performances on Saturday evening last. The company have upon the whole been well supported in Reefton, and have afforded much rational amusement. They leave this morning for Totara Flat, where they perform this evening. We elsewhere publish the notifications fixing the dates of the first elections under the new Licensing Act. Mr James Barrowman has been appointed Deputy Returning Officer for the Reefton District ; Mr John Wallace, for Murray District ; and Mr James Grieve, Boatman's District. A billiard match for £5 a-side was played on Saturday evening last, between D. Twohill and T. MAuley, the latter receiving 100 points out of 500, and proved the victor after a close contest. There was a marked return of activity in the sharemarket on Saturday last, and some extensive transactions were closed in Imperials, Golden Treasures, and Specimen Hills. The Golden Point district is also again attracting attention, and a good deal of business was done in lease interests. The present week is likely to be a busy one on " The Block." Among some parliamentary returns of last session is one called for by Mr Hutchison, showing the number of convicts in the gaols of the Colony employed at trades, and the various kinds of skilled and unskilled labor, such return being for the week ending March 26, 1881, the last week in the past financial year. Summarised, the return gives the following particulars : — Skilled artisans employed in prison repairs of new buildings, 25 ; unskilled laborers similarly employed, or at stonebreaking or local public works, 360 ; oakum picking, 11 ; tailors, making prison clothing, 15 ; female prisoners, making and Repairing prison clothing, 14; carpenters, working on police buildings, 4 ; working in the prison shops — 1 cooper, 1 hammock-maker I painter, 6 printers, (6 assistant-printers), I warder (acting as foreman printer), I machine stock-ing-knitter, and 1 tinsmith ; total, 460. The value of their work, calculated at 4s per diem for skilled labor (except printing), and 3s for unskilled labor, amounted for the week to £365 14s 3d, and payments received from local bodies and other sources was £47 16s 4d. In this amount is included £13 15 6d payment for printing done at Lyttelton Gaol, the value of printing done during the week being £25 11s 3d, estimated on the Government Printer's valuation. The Home News in its last issue contains the following : — The great engineering feats either accomplished or in progress throughout the world have inspired an idea not less notable than the Channel or the Panama Canal. It it now seriousiy proposed to connect Great Britain to Ireland by an isthmus, along which trains may travel, and discomforts of a sea voyage to be avoided. This sounds more like a chapter from Jules Verne's stories than anything else. But it is a sober matter of fact. The site has been selected and all that is now wanted is capital, which is being privately but diligently sought.