General News

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3098, 12 September 1899, Page 1

General News

ft ■ Mr Tapper, secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council, has recieved a telegram from Major Wardill stating that the Australian cricketers will not be able to visit New Zealand. All efforts to secure the late Mr Colenso's unique library for Napier have failed. His son having sold it to Messrs Angus and Robertson, of Melbourne. The estimated railway revenue for the four- weekly period ended August 19 dhows an increase of £10,000 as compared with the corresponding period of iast year. The revenue since the Ist Apiil, 1899, shows an esimated increase of £54,000 as csmpared with the same period oi last year. At a meeting of the Wellington Trades Council it was decided, in view of the indifference shown by some affiliated unions and the opposition of others nofc to take any farther action in regard to the selection of candidates for the general election. Cattle and sheep-stealing are rife in the Waitakerei district. Shelley, a settler has lost 30 this season. In the Magistrate's Court Wellington on Friday Henry Erwin was committed for trial for the murder of Alexander Farquar. The depositions taken at the nquest on Farquhar were accepted aa evidence, and accused reserved hia defence, Au epidemic has broken out among the Maoris at Tauwhare, a settlement near Hamilton. Three Natives are dead, and the police have sent a medical man to the settlement to investigate. The Maoris are said to be living in a wretched state, their homes resembling sheep yards rather than anything else. Particulars of the death of Mra Mary Ryburn, Paterangi, show thafc the deceased partook of some tinned salmon, and was subsequently attacked by severe vomiting. All the other members of the family partook of the same dish, but in no instance did illness supervene. The coroner thought the case one of blood poisoning, and deemed an inquest unnecessary. A little side issue of the Marine Commission came before the S.M., on Saturday. In giving evidence before the commission, Captain Von Schoen professed his readiness to repay to Captain Jones a sum, variously stated at £15 or £17, which he had received, on the condition that he procured for Captain Jones a service cirtificate. Jones never gob the certificate, and therefore an application was made for the refund of the money, which was not forthcoming, and as he (Von Schoen) was to leave at noon for Sydney, plaintiff took steps to bring the latter into court. On giving security, Von Schoen waa allowed to get away, and it was agreed that his evidence before the commission should be admitted as evidence in the case. A bashful young man in L->eds went three times to ask a beautiful youog lady if he might be the partner ot her joys and sorrows, and other household furniture, but each heart failed him, and he took the question away unpopped. She saw the anguish of his soul, and had comparsion on him. So the next time he came she asked him if he had thought to bring a screw-driver with him. He blushed, and wanted to know what for. And she, in the fullness of her heart, said she did not know but that ehe would want to screw up his courage before he left. He took the hint — and the girl. The London Missionary Society's yacht John Williams bas returned to Sydney from a four montb,s cruise among the South S6a Islands. Satisfactory reports are brought from all the islands, except the Gilbert Group where a severe drought caused great loss of corps, resulting in severe distresa among the natives. Many of them had died of starvation, and reports were heard of some having been driven by hunger to commit suicide. The drought haa lasted for many months and unless rain falls soon the death rate will be greatly increased.