NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 1651, 4 August 1881, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The planet Venus is still to be seen during the early morning, between 4 and 5 o'clock, shining even more brightly than a short time ago.

The Dunedin. Acclimatisation Society has sent Home for some Loch Leven trout, and are now considering where to put them when they arrive. We (Northern Luminary) are in a position to state that Mr. John Luudon will contest the Mangonui and Bay of Islands seat at the next election, "against all comers." On the 23rd of May last the Times rcfering to Liberal rule in Ireland says:— "There are six flying columns of troops now employed in preserving peace in the disturbed districts, and there ig little prospect of the Executive being able to dispense with their services." When Mr. Giadstone took office he declared he had found Ireland in a state of profound peace. It is stated that a firm in Dunedin are i desirous of establishing a new industry— namely, the manufacture of linseed oil and cake, if the seed can be procured in sufficient quantities. The firm will be prepared to give 5s 6d per bushel for the seed, delivered in Dunedin, and will use every endeavour to place the flax in the Home market in the most advantageous way for the growers. Mrs. James H. Boyd, a lady of Baltimore, was frightened to death lately by a German named Charles Smith, who went to her house under influence of liquor and refused to leave, and,|on being put out by two gentlemen, resisted. Mrs. Boyd was thrown into violent hysterics at the occurrence, and violent hemorrhage setting in she died in a few minutes.

The loyalty of Australia to the Mother Country was aptly illustrated in a story told by the Bishop of Bathurst.- At a bazaar, the stall that attracted the most attention, drawing forth most returns, contained a small glass-covered vessel, having a curtain before it. "Parties paid their shilling, lifted the curtain, and beheld with lively feelings of reverence and pleasure some of the soil of old England." ' .; ■

The following is the state of Her Majesty's Gaol, Auckland, for the week ending July 30, 18S1 : On remand, 0 male, 0 females; awaiting trial, 4 males ; penal'servitude, 40 males; hard labour, 86 males/ 11 females ; imprisonment, 4 males; default of bail, 1 male, 1 female; -debtors, 0 male; received during the week, 12 males, 0 females; discharged; 21 - males, 1 female j total in gaol 135 males, 12 females. ■ ■

There has just been invented a patent seed arid fruit protector, in the shape of a metal representation of a-bird of prey on.the wing, for suspension in fields and gardens, shaped and coloured in close imitation of a hawk hovering over his prey. By means of an elastic spring or wire carried' from one tree to another, or from a chimney to a tree, it responds readily to the' motion of the wind, and so increases the lifelikeness of the effigy. The device is said to be extraordinarily efficacious in scaring birds. ; The following is the return of sick treated at the Provincial District Hospital,' for the week ending Saturday, July 30, IS81: Remained last return,' 102; admitted since, 15; discharged, 12j; died! ; remaining, 104; 84 males, 20 females; Arrangement.of cases : • Zymotic,- 34; 'constitutional, 11; local, 38;- developmental, 18 ; violent, 13.V,0ne death occurred, viz.,,6.R., aged 40_ years, r malej ron' 25th Thanksr are returne.l to the Secretary.of the Auck~. land Club and f?q Mrs. Brame. for a parcel of old linen, " "" ;