NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume XIV, Issue 1383, 27 December 1870, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

* # * In order not. to deprive our employees of some holiday enjoyment we have omitted certain correspondence, and local reports, among which latter is the report of Mr. Richardson's meeting at Suburban North, which will appear in our next, as will also our bankruptcy report.

The Abtizans' Entertainment. — A musical and dramatic entertainment will be given by the in ambers of the Artizans' Association. The programme issued uppears to be an attractive onei

Late Wellington papers state th»t Parliament will be dissolved during the present week, and the new writs be issued immediately.

Excursions.—This morning, the Charles Edward (one of the boats of the Anchor Line of Steam Packets) proceeds to Motueka, Kaiteretere, and Astrolabe roadstead; and the s.s. Taranaki will take excursionists to the Oroixelles. A» to-day is a public holiday, and there is no public attraction in the City, no doubt these pleasure trips will be largely patronised.

It is rumored that the Nelson Provincial Council will be called together for a bhort session early in January. The main object of their assembly will bo, it is said, to vote moneys for the construction of roads to the new diggings in the Inangahua district; the sums appropriated for contingencies having been found to be totally insufficient, as also the amount set aside for the maintenance of existing roads.* Either the Council must be called together or the Superintendent incur some unauthorised expenditure, leaving it to the Council subsequently to endorse his action; and the latter course is not likely to be adopted by his Honor, after his experience of last year.— Westport Times. '

By the s.s«. Alhambra for Melbourne, 69330z5. of gold were shipped at Greymouth, on the 17th Dec.

A daring- robbery afloat was perpetrated in. Auckland last Saturday week on board the Southern Cross, mission schooner. The thieves broke into the cabin by the means of the cook's axe, and made off with a quantity of articles, comprising navigation books, clothing, instruments, and charts. The Bhip keeper was on board at the time, but he was asleep and did not awaken.

A tangible proof of the increasing importance of the South Australian gold fields is to be found in the fact that the Aldinga has brought 3900 ozs of gold from Adelaide to Melbourne.

King George of Tongataboo, suys a correspondent, has determined to observe a strict neutrality during the war between France and Prussia; but has put the Tonga contingent of his army on a war footing by furbishing up some fifty old muskets.

Mb. John Charles, a publican, of Napier, dropped down dead a few days ago, at Waimarama.

Bon Mot by thk Pope.—When the Pope wa§ coi'toled with for the loss of his French,auxiliaries, he is said merely to have obserred:—" La Fim»e* M