BRIEF MENTION.

Evening Star, Issue 11267, 14 June 1900, Page 5

BRIEF MENTION.

In the libel action Byrno (Mayor of Kumira) v. the Auckland ' Observer,' hear<l at Wellington, the jury, after two hours.' retirement, nvurned with a verdict for the plaintiff for £SO and costs. Among the passengers from London by. the Paparoa was the Hon. Mrs K. Wellesley (who is better known as Miss K. Vaughan, the celebrated English dancer and singer), who is making a round trip in the vetßel for health reasons. Sir E. Siraeey, a lieutenant in the Second Life Guards, also came by the vessel. Mr Sheldon, who has been acting aa war correspondent at the frbßt for the L-mdon ' Daily Chron cie,' was a passenger from Ci»pe Town by the Paparoa. Mr Sheldon's health haa been impaired by the campaign. Colonel Henry Oautley, at 'one time serving in the Defence Office in New Z-a-land, has been appointed commanding fficer of tho Royal Engineers at Perth, Scotland. The Americans hava captured Delpilar, a Filipino general. In the New South' Wales Legislative Assembly, in to questions as te whether ij; was the custom of the post office to distribute through the telephone cables paid for by newspapers alone, and if it was right that these should be stolen, and if the Government would obtain independeni cables and publish them in the ' Government Gazette, 1 St W. J. Lyne said that the distribution was highly improper, and he thought, ihat it had been stopped. He was quite willing that an independent service be established if the House were agreeable, but the cables should be published by every paper in the country. The Mayor of Auckland (Mr D. Goldie) intends 10 v'sit Wellington during the sitnng of the Municipal Conference, as several mat tew of great interest to municipal bodies will come before the ensuing session of Parliament. One suhjeot of speeial in'erettto Auckland will be pushed by Mr Goliie—viz , ibe adoption of the Australian system in the organisation of fire brigades, supported"" by contributions from muoicioiltties, fire insurance companies, and the Government. The nowers of Citv Councils to provide electric lighting or "negotiate witl\ companies for that purpose mat also be dealt with. .'