BRIEF MENTION.

Evening Star, Issue 9644, 11 March 1895, Page 4

BRIEF MENTION.

At the Imperial Institute Professor James Long, in a paper on colonial products, declared it probable that within a decade the colonies would supply the entire meat, wheat, and dairy produce required by England. He was not afraid that the colonies would overgrow if allowed first place in the market.

The ' Daily Chronicle' gives currency to a rumor that the British Government intend to abandon Cyprus, the military vote for which will be reduced to £IOO. Another seizure has been made in Melbourne by the Custom-house officials, this time on the premises of a jeweller named John Robert Rowlands, carrying on business in Collins street. A stock valued at £9OO was seized, on the ground that Rowlands had evaded duty on imported jewellery, and it is alleged that the evasions, which have extended .over a period of -several years, amounted to £350. Defendant was ordered to pay the latter "amount, and was fined l,ooogs. In the Melbourne Bankruptcy Court certificates of discharge were granted to Thomas and Charles Lorimer, of Lorimer, Rowe, and Co.

A petition from ninety male residents near the Belfast (Christchurch) Freezing Works, askiug that blocks of land in the vicinity should be acquired under the Land for Settlements Act and cut into small allotments, has been forwarded to the Government.

Staff-sergeant-major Barrett, instructor for nine years to the Canterbury volunteers, has received an Imperial medal for meritorious service.

Before the Medical Congress terminated their labors at Christchurch on Friday steps were taken to have the New Zealand Association incorporated as a branch of the Britisli Medical Association. It was also decided to form a medical defence union. Dr Murray-Aynsley, of the Christchurch Hospital staff, was appointed permanent secretary to the Congress. A meeting of holders of scrip in the Samoan land syndicate which was formed some years ago to assist the late Frank Cornwall his celebrated claim against M'Arthur and Co. was field in Auckland last Aveek to consider what steps should be taken in order to secure cash and lands in Samoa in Cornwall's estate claimed by the syndicate. It was proposed to raise further funds with a view to taking proceedings to gain possession of the portion of the estate to which the syndicate consider they-are entitled.

The Central Otago Teachers' Institute, sitting at Clyde on the 2nd inst., resolved—- " That the Minister of Education be requested to elaborate a scheme for the classification of schools and the payment of teachers, applicable to the whole of New Zealand, and to get the Education Act amended so as to bring it into force over the* whole colony." The branch expressed their entire approval aud hearty sympathy with the scheme for the classification of schools and payment of teachers proposed by Messrs Cohen and Davidson. The ' Standard' considers that in view of the immense suffering to which live cattle from Australia are subjected on the voyage it is not desirable that that trade should succeed, and adds that the chilled meat trade is preferable. At a meeting of Auckland rifle companies the City and Victoria, which had contemplated disbanding, decided to go on, as the new regulations are more practicable and less exacting. At c public meeting held in New Plymouth on Saturday afternoon it, was resolved to form the Taranaki Freezing Works Company, with a capital, of £IO,OOO, in '2,000 shares of £5 each, for the purpose of providing cool storage for dairy and other produce and for meat freezing. The works will be erected at the breakwater. Albert Fernandez, a Wellington jeweller, has been committed for trial on charges of stealing two watches, one belonging to Hart Cook, Aorerc, and the other to Henry Savage, Kaitoke. Both watches had been left with accused for repairs, and he had left the district without accountirg to the owners for them. London to arrange a system of mutual trade relations between Great Britain and the colonies. Sir J. Lubbock, Sir Charles Tupper, Sir W. B. Perceval, the Duke of Devonshire, and the Marquis of Lome support the proposal.* Lord llosebery is advised that he requires a complete and prolonged rest. Unconfirmed rumors are current that he intends to resign the Premiership. • The barque Rangitiki, now on her way to Wellington, is chartered to take Home 350,000 ft of timber from Westland, equal to about SOO tons. Negotiations arc being concluded in New York whereby Russia, Japau, and Hawaii join with a United States company in laying a cable from San Francisco to Hawaii, Japan, and the French islands in the Pacific. The Marquis of Quecnsberry has been committed for trial ou a charge of libel. He declares he wrote the alleged libel on a card and left it with the hall porter of Oscar Wilde's club with a view to bringing matters to a head. He shields his son, Lord Alfred Douglas. The latter entered the court with Wilde, but the magistrate ordered him to withdraw. Wilde's counsel reluctantly read certain letters, owing to the high position held by the persons whose names were therein. Accused's counsel declared a wish to save the Marquis of Queensberry'a son from Wilde in the interests of morality, and pleaded justification. Mr George Lewis, the well-known solicitor, who was acting for the Marquis of Queensberry, has withdrawn from the case. The French prohibition of United States meat imports, on the ground of alleged disease, is causing some irritation, and threats are being made of retaliating on the French.

A Trausvaal force of burghers 1,000 strong is encamped on the. Swaziland border, and has summoned the King of the latter territory to be installed paramount chief or otherwise be deposed. At eleven o'clock on Friday night the large stables at Newtown, Wellington, lately in the occupation of the AVellington Bus Company (who have been running in opposition to the tramway), was discovered to be on fire and was burnt to the ground. Mr A. Crossey, late manager of the company, had only just taken over the plant, buildings, etc., and was running the affair, therefore his lo3s will be considerable, but it was fortunate that most of the plant was plying for hire on the streets at the time of the outbreak. However, the loss of buildings, fodder, harness, etc., will amount to several hundreds. All the horses were saved.