WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 5 January 1903, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day. LAND SETTLEMENT.

At the present time the Lands Department have 100.000 acres ready for close settlement in the North Island. I am informed, on very high authority, tlt&t at the present rate of progress the whole of the Crown lands in the colony will have been surveyed in about two years hence. SLAUGHTERING AND INSPECTION ACT. It is the intention Off the master butchers of this city to endeavour" to have certain amendments made next session in the Slaughtering and Inspection Act. They claim" that the vendor of an animal which is condemned when slaughtered should bear a proportion of the loss, and that it should not, as at present, fall wholly on the butchers, who only receive one-third of its value. The butchers intend to take united action throughout the colony to secure an amendment of the law in this respect. CHASED BY A SHARK.. Lyell Bay lis a favourite resort for bathers, who dearly love a dip in the briny during the holiday seasons. One of them, however, got such a scare the other morning as will likely deter him from bathing in this quarter for all time to oome. While paddling about in the water at a lonely nook he spotted the fins of a large shark, which bore down on him at a rapid rate. The bather struck at a rapid speed for the shore, closely followed by his sharkship, who did not give up the chase until nearing shallow wa.ter. Other big sharks have since been seen iv the bay. THEATRICAL CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. Mr Alex. Mlddleton, a well-known theatrical manager on "the other side," writes to a friend here that, after making all arrangements to open in Perth Theatre at Christ»a«, he was, he alleges, /Tsappointee" by the Perth breaking his contract. As ;">ins meant, monetary loss to Mr Mic'ldleton, he has issued a writ claiming £1000 damages. vm-nrnyrrniE r.\; WAIRARAPA.

Viticulturists will be interested to hear that the cultivation of the grapevine is making good headway m the YV airarapa district, and that kvrge areas are being prepared for this important industry. A CURIOUS OCCURRENCE. A Wellington resident during a holiday trip up country noted the curious circumstance of one river in heavy flood and another only a short distance away almost waterless. This was the case in several instances during the past week. In October the plain around Masterton and right down to the East Coast experienced a very severe drought, while north of Masterton, in the Mauriceville and Eketahuna counties, where there is a great deal of hilly country, there was an exceedingly heavy rainfall, the country at times being flooded. AN EXTINCT TANIWHA. A jawbone, apparently of an extiuct reptile, has recently been discovered on the banks of the Rangitikei River, west of .Ruahine Ranges. The specimen, which is of considerable size, has been sent to Christchurch for expert classification. Considerable interest is being taken in the matter, as old Maoris in the district have circumstantial stories of an animal called by them the taniwh a. THE LATE SIR FREDERICK SARGOOD. The journey from Taihape to the nearest railway station, Mangaweka, bringing the body of the late Sir I-rederick Sargood to Wellington, was performed under considerable difficulty owing to the bad condition of the road. The mourners travelled during the night, arriving at Ma-, ngaweka at nearly two o'clock on Saturday morning.

TOURING THE WORLD. Mr James Pinnock, an African explorer of considerable celebrity, arrived here on Saturday, He has recently travelled through Siberia, and the warmer and less civilised porlions of Asia, also through North America, Mexico, Yucatan, . and through scenes of the recent calamitous eruptions at Martinique. He is now making a tour of New Zealand, and will shortly be away to Australia. Thence he will flit past, the pearl divers of Thursday Island to Borneo, and will possibly then visit Mandalay. Mr Pinnock is accompanied on his travels by Miss Annie Bates, a lady of means, who has a taste for travelling in strange lands. Miss Bates has already travelled several thousands of miles in Mr Pinnock's company, and intends to explore with him the countries of the Malay Archipelago and other far-off lands. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. During October and November the Rangitikei Co-operative Dairy Company paid £ 1000 in milk cheques. The' suppliers to the factory also made good cheques last month, one settler, milking 55 cows on 120 acres, cleared £62. THE STATE COAL MINE. Cabinet has given the manager of the State coal mines authority to employ whatever number of men he thinks necessary to have both properties expeditiously opened up. The Government -expects, that the coal from each mine will be available for railway purp° ses before the end of the present year. The Premier, Mr. Gordon (consulting engineer) and Mr. Lindop (manager of the State collieries) will hold a conference on the West Coast this week, the outcome of which is likely to lead to energtic steps being taken to push on the development of the mines with the utmost celerity. COMMERCIAL AGENTS ABROAD. When Cabinet meets shortly a decision will be come to relative to the appointment of three commercial agents, representing the colony in South Africa and London, provision for which was made last session. It is understood that the Government has a wide field for selection, applications having been received from all parts of the colony, Australia and elsewhere. '.