BREVITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 12162, 5 April 1904, Page 1

BREVITIES.

Fine -weather .in all parts of the colony but Dunedin for yesterday's holidav. A Chinese storekeeper, Hum fc.ee, has been arrested by the Palmerston North police for receiving stolen tobacco and cigarettes, for the theft of which two men are awaiting trial. In a rifle match at the headquarters ranco at Oamaru yesterday M'Kenzie (Queen's Rifles) put on the possible at the 200 and 500 yards ranges (Bisley targets). His score of 100 for twenty shots is believed to be a record for the colony. Wingatui-trained horses did well at Riccarton yesterday. Phaetontis won the Hurdles, Vladimir and Kremlin' fought out the finish in the Easter Handicap, and Blackstone managed to squeeze home in the Welter. The musical comedy "The Geisha,' which was being performed in St. Petersburg, had to be withdrawn after the declaration of war, on account of hostile demonstrations to which it gave rise oa the part of the public* According to the Russian admiral, the Vladivostock fleet was snugly ensconced somewhere about the recesses of that port when it was bombarded by the Japs. The Japs arc marching on, and at latest advice were within thirty miles of Wiju. The Army Corps under General Kurcfiri are said to command the passage of the Yalu, but await the results of the second mobilisation. The Japs are irritated at China's failure to strictly enforce neutrality. £IO,OOO is annually sent out of Poverty Bay for the purchase of canned fruits ai:*i preserves. The hospital rate in the Taranaki district will be 9d in the £IOO this year. Last year it was lOd, and previous to that lid. *'l he hospital rate at Hawera, which district bus recently been severed, is 7d per £ICO. Melbourne had gloriously fin a weather IV.' the holidays. Plans of municipal baths fox Stratford, to cost £6OO, have been prepared. The people of Hamilton, Waikato, are much exercised because the Telegraph Department has decided to remove an avenue of English trees half a mile long in their town, in order to make room for a telegraph line. It was stated in the United States the other day that if golf balls were coated with radium the game could be played at night. The Glasgow Trades Council favor tho compulsory national registration, of unemployed workmen. The robbery of graves is the only crime under Chinese law by which the thief may be justly hanged on the spot bv anyone finding him out. When China was called upon to indemnifv the Powers for their military erpenditanj in repressing the Boxer movement, Russia claimed for 179,000 men at £IOO apiec\ She had actually in Manchuria and Chili under 50,000 men, so that the acceptance of her estimate was worth to her twelve millions in hard cask. The mind ought sometimes to be amused, so that it may the better return to thought and itself. Countess Sarah Esterhazy, widow of Count Maximilian Esterhazy, of Austria, is being sued at Washington by a lady, who demands £20,000 damages for the alienation of her husband's affections. The Countess is seventy years old, but looks twenty years younger, and is handsome, Emily Harrison, a fanner's daughter, attended the school at Donnington, near Spalding (Eng.) no less than 2,781 successive days without a single absence, during seven years. To do this she walked nearly 6,003 miles v as her parents lived over two miles from the school. The school managers have presented her with a gold watch in recognition of her feat. One of the customs ofTho people of North China prohibits the use of food oftener than twice in twenty-four hours. These two meals are taken about eight or nine o'clock in the morning and three or four o'clock in the afternoon. It isr not necessary, says 'Health,' for the maintenance of strength to eat and digest a third meaL A pearl and diamond necklace valued at £2,000, belonging to Lady Mountstephen, was lost in London on the day of the recent Royal wedding. A young man found th-_» necklace in pieces in the Great Western station yard at Windsor, and gave it to a young lady in London. The necklace has been recovered and restored, the£nder-bein" rewarded with £SO. °