NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5998, 7 February 1881, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Cole'.s circus is doing an immense business in Adelaide. Captain Edwin, of the Weather Department, is at present enjoving a holiday in Auckland, The Taranaki News refers to "a severe outbreak of an epidemic of larrikinism in New Plymouth." An Australian snake, 21 feet lons, has # and sent to the Melbourne Exhibition. It was caught near Cooktown. Ten publicans in Wellington have been fined, for permitting lodgers on Sunday to shout for their friends who called upon them.

I In Canterbury and [North Otago an effort is | now being made to establish co-operative societies, after the manner of the American I Grangers. I Six of the members of the Wellington | Education Board res.ide in Wellington, and j two of them have been elected on the same school committee. 0 Tile bead-master of the Blenheim Borough Schools has filed a declaration in the Supreme Coui fc that lie is miable to meet his engagements with his creditors. The Rev. Dr. Copland of Dunedin, remarked the other day, that for bad 100-ic doubtful theology, and turgid rhetoric, the 1 resbyterian Synod would be hard to beat. The Dunedin Herald is surprised at the excitement about the Bible-in-scliools question in connection witli the election of the school committee, .when the members have nothing to do but to administer the Act as it is. The first piano imported into New Zealand was the property of the Rev. B. Y. Asliwell and was landed at Paihia in 1535. It was' j as might be supposed, a source of great astonishment to the Maoris oil tlie mission station. '

A passenger engine, built chiefly for speed has just been finished at the Baldwin Locomotive Works, for use on the Bound Brook route between New York and Philadelphia. It is intended to make the distance—9o miles —in 90 minutes. At a meeting of tlie Oamaru School Committee, one of tlie members said that he looked upon tlie passing of examinations as a mere farce, and said it was merely a matter .of manipulation, on the part of the teachers who put the scholars back a standard each year.

A home paper compliments New Zealand on retaining the native names to its towns. I A Southland contemporary says the smaller townships (lo not deserve the credit eiven else we would have fewer "Gladstones," or lalmerstons, or " Beaeonsfields," and more indigenous names. It is said that the proposed New York International Exhibition in ISS3 will cost ten millions of dollars, which it is proposed to S thc issue of stock of two kinds. lirst the principal intending exhibitors will be asked to purchase preferential shares, and \vhen these arc taken up the general public will be invited to subscribe. , oal " aru Mai l sug.ests that the law • ii- S0 i I ' ec ?e"ise sweeps as to brin"swindling by their promoters within the criminal code—that investors should have the power of entering a criminal prosecution against anyone who misappropriated the funds entrusted to him by the subcribers co a sweep.