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South Canterbury Times, Issue 3105, 14 March 1883, Page 3

The laborers who were dissatisfied with the pay they were receiving, and who, on Monday, went out on strike, remain still unemployed, but in the meanwhile the shippers and others are supplying their places at current rates. There is no scarcity of labour, as numbers of hands are pouring in from the country. It is admitted that £2OCO was paid by the Land League for the expenses of the Irish members of Parliament and it is expected to ultimately transpire that over £20,000 has been spent on Irish Parlimentary agitation in contravention of the condition that not a penny should he used for such a purpose.

Mr Williams, the scenic artist, who is preparing the scenery for the now Theatre Boyal has made very good progress with his work, yet he does not expect to complete bis engagement for a month to come. A visit t» Mr Williams’ “ studio ” is well worth mak’ng. Our reporter to-day had an opportunity of seeing the proscenium border and valance, which is a very fine piece of drapery painting. In referring to the alleged dummyism at the land sale in Dunedin the “Times” asks if Sir George Grey will sit at ease in luxurious Kawau, and allow the public patrimony to be given away to dummyism. It says that the noble gift of his library is not one hundredth part so precious to the Colony as a man like Sir George Grey himself, if he would only bestir himself in the interests of his fellow colonists. The lad Wain, who is alleged to have been ill-treated by his parents at South Dunedin, has been admitted to the Hospital. He is in a high state of lever ; he is suffering from inflammation of one of the lungs, a fracture of one of the bones of the left for.arm, and several bruises on different parts of the body. It is stated that he was kept in an outhouse for days, with hia arms tied behind him. Fu”. particulars wi’l probably be elicited in the police prosecution. The lad was saved from further i - treatment by the action of some neighbors. In the District Court, Ch.istchurcb, yesterday, it was stated in evidence fiat a a practice prev. ’LI ‘n the Eiilway Depi.tment of “ laolrng off” employees occcsionally. This w;"i explained to be that every night the work for the next day was allotted to the men, and those who were not required were “ booked off.” For days that they were thus unemployed, the men received ho pay. The practice was animadverted on as being hard upon men, who by the the regulations of the Department, are compelled to hold themselves available for work when called upon.

“ Thirty years ago I was a poor boy,” he proudly observed to the reporter, “A poor boy at two dollars a week. Step by step I rose from the menial position until I became a member of the Legislature, and here lam at last.” The interview was held at the gentleman s residence—the State prison at Auburn.

They were talking over music and the drama at the table of their host, who, as they were already aware, owed his fortune to his own unaided exertions. “ You are fond of Rossini?” asked one of the guests. “ Passionately,” replied the host. “ Know his ‘Barber ’?” “No sir, I do not. Never patronised the man. Have shaved myself for the last forty years ?” An excellent liniment for toothache or neuralgia is made of sassafras, oil of organura, and a half-ounce of tincture of capsicum, with half a pint of alcohol. Soak nine yards of red flannel in this mixture, wrap it round the head, and then insert the head in a haystack till death conn s to your relief. “ I shall feel so lonely, dearest, when you are gone,” said a youg husband, as he put’his wife in a railway carriage for the sea-side, and clinging to her fondly, awaited the signal of departure' “Charlie dear,” she answered, “ I have provided against all that. Mamma will come and stay with you until I I return ; and as she’s very timid, you’ll remain at home of an evening and keep each other company.”