NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7646, 25 May 1886, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A cookery class is being held in Christchurch under the auspices of the women of the Temperance Union. Professor Bickerton, of Canterbury College, is delivering a series of popular lectures. A Southern paper asserts that Sir J. Vogel and Mr. Stout are by no means in accord. An effort is being made to establish steamboat communication between Tonga and Fiji. The officers of the Tsukuba have been entertained by the members of the Wellington club. According to the Rev. Charles Strong, "the average Englishman knows but little about his Bible." A Melbourne paper was recently received in Adelaide the day after its publication, having been sent overland. Major Pollard, of the Salvation Army, was severely injured in the railway collision near Sydney a few weeks ago. A telegram from Tauranga informs us of the death, by drowning, of Mr. J. D. Wrigley, an old resident of that place. The Canterbury Archery Club is a flourishing institution. The ladies' champion prize was this year given by Lady Jervois. The Taieri Advocate states that the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company have added two steam power knitting machines to their machinery. The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, who is at present in England, is not, we believe, likely to return to the colony before the end of October next. The Suva Times says: "That which Bismarck is to the German Emperor, Mr. Baker is to the King of Tonga. Only, if possible, a little more so." * The Customs authorities have decided to enforce the payment of duty on tobacco, liquors, etc., consumed onboard intercolonial steamers while in Queensland waters. The statement of receipts and expenditure of Fiji during ISBI show the former to have been £76,668, and the latter £92,209. The Customs dues were £15,000 under the estimates. Charges of discourteous and unsympathetic conduct to patients have been brought against Dr. Keyworth, Surgeon-Superinten-dent of the Napier Hospital, by the Visiting Committee. The show of the Auckland Poultry Association, which commences on the 24th of June, is expected to be a great success. Mr. T. B. Hill will show some Wyaodots which he has raised himself, and also some which he expects by the next mail steamer. Messrs. Fergus and Blair, of Danedin, have obtained the contract for the construction of the railway line from Alphington to Heidelberg, Victoria, at a cost of £43,000, The line is only two and a half miles long, but there is a great deal of rock cutting in it. "Land for tho People."—The Timaru Herald states that 52 acres of reserved land at Pareora thrown open for application in three lots attracted 43 intending purchasers, and the excitement called back to memory the old days of the land fever. The deposits in the aggregate amounted to over £10,000. Some very funny items always crop up when a censi£ is taken, and the Greymouth Star hears of one man not a hundred miles away from Greymouth who entered his sex as " not known," and in the occupation column he put down "married." In the column devoted to farming implements a man up the valley, opposite the words threshing machine, entered " my wife."