SCINTILLATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4296, 27 February 1884, Page 2

SCINTILLATIONS.

" Omvkttk " in tho Opera House to-night. Rifle competitions start to-morrow at Ellerslio.

lion J. T. Peacock is choson as Chairman of Lyttelton Harbour Board. AtTimaru lately, H'7o inches of rain foil within thirty hours. Tho "Now York Herald" haH "good authority" for stating thotMary Anderson, the actross, is engaged to marry tho Duke of Portland.

The Governor and Major Cantloy, with a Biirvoy party, aro taking [sections, &c., in cotinection with tho defenco of Wellington Harbour.

It is said of tho averago Englishman that he has asaimilatod tho Old Testament, but not tho New.

Dunedin Ocean Beach Domain Board, latoly constituted, liuh no funds, and aaks a paternal Government to mipply tho neodful. Mr E. Pearco was yesterday unanimously oleetod Chairman of Wellington Harbour Board.

Tho roligious classes in Dunedin State Schools aro but thinly attended, and tho clergymen who conduct them talk of discontinuing. Tho tender of Mr Cameron, Auckland, £2,822, has boen accepted for tho Eureka station buildings contract No. 1, WaikatoThames Railway. Yesterday tho Wellington shareholders of tho Titanic Stool Co. agreed to accept tho Government oiler of £3,000 in full liquidation of claims against them. Mr W. Moody was unanimously re-elected Chairman of the Timaru Harbour Board yostorday.

Sir Wm. Fox says tho cost of elementary education in New Zealand is less than tho valuo of half a glass of boor per day to every adult in the population, "Fish O!" It is oattmated that 2f>3,585,000 herrings wore landed from tho Great Yarmouth fleet during tho season which has just closed. Presbyterian Genoral Assembly at Wellington closod it.H sittings last night.

Wellingto» Benovolont Society last year spont £2,172 in relieving 140 families, including 367 children and 31 men.

A Scotch nobloman recently sent £5,000 to tho Chancellor of the Exchequor to bo devoted to the reduction of tho National Debt.

Tho Swiss sottlors for Pukekoho aro to leavo for tlio colony in tho course of ne~fc month.

In Wellington laßt year 13 wives, with 43 children, woro doserted by their husbande.

A houso at Greertown, Tauranga, was burned down on Monday night. Mrs Donnelly, wiie of tho ownor, is unable to account for tho occurrence, though she was at homo at tho timo.

Tho " Hawke's Bay Herald " knows howto treat tho local poet who loves to rhyme on local topics. It says in a recent issuo : —" A correspondent sends us a rhyming contribution on tho b'roakwater question, for the insertion of which ho will be charged at tho rato of 5s per line." Tho five-year-old son of Mr Jas. WHson, brewer, Dunedin, was yesterday pitched out of a buggy attached to a runaway horse, and had his skull badly fractured. Mr Yon Stunner, 11.M., Hokiaaga, states that though two cases of low foyer among tho natives of that district havo tndeu fatally, there is vory little more sickness than is usual at this season.

Walter G. Smith, chief olork to Wellington Gas Co., absconded the other day with a barmaid from a hotel near the gasworks, and took passage to Australia. Tho erring man's wife, who has three children, got a warrant against him, and he has been arrested at Bluff.

Tho Rev. James Cosh, M.A.. minister of tho Balmain Presbyterian Church, and formerly of Auckland, with his wife and family, was a. passonger for England by the It.M.S. Garonne, from Sydney. Mr Cosh has obtained leavo of absonco for 12 months from his congregation, who havo granted him full Btipond for that period.