NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6963, 12 March 1884, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Sergeant White is off duty owing to illness. A Freethought Association is being formed at Oamaru. Mr. J. L. Hatswell, of Princes-street, is dangerously ill. " Quacks " are said to be on the increase in: New South Wales. V Fifty ohildren attended the Lyceum at Christchurch on Sunday morning,; March 2. A few days ago, Mr. Roakruge, of l Waitara, shot a white kingfisher near tke ri?er. " Ons more unfortunate" was-wheeled to the police station last night in. a* hand cart. Recent fires in and about Auckland: are said to have caused damage to the extent of £8000. Begging is on the increase in Dunedin. Otago is the eleemosynary province of the colony. A Unitarian clergyipan is expected .from: England shortly to organise a church in Dunedin. Discouraging reports from the South are making Waikato settlers dubious about the prospects of the frozen meat trade. A movement is on foot in Wahganui to • have the Tuhua country prospected for gold; Efforts are being made to induce the natives to aid the prospectors. The Presbyterians of Dunedin who : objeot to hymns and organs are forming themselves into a ohurch "in whose worship unacriptural innovations will have no place." , A " Dunedin Rifle Club" has been formed for the purpoie of encouraging rifle - shooting ; in Dunedin. It was decided to' adopt thej rules of the Otago Rifle Association,V with a slight alteration as to sighting shots." There was a heavy fall of snowgori Mount ■ Egmont on Wednesday night,- which-feis most unusual at this time of the year.The : mountain appeared decked out in a mantle of snow when the sun rose next morning. The Mokau natives have put into ■* the? Urenui pound 38 head of Mr. Shore's cattle. This has been done owing to some dispute respecting the payment of rent on the part of Mr. Snore to the natives for the land he has ocoupied. At the first meeting of the Lambton (Wellington) Licensing Committee, Messrs. Gillon (Chairman), Fisher, Willeston,"and ' Greenfield, —the Chairman made some strong remarks with regard to the report* on the public-houses not affording the information which the Aot intended them to do. Reoent visitors to Parihaka state that a great improvement in the direction of oleanlinesu is observable in the village. Te Whiti occupies the large wooden house, and was dressed elaborately, wearing gold studs and other jewellery. He received the visitors graciously. The stream of tourists and visitors to the Otago Lakes district this season continues remarkably small. The majority of the tourists proper are comprised of well-to-do residents of the sister colonies, who oan spare time and money in the pureuit of pleasure.