a little annoyed at the* iate" rU P fcioDt * or ho re P liod > rather impatiently. " 2 don 't kl } 0W > b , l , lfc f u PP? 8e the one with the > c » d on r-Chrwtian Union. At last night't meeting of the Erectors °* the Caledonian Society it was seriou!T. v tjj£ g&faltihbt tbwe Ife a toggis at tiro Suj^C*

to be held under the auspices of the Society in honor of the birth of Burns, It was as seriously suggested that there be two, and while no definite decision was come to, it is understood there will be two of those complex appetisers of which Burns himself wrote — Krtir fa' your hoi cat, sonsic face, Or at chicft.iin o' the puddin' race The tender of 1). Kirk wood, of Dunedin (L 8939), has been accepted for the tunnel formation, permanent way, and station buildings of the Citlin Rivei Railway. The following teoders were decliiied : Panton and Puck, Invercaigill, L9B4H ; R. Mcikle, Dunedin, L 10.679, A. Menzies, Invercargill, L14.1H0; J. Innes,' Romahapa, L 9941 ; Sanderson and Co,, Oamaru, L 10,893. This is what " Puff" in the Wellington "reas siys about strikes ; " Tom Manu and liis friend Burns and orher agitators who toil rot neither do they spin, who reap where others have sown, h<ive so disorganised the trade of England that in the East End of London alone there are over a huudied thousand unemployed ' And employers are reducing their hands and nar rowing their operations daily ! Yet the mischief is still going on ' The lailwaysaie trying to complete what the dockers began ! And capitalists are d TA'inc in their wealth as fast as they can until safer times come luund ' You will hear of muie unemployed in England soon than evei betoie? Strikes are the very deuce; C and it's no easy matter to gci things going ' again when onco out ol gear ! Even in Wel lington you see ci jwds lonnd the wharf now waiting foi a job, where but a few months ago all were employed." That, is what we ■ilwiya said woul J happen. Between strikes and " bursting up" we do not care to play prophet so far as New Zealand's future is concerned. 