NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7773, 20 October 1886, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Detruotivh fire at Onehunga yesterday. Damages £1000. It is expeoted that Mr. Braoken will be elected for Dunedin Central. Penn, Caffrey, and Graham have been fully identified by the police officers from Auckland. Major Swindley was throwu from his horse while in Tauranga a few days ago, and sustained a severe shaking and some bad bruises. His Excellency the Governor has intimated his intention of being present at the summer meeting.of the Canterbury Jockey Club. The Timaru resident agency for the Government Life Association Department has been filled by the appointment of Mr. George, The shares of the New Zealand Shipping Company held in Wellington outnumber the interests of the Canterbury shareholders by about one-third, and exceed those held in Christohurch and Dunedin combined. The steamer Murray experienced very heavy weather in her passage from Nelson to Wellington a few days ago, and when off Kaikoranga her fore topmast was oarried away, and her appearance on arriving was very dilapidated. Mr. F. Gush, a schoolmaster, appeared before the District Court at eatea, charged with making a false declaration under the the Marriage Act. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five months' imprisonment, without hard labour. When Mr. Shand, of Shand, Mason, and Co., was in Danedin, he visited the premises of the Roslyn Brigade, and was presented with a photo of the brigade framed in New Zealand woods. He gave a very interesting account of his tour through the colonies. Steps are being taken to replace the blook of shops burned down at Eden Terrace during the late fire. Some 25 tenders have been received by Mr. E. Bartley, architect, for erecting four two-storey shops for Mrs. Bedell. They range from £1720 to £1269. The Canterbury Press commences an article on orime iu New Zealand as follows : —"Notwithstanding the statistics of last year we fear the state of crime in New Zealand is not at all in a satisfactory or improving oondition. Indeed there is a widespread feeling in the community that crimes of every description are on the increase." Colonel Wales, who has been long connected with volunteering in Otago, and who baa lately been promoted, was presented at a volunteer parade with an illuminated address and a staff officer's sword and belts—the gift of the officers and noncommissioned officers and men of Colonel Wales's late battalion. The detectives are still working on what is known as the cemetery outrage, namely, the overturning and breaking of tombstones, the other evening. We understand that tke Cemetery Board offer a reward of £10 for such information as will lead to the apprehension of the offenders, and that one of the gentlemen who has had a tombstone : set up by him broken, is prepared to supplei meat that amgunt by £3 additional.