SHAG POINT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 870, 29 January 1879, Page 2

SHAG POINT.

[from our own correspondent.] We had a visit on Monday, the 20th instant, from a trooper (the first I have seen in the locality), .-who appeared to bo well mounted ; but unfortunately, on, liia return homo, liis horse came to grief by falling and breaking his knees to that extent that the bone could easily be discerned. I must say that it is shameful on the part of the Government that they don't provide proper horses for the Police Force, as the one in question has beeii<ta old Government servant, and like all others, ought to have been pensioned off. The contractor for our railway evidently means mischief—that is, since he has commenced, the work has been pushed oil with the utmost vigour, and if he continues in the same strain for another two months, I believe he will have the laugh at the company, and receive the LSO per week bonus, instead of the contractor having the said sum to pay if the work is not finished within contract time. On Saturday, the effects of the late Mr. Francis Taylor, of the Pukiviti Hotel, were sold by auction, Messrs. Fagan and Everest being the auctioneers. Mr. Fagan (the late Mayor of Palmersion) acting as knight of the hammer, or rather whip, I should say; it being his maiden sale of such goods, he had not provided himself with a regular knock down hammer. I must certainly say, ho acquitted himself manfully. One thing I took particular notice of was, that every fresh bid he got from Jack, Tom, or Harry for a sixpence or a shilling elicited "Ah, that's better." Everything offered brought fair prices ; but I think, had the goods been displayed outside, and regularly lotted, far better prices would have been obtained. One thing I have got to remark. An individual bid lis for a counterpane for which 10s fid was offered previously, when up came the sergeant of police and caught him by the arm, and quietly told him not to ir.terrupt the sale. I immediately stepped out of the crowd, and took a note of the circum» stance. Immediately after doing so, I walked up and showed him mj memorandum. He then gave me a push, and told me "to get away out of this." Now, sir, if such a proceeding as that iB allowed to be passed over without comment, the sooner that sergeant is pensionel off, liko the poor old horse before mentioned, the better. Then perhaps he will know how to keep his own place. He should by this time know better how to do his duty, and not abuse the power he at preseit holds. At the mines, a few days ago, a truck bolted down the new drive, wlere two men were working, but fortuuitely no serious accident happened. One nan was, however, severely bruised. Mr. Hailstone, the new landl<rd of tho Pnkeiviti Hotel, will, I believi, re-open it in a few days. It lias been cosed since the death of Mr. Taylor.