Down South.

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 3, 2 October 1880, Page 18

Down South.

I must apologise to my southern correspondents for the way in which their letters have been massacred. They will see, however, by the paper and by the following extracts that I only require a few spicy paragraphs referring to such matters as are of interest all over the colonies. Theatrical and sporting pars especially when brief, are, however, always acceptable.

The effect of the ten per cent, reduction has extended far beyond the members of the Civil Service and their creditors. In Duneclin, private firms and public companies after engaging hands at salaries to suit the times, have, following the example of the Government, in many cases reduced the wages, and in most instances the reductions are justifiable. There is one firm, however, that although fighting hard to establish a local industry, has not only not reduced wages, but has promised an increase Bhould the takings warrant it.

My Christchurch correspondent writes : "Of course you have heard, and shuddered as you heard, of the ' Henderson tragedy.' It was the sensation of the day here, where its nauseating details were keenly relished, as they were sure to be by so goody-goody a people. I am told that one effect of the tragedy was somewhat of the nature of a farce. You will remember that it was stated that Henderson endeavoured to make away with the certificate of his marriage. Well, upon the receipt of this intelligence, numbers of mature matrons set to work to overhaul their family archives in search of their 'marriage lines,' and dire was the trouble in many quiet houses where the long-unthought-of document could not be found. Black looks and suspicious glances greeted the bread-winner on his return from his daily toil, and in some instances hints as to his dishonourable intentions in connection with a particular ' minx ' were freely thrown out. One lady, whose husband may challenge fearlessly the closest scrutiny into his morals, mysteriously said to him : 'Well, there's no knowing what may happen,' and, having succeeded in finding her ' lines,' confided them in the most solemn manner to her grown-up daughter for safe custody."

In connection with this same tragedy another circumstance may lie mentioned here.especially as it illustrates the strait-locedness of the Cliristchurch community The young lady whose name was so unpleasantly connected with the scoundrel, Henderson, has a sister, who occupies the position of a teacher at the school where she had met her seducer. Now, against the sister nothing could be said except what I have just written. With commendable delicacy the young lady absented herself from the school until the Board of Education and the School Committee desired her to resume her dutiesShe then returned, with what difference may easily be imagined. But do you think her fellow teachers welcomed her, or showed any sympathy with the poor girl? Quite the reverse— they one and nil turned their backs upon her and sent her to Coventry. The Chairman of the Committee endeavoured to bring about a more Christian-like attitude of the " unco quid," but he has not succeeded in his efforts.

Professional men in a state of single blessedness, who would escape matrimonial entanglements or something- worse, would do well when they go in pursuit of housekeepers to take the advise of Mr. Weller, the elder— " Sammy, beware of widders." Dr. Hayes, of Waimate, Canterbury, a tall strapping young medico, had the misfortune to engage a widow for a housekeeper. Shortly afterwards, the state of her health required attention, and the gallant doctor prescribed a box of pills. Being worse she was sent to the Timaru Hospital, where she had the benefit of a constellation of professional lady-killers, from whose attentions luckily she escaped alive. She returned to her service; but was only there a short time, when, for some reason, she was discharged. A police sergeant was first appealed to, and then a lawyer was employed to threaten the faithless young doctor with the utmost rigor, etc. Threats proving of no avail, in due course a criminal information was sworn, not after the style of Mrs. Bardwell for breach of promise of marriage, but for attempting something infinitely worse. The doctor's pills, the housekeeper's subseciueiitimiess.andotheiuuterestinglittle disclosures, such as the presentation of a cartc-de-visite of the employer, were all skilfully combined, with the view of making out a clear case ; but so fragile did it appear that, without calling for any defence, the Magistrate dismissed the information. On escaping from the toils of the widow, Dr. Hayes was loudly cheered by a sympathetic audience, and proceedings against the lawyer who took up the housekeeper's case are now threatened.

One of the finest inland lakes in Canterbury is Tekapo. It is fifteen or sixteen miles in length, fed by the Tekapo River, and it occupies a central position in the Mackenzie County— one of the choice pastoral strongholds of the South Island. Over the river, near its entrance to the lake, a magnificent suspension bridge has jxist been erected; and the opening celebration, which was conducted in a style of unprecedented magnificence, took place on September 7th. By a most amazing coincidence, the contractor for the bridge— one Sibley and a local storekeeper named Spalding— had to appear in Timaru the previous day, Spalding to answer a charge of sly-grog selling, and Sibley to give evidence against his friend. On Sibley being called in Court, he put his foot on the step of the witness-box, but wrathfully declined to move another peg till he knew about his expenses. "Go up, sir !" said the E.M. " I won't till I know what I'm to get for all this here bother," retorted the witness. "But you must give evidence," exclaimed his Worship severely. "I've been dragged two hundred miles against my will, and I want to know

if I'm going to be paid ?" " Never mind your expenses get into the box," exclaimed the magistrate, with increasing severity. "Of course witnesses are allowed their expenses your Worship," said the Inspector of Police, pouring oil on the troubled water. "It's costme over £10 to come here, and I would not suffer this for twice that money," angrily added the witness. " You'll get the ordinary expenses of witnesses, nothing more, and you must give your evidence," exclaimed the Bench. Matters were assuming a threatening complexion when Sibley collapsed, and gave his testimony with reluctance the result being that the information against Spalding was dismissed, and next morning, at early dawn, the two friends started on their return journey. The road was a long and rough, one, and, though they urged their steeds to the utmost, they had the mortification to be in at the bridge celebration just as the councillors and their friends, literally drenched with colonial champagne, were dispersing.

An amusing story! is going the rounds in Timaru. The other evening a wealthy resident gave a private ball and the guests' invited were numerous. A particular friend of the entertainer had his happiness partially marred by the indisposition of his good lady, who early in the evening was seized with a nervous headache. AltlKmgh too ill to participate in the pleasures of the night, Mrs was anxious that her lord and master should not suffer, and yielding to the selfsacrificing entreaties he went alone. But the festive scone had no attractions for the bereaved one, and at the early hour of 10 p.m. the head of the household bent his steps homeward. The twilight of the passage prevented him from perceiving the look of surprise with which he was admitted by the housemaid, or the trepidation with which she led the way to his private apartments. Hastily undressing he joined Mrs who, however, was now groaning bitterly and, like the patriarch of sacred writ, refusing to be comforted. The nervous headache had given way to pains of an even worse description and her anguish aroused the fears and sympathies of her amiable partner. The remedial virtues of P.B. were no sooner suggested than Mr. ,who plainly saw that unless relief of some kind was obtained, there would be no sleep for the household, redressed himself with all the despatch practicable and adjourned to the nearest pub. Judge his astonishment on inserting his fingers into the recesses of the pants he wore to find, instead of the few halfcrowns which ought to be there, a cheque for a moderate amount in favor of a well-known member of one of the learned professions, who has the reputation of a confirmed gay Lothario. Nor was his amazement and annoyance much allayed at the almost simultaneous discovery that the trousers which he wore were a pair of strange ones. Divorce proceedings have been rumoured, but in all probability the connubial sore will be healed up in a less ostentatious manner.

lii his speech at Waikaia, Mr. Bastings made two observations worth noting. In the first place, he stated that the Grey party will not be resuscitated, but a new political party formed, and, in the second, he expressed his opinion tliat the financial separation of the Islands will be a leading question at the next general election. The new party, it appears, is to bo led by practical business men, and not by theoretical politicians for whom Mr. Bastings has a feeling much akin to contempt. "When speaking on this question, he said he had often looked at Ministers and thought, "Well, if I wanted a man to run a hay and corn store for £50 a year, you wouldn't suit, and yet you run this great country." Sir. Bastings, however, prudently refrained from hinting that it is just possible "practical business men" may prove mildly theoretical politicians. Financial separation of the Islands, with a Federal Government for the colony, he advocated as a panacea for most of our evils, including I presume, the one most felt in the district, the extremely low price of oats. How much the " panacea" would cost, how it would work or how be obtained, as a " practical business man" he did not trouble to explain, but gave as a reason for separation that there was no national sentiment, no community of feeling in the Assembly, and then went on to say that strong local jealousies existed in the different ports of this Island. The fact is, that there is a nnieh stronger feeling of jealousy between Dunedin and Invercargill and even between Dunedin and Port Chalmers, than exists between the Islands, and it will be as easy, or rather as difficult to eradicate the prejudice in one case as in the other. On the principle that "it is more blessed to give than to receive," we would willingly give our northern friends the Maori difficulty to deal with ; but other minor questions being settled, the great dimc\vlty would remain that it would hardly be possible to have the seat of Government for the Middle Island located in Christchurch, Oamaru, Dunedin or Invercargill, and unless this were done there would be an immense amount of dissatisfaction.