COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 9 December 1862, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

" Ikveecahgili, Times " Office,

Monday Evening, December 7

Business has been pretty brisk since our last. Many descriptions of goods are scarce, owing to numerous orders having been received in town from the diggings, and vessels overdue not arriving.

Amongst those articles that are particularly in request, aud of which there is but a very limited stock in hand, may be mentioned bottled ale and porter, brandy, whiskey, hams, and tea. Flour in better demand, at a slight rise in price.

An Old Dodge Revived, — An old mode of extorting money under false pretences has been resorted to by soma sharpers, who are more disposed to live by there wits than by the pursuit of any honest avocation. These persons select some of tlie less frequented spots ofthe townfor|practistngupon thesimplicityor credulity of their dupes, and ply their calling in this wise: — On meeting a single female, the sharper pretends that he found on the footpath a gold rintr.or some other piece of jewelery, calls the attention of the unwary female to the circumstance, disclaims any right to tlie precious find, and states that he is willing to place at her disposal for a small remnneration the article which chance threw in his way. Such an occurence took place on Thursday in Eyre-street, and a guileless female was induced to give a half-crown for a supposed gold ring, picked up in her presence. The sharper would not be baffled by one or two refusals; he pertinaciously urged " that the smallest sum of money would be better for him th^n such articles as the gold ring ; that he was leaving Ballarat," &c. The ring was valued at Id, by a metallurgist to whom it was shown— it was simply burnished copper. This kind of imposition has .been tried on several unsuspecting persons, but not with success, except in the one instance, where the thief made 2s. 6d. by lhe transaction. — Ballarat Tribune.

A Knowing Hobsb — "I engaged," said a traveller, " a chaise at Galway to conduct me some few miles into the country, ancl had not proceeded far when he pulled up at the foot of the hill, and the driver coming to the door, opened it. " What are you at, m*an ? this isn't wh re I ordered you to fifcop," said I. ""Whist! your honour ; whist ! " ejaculated Paddy. " I'm only desaving the beast. Ml bang the door, he'll think you're oufc, and he'll Cut up the hill like blazes." A very exacting landowner not long since called for bisrenton a very worthy mechanic, whorejoiced in.the possession ofa very pretty tittle wife. The husband was not at home when Shylockcailed, and he was enchanted with the pretty wife of the tenant. She could not liquidate the amount due, biit the landlord told her he would give her a ■ receipt in full for just one kiss. "Sir," said she, boiling wifco indignation," myself and husband are very poor, perhaps we cannot pay our rent, but / I will tell you. sir, we're not so poor but that W0 Ji e»n do our own kissing."