NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6815, 20 September 1883, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Kennedy Family are at present performing in Queensland. Shearing is in active progress throughout the pastoral districts of South Australia. The libel law is at preseut tho all-absorb-ing theme of public discussion in New South Wales. There is every prospect of a brilliant season for the crops in all parts of South Australia. Archbishop Vaughan left all his property to his successor, to be used for religious and educational purposes. An orange weighing 300z5., and with a circumference of 16J inches, has been grown on the Parramatta River. I It is estimated that 137,000 bales of wool, the produce of New South Wales, crossed the Victorian border last year. A very successful luncheon (with an entirely Australian menu) has been given by Mr. Jules Joubert, at Calcutta. The cost of auditing the accounts of local bodies in Victoria last year amounted to £5344, or an average of £30 for each. It is stated there are 1500 unclaimed umbrellas and walking-sticks lying in the Transit Commissioner's office, Sydney. It is rumoured in Roman Catholic circles in Melbourne that Dean Donaghy, of St. Patrick's, will be appointed Bishop of Ballarafc. The Rev. Father Barry, of Liverpool (N.S.W.) ba3 undertaken to write a work on the life and labours of the late Archbishop Vaughan. The tender of Messrs. Mackintosh, for the construction of the third section of the main Bondi sewer, has been accepted. The price is £79,218 6s 9.1. Ttie George Roper has now completely broken up, and there is scarcely a part of her visible. The recent stormy weather has quite destroyed the wreck. A detachment of the Salvation Army has been told off to blaze away—that is the correct expression—at Temuka as soon as a stronghold can be secured. In answer to the petition from the Ohinemuri residents praying for separation from the Thames county His Excellency has declined to constitute the new county. There is said to be an enactment in force in South Australia entitled tho Tire Act, the object of which is to compel carriers to use wheels of a width proportionate to the weight they carry. ' In one of her lectures in Christehnrch, Mrs. Dr. Potts said that a lady who had consulted her that day consumed no less than a pound of tea per week, which had resulted in the utter derangennnt of her system. The following setl.lers have been gazetted trustees for the maintenance of the Whakatane Public Cemetery : —Messrs. George Simpkins, sen., Eugene Eivers, Stephen Parker, Robert Wilkin, and Joseph Meruit/ The following is the report of the Auckland Lunatic Asylum for the week ending Sentember 15, 1883 :—Remaining last week, 256 ; admitted since, 4 ; discharged, 0; died, 2 ; remaining, 2SB: 195 males, 93 females. A Maori witness who was being examined before the Native Lands Court at Kaiapoi, deposed that he was "the son of two fathers and one mother." The Court was confounded, but on farther questioning it was elicited that witness was a stepson. Lot 410, town of Hamilton East, Parish of Kirikiriroa, Hamilton survey district, containing 10 acres, has been set apart as the Hamilton Rast recreation ground. It has baen brought under the Drovisions of the Public Domains Act, ISSI," and the Corporation of the Borough of Hamilton have tho powers under the Act delegated to them. A few days ago a house, inhabited by a number of Chinamen in Lower George-street, Sydney, was found to be in a most filthy condition. In tho cellar were living an old Chinaman, and a girl and boy about eight and seven years respectively. The children were in a deplorable condition from filth and disease. Both were at once removed for medical treatment. A number of persons were summoned before Mr. Dillon at the Central Police Court, Sydney, a few days ago, charged with breaches of the Education Act, in not sending their children tb school a certain number of days in the half-year. Mr. Dillon was of opinion that the Act ought to be so framed as to give power to the magistrate to send p ireuts to prison in certain cases ; but, nevertheless, his invariable fine was ss.