FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18627, 3 December 1928, Page 9

FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

ADVERTISEMENTS AND NEWS OF DEC. 3, 1868. The s.s. Gazelle has been put on Mr Grubb’s slip to have a thorough overhaul. Wanted, a respectable person as Housekeeper. Apply at Grisbrook’s Store, Colombo Bridge. A motion carried by the Provincial Council.—“ That capitalists be invited to undertake the construction of a cheap railway from Christchurch to the south bank of the Kowai, and to furnish the necessary rolling stock, building, etc.” k x A prize-fight for the championship of Australia and £2OO a side, took place about eighteen miles from Melbourne, on November 24, between Harry Sellars and Jack Carstairs. Sellars is reported to be the victor. The fight lasted one hour and fifty minutes. X « X College Examination.—The examination in Modern History took place at the College last night. There were six competitors in all—four pupils of the College, and two from district schools. The result will not be known until tomorrow. The Maori War.—We are glad to learn that a movement is on foot to give an entertainment in the Drill Shed in aid of the Poverty Bay and other settlers in the North Island w r ho have suffered so severely through the war. Acclimatisation.—A flock of fourteen sparrows have taken up their abode in a garden in the vicinity of Cranmer Square, and are now busily engaged in building their nests. The garden is sheltered, and its choice speaks well for the sagacity of the birds.

Judging from the following, which we extract from the Wellington “ Evening Post ” of December 1, some of the Volunteers who went from Canterbury the other day, have not been behaving very well. We regret to hear this:— The last detachment of the Armed Constabulary, which arrived here from the south by the Rob Roy, appear to be incumbered by a bad lot. Since their arrival here, it must be allowed that they have well supported the reputation of rowdyism they acquired elsewhere. A number of them congregated last night, and attacked a constable, who was on duty, in a most cowardly manner. He defended himself as well as he could till two of his comrades came to his assistance, and the three of them succeeded in lodging the ringleaders in the station house. The chief of these ruffians, named Kelly, was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment, and the others were variously dealt with. The last exploit of one of the heroic band was to jump off the wharf u> a mock attempt to swim after the steamer in which he had missed his passage this afternoon. Sergeant Monaghan and the police deserve great credit for the pluck and firmness they displayed in capturing these rowdies, who had evidently organised themselves for a repetition of their Christchurch exploits. x Provincial Council.—Mr Potts moved, “ That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that encouragement should be given to local industry, and, with this view, the Government be requested to offer premiums for tweed cloths, blankets and beetroot sugar manufactured within the province.” Many reasons had induced him to place this motion on the notice paper. If the hon members would look to what their neighbours were doing—that local industries obtained the fostering care of the Government of Victoria, and the manufacture of cloth appeared to be attended with success in that colony, where two manufactories had already been established. In Otago, the same system of offering bonuses had been initiated by the Government, who were prepared to give premiums to persons who intended to enter into the manufacture of cloth and beet-root sugar, and who could give a satisfactory assurance that they would carrv out the undertaking to a successful consummation.