BRIEF MENTION.

Evening Star, Issue 9387, 8 May 1894, Page 4

BRIEF MENTION.

»■ Mr Rutherford re-elected chairman of th< Ocean Beach Domain Board for the ensuiuj year. The Premier is now on a visit to th< West Coast, whither the Hon. Mr Cadmai proceeds to-morrow. The city solicitor at Wellington is to b< instructed to draft a Bill for submission t< Parliament next session to give effect to th< suggestions of the drainage engineer in re gard to the connection of local drains witl main sewers.

Judgment reserved by the Appeal Court in the Southland case of Hindley and Co. v. Tothill, Watson, and Co. An Imperial federation Defence Committee has been formed at Home. Its members include Admiral Colomb. The Committee will impress upon the Government the advisability of inviting the colonies to combine with Great Britain and contribute on an equitable basis to maintain the defences in the common interests of the Empire, each receiving a proportionate share in the control. The North British and New Zealand Investment Company have declared a dividend of 7 per cent. News has been received that Kab Arega, a noted slave-dealer in East Africa, has been defeated by a small force under Colonel Colville. After the victory Colonel Colville hoisted the British flag at Wadelai. Mr Gladstone, in a letter to M. Leon S*y, laments the opposition to Frcctnvdc, which he considers a powerful factor in promoting goodwill among nations, and he deplores the material losses which have been caused through a policy of Protection. The usual May Day and Eight Hours' meetings in Hyde Park and the English provinces passed oil in an orderly manner, although in the park the Anarchists were hustled and hooted by the mob. General Ferron, formerly of New Caledonia, met his death from the results of an accident at Lyons. The new French Minister for the Colonies places French Guiaim, New Caledonia, and other French interests in Oceania under one section, and insists on the necessity for their closer union with the Mother Country. The Spanish authorities crushed a rising in the Philippine Islands, the loss of life on the rebel side being considerable. It is stated that H.M.S. Penguin will shortly be despatched on a surveying cruise between Queensland and the Solomon Group, the work being in connection with the selection of a route for the proposed Pacific cable. The New South Wales Treasurer states that of the three millions authorised to be raised by funded stock, £'2,300,000 have been taken up. He does not intend to issue the balance, as there is no more money required at present. The Marine Board found that M'Caskie, second officer of the steamer Konoowarra, was responsible for the collision between that vessel and the ship Titania, and that Captain Ellis, of the Konoowarra, was deserving of censure for not doing all in his power to discover the whereabouts of the other vessel after the collision occurred. M'Caskie was called upon to show cause next Monday why his certificate should not be suspended. The steamer Taiyun, from Hongkong, on passing Cooktown, signalled that one of the Chinese passengers was suffering from smallpox. Alexander, formerly a pawnbroker of Napier, is now being proceeded against for receiving goods knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. A man named Byrn obtained an immense quantity of goods from numerous tradesmen in the name of Father Grogan, in whose employ he had been. Byrn, who stands committed for trial, gave evidence yesterday directly implicating Alexander, who, he said,' repeatedly instructed him where to go for goods, in some instances telling him what to got, and giving written particulars. A cable message received from London by Dalgety and Co., of Christchureh, states that frozen meat prices show a marked decline, the market being unfavorably affected by heavy arrivals. New Zealand cross-bred is quoted at 3Jd to 4.[d; New South Wales merino, 2id to 2.i'd. The wheat market is demoralised.