NEWS IS BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5995, 3 February 1881, Page 6

NEWS IS BRIEF.

A VEKV stringent Rabbit 'Suppression Bill has passed tlie Victorian Assembly. ! -The census returns show that 15 millions in America never enter a church. ' The present indications of the wheat harvest in Victoria are not so good as last year's. , -. . Two of the best steei engravers in America are women, one" living in New York, arid one at Columbus, .0. For rising a net in a-'trout- stream, the Kakanui, .a fisherman was fined 40s last week, although lie hud only caught mullet. A young Mexican , lady without arms plays the piano with her feet, but like most young men she dislikes to play before company. . . , - : Another Australian cricketing team intends visiting England the year after next. It is intended to include Evans, ,'Massey, and C. Bannerman. ' ' "' : No less a sum than £31,500 in ''Consultations " on the various racing events: to come is advertised-in one. issue, of the Otago Witness. '. ... " ;: "''/''; .'"".". . 'A start has beehniade.with tlie telephone in Oamaru— J. and T. Meek haying connected, their; office. .'Syitlv their'nour-inill by'this'means. -" ' "'' . , * '-.'-V ". ' TJie official reporter of .tlie;Courts at Washington Co., 0., is a"'woman. , ' This is the first, case.of a lady being appointed'to such an office'in the State: . '~;"'. ;', I The Intercolonial 'Confevence -has;; proposed' to- increase : the ; British', fleet "in colonial \yaters, witli6ut proposing to -pay for tlie same in any way., ■.', .' : : J-. 1 ; The Tasni'anian Mail reports'that 77 shares' in Bischoll "s (tin) lia've been sold' for £4000, or £52 each. Three years ago the same, lot was'sold.at £5 2s 6d. " '. ' \ : :,

j According to Mr.' M'Arthui-'s report, to theSouthlarid Waste'Laricis' Board; the Go.y.ern-' me'nt'.'royalty; ontimber, cut an.' the, South-land-.forests last.'year, amounted,-'to- £1659 iOs 6d. , ■; ■ • : . ' ";; ." .;.. '■;;:. '. .-.;;- \ The Age says that duriiig.the last'22.years' | the sum of £2,445.000 —a vast amount—has been wasted on the defences of Victoria.' It adds that the. land,, forces, have ..always I been a sham.' '''.','''' '' -■'■■' ■ i The New.York grand jury have inilicted the proprietors and editors'of-the newspaper '■which'published the forged letter relative to-' Chinese immigrants for criminally libelling General Garfield. ; . ■-"■■•- : ji ! The Governar of the Invereargill gaolccarn r not find sufficient: Avork for the prisoners under his charge.;. The Town Council have : offered to employ a number on the esplanade -at 2s each per-day. .-.•:. ,•. , ;.. ..,;■;■ ; j ; New Zealand, has {taken soine, unexpected prizes at the..Melbourne Exhibition: Lifer,: '.saving vests, canvas boots, and waye-power ' engines are things for which anj- country may ! :be proud to get prizes. •■- Yx> ..■■."''- '-, ,■' '\ ! Mr. Watkins, a;J)unediu gentleman,: -has:;; , '- been appointed manager for the Canterbury farmers' Co-operativ/q. Association,. at, a: sfilary of £350. per year.- There were 4S. ap'plications for the position. -...':: I At Brighton, 'Melbourne, a man, P. King, stretched wires,, some three .feet in.height,: across a training course.' He has /been com-: imitted for;triaT for placing an obstruction dangerous to life across a.public road. - A Mrs. Turner, wnis fined ,30s.at,,Oamaru ilast week for assaulting Walker,' schoolmaster, at Ngapara,-for having-detained her 'children's slates. The. mavjstrafce said that ;ic was,, important that teachers should be .protected iii the execution of th'eir duties. - '• Soine'of -the Oamaru ' larrikins threw a number of bad eggs at the volunteers whilst oh' parade, last' week. Three members had new:.uniforms spoilt, and Major Suiupter at once, offered £2 reward for the detection of the culprit. , )., ; ... ■; ..;; •., .',..,-; • ' j The Mataura Ensign says that probably when the difficulty of managing small schools on the present meagre allowance becomes generally known, an unforeseen trouble will arise from the disiuclination'of:householders to serve on committees at all. : '. ~ i, , '•' j The largest State school in Dunedih is'tlib Jj.nioh-streot school, with accommodation' for 1200 scholar* ; George-street follows,' with Tdoiri'.'.'for' ' 1000 ;■ then'/ Arthuv-street,' 7SS ; ; Albany-street, 717 ; and Williani-street, 59f)' : ' The two ir.faut schools accommodate 75 each.